all photos by Carrot Quinn
“In the future, what do you want to see more of in the intersection between marginalized communities and the outdoors community?”
Hablo, they/he
“I would like to see more discussion about the intersections between queerness and disability – discussion about ability, medication, signage and lighting, for example, as well as discussion around trauma as it relates to indigeneity, people of color, and land history.”
Zach, he/him // Jeremy, he/him // Mariah, she/her // Heather, she/her // Marisa, she/her // Mitchelle, she/her // Ryan, he/him
“I would like to see queer folks welcomed as part of outdoor recreation advocacy for our clean waters and public lands.” – Zach, NWF
“I want marginalized people to feel more welcome in outdoor spaces.” – Jeremy, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
“I also want marginalized people to feel more welcome in outdoor spaces.” – Mariah, NWF
“I’d like to see less of a need for this conversation to happen.” – Heather, NWF
“I’d like to see more agency and representation across ages and ethnicity.” – Marisa, NWF
“I’d like to see more synergy and celebration of the successes of marginalized communities in the outdoors.” – Mitchelle, NWF
“I want marginalized people to feel more welcome in outdoor spaces.” – Ryan, NWF
Kerry, she/her, Nature Bridge
“I would love to see queer and non-queer communities connect more in the space in which we all belong: the outdoors.”
Enrrique, he/him, Berea College
“I’d like to see more culturally competent programs that meet people where they’re at in terms of connecting with nature.”
Jaque, she/her // Cassie, she/her
“I would like to see more opportunity for marginalized communities.” – Jaque, Mesa Rim Climbing Center
“I would like to see people dismantling the narrative of what the ‘outdoors’ is; how we are supposed to enjoy the outdoors, what gear you need to be in the outdoors, etc.” – Cassie, she/her, @latinooutdoors
Jenny, she/her
“I would like to see less excuses! I’ve been in many talks and workshops about what we want from the outdoor industry and there are always so many excuses about why things can’t be done or why they’ll take a few years to implement. Like clothing and shoe sizes that fit fat and/or trans bodies, diverse imagery on ads and social media, etc. We’re living in fast times with social media and We Talk. The brands need to find ways to move quicker to keep up with us. A decision not to, is a decision to exclude us.” – Jenny, @unlikelyhikers
Tilly, she/her // Patrick, he/him
“I would like to see marginalized communities supporting each other.” – Tilly, yoga teacher
“I want to see more willingness and openness of the heteronormative outdoors industry to be in conversation around these issues.” – Patrick, wilderness therapy instructor
Kaya, she/they // Julia, she/her // G, they/them
“In one word: access.” – Kaya
“In one word: space.” – Julia
“In one word: safety.” – G
Janet, she/her
“I would like a place and platform to celebrate.” – Janet, SCA
Caleb, he/they // B, they/them
“I want to see more representation. I want to see people like me doing the things I do, and I want to be that person for other people. And I want to see accessibility for my community be more prominent in the conversation.” – Caleb, University of Vermont
“My hope is that in the future, people and orgs in the outdoor industry actively invite and include people that have been historically excluded from the outdoorsy community. I want tangible and visible changes to the industry that reflect the actual population of the US and not just a privileged, white upper class few.” – B, Education Outside
Deb, she/her
“I would like to see more accessible spaces and more representation in the outdoors.” – Deb, #curvykilicrew
Jacky, she/her // Kendall, she/her // Kylie, she/her
“For me personally, I would love to see everyone feeling safe when they interact with the outdoors.” – Jacky, Bureau of Land Management
“We would like to see more representation of body types and ability in media and on the trails.” – Kendall and Kylie, We Hike California
Christina, she/her
“I’d like to see more representation. As a queer fat femme Latina immigrant, I don’t ever see myself represented in the outdoors space, even though I’ve spent my whole life in it, and I’m sure there are others like me.” – Christina, NRDC
Brod, they/them
“I would like to see the wider outdoors community take responsibility for the way they take up space in the outdoors, so that they might leave room for marginalized communities to take up space as well.” – Brod, LGBTQ Youth Educator
Oshie, she/her // Karina, she/her
“We want to see the normalization of queerness in the outdoors community.” – Oshie, future PCT hiker and Karina, partner to Oshie and avid outdoorsperson
Mel, they/them // Kate, they/them/she/her
“I would like us to keep finding each other, and finding new ways to hold space for each other.” – Mel, Northwest Youth Core
“I would like to see education in the non marginalized outdoors community; they have a lot of homework to do re: how to include marginalized communities, and it’s on them to do that work.” – Kate, Mesa Rim Climbing Center
Kaci, they/them
“I would like to see the outdoors community embracing different ways of being outside that reflect and invite all of the different ways of being human.” – Kaci, Washington Trails Association
