Location: National
Mission: Founded by Jenny Bruso, the anti-racist, diverse, and body-liberating community Unlikely Hikers has hiking meet-ups around the US for anyone who’s ever felt unrepresented in outdoor spaces, culture, and media. From trans to disabled to people of color and beyond, all are welcome. The group also runs a thriving Instagram page and podcast.
Structure: National collective
Instagram: @unlikelyhikers
Location: Northwestern U.S. and Intermountain West
Mission: Through workshops, classes, and immersion programs, Queer Nature teaches place-based skills such as wilderness and survival skills, ecology, and reconnecting with nature and ancestors through an anti-colonial, pro-indigenous lens. Founded by Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd and Boreal Faun, their goal is to improve the access and sense of belonging in nature for all LGBTQIA+, non-binary, and two-spirit people and allies, and their teachings go far beyond practical skills and information to embrace the spiritual and emotional sides of being outdoors that are often neglected.
Instagram: @queernature
Donate: Make a tax-deductible donation to support their mission here
Location: Nationwide
Mission: Created by Mikah Meyer, Outside Safe Space is more of an initiative than an organization. Outside Safe Space is a symbol inthe form of a rainbow colored tree that can be worn as a pin, sticker, or patch on gear to subtly signify to others that the wearer identifies as LGBTQ+ or is an ally.
Instagram: @outsidesafespace
Donate: Donations go toward the growth of the Outside Safe Space symbol, lobbying outdoor brands to make inclusive marketing, and funding Mikah's advocacy projects. Donate here.
Location: National
Mission: Founded in 2017, Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) centers on gender inclusivity and racial equity in cycling and the outdoors. RAR does this by providing education, connection, resources, and support for the community and industry through its eleven active chapters (six funded, five unfunded) located throughout the US. Their growing job board is another important aspect worth highlighting. More bikes!
Instagram: @radical.adventure.riders
Location: National
Mission: Founded by former pro turned acclaimed filmmaker Tanner Pendleton (get to know Tanner and his work here) to make snowboarding a more inclusive and accessible community, Seen Snowboarding hosts positivity-driven meet-ups for LGBTQ+ snowboarders and allies at different snowboarding areas around the country, with Oregon, California, and Utah already in the books. Launching in 2020, this humble yet impactful collection has the vibe of a grassroots movement with the backing of some of the industries best and brightest riders.
Instagram: @seensnowboarding
Location: California based, International presence
Mission: Created in 2017, the California-based Unity Skateboarding collective aims to tackle homophobia in skate culture, give LGBTQ+ skaters a community, and raise awareness and representation. With members around the world who meet up for skate days in different cities, the collective also has an artistic bent and unique style courtesy of co-founder and artist Jeffrey Cheung, who sells his painted boards, puts out a zine and prints, and more.
Instagram: @unityskateboarding
Location: Seattle based, active throughout the US
Mission: OUT for Sustainability aka Out4S is a non-profit dedicated to providing a platform by and for LGBTQIA+ to address climate resilience and environmental justice issues. Their intersectional approach involves focusing on promoting equal representation, increasing participation, addressing food, water, and energy security and land access while aligning with movements for liberation and ecological justice for queer and transgender people.
Instagram: @out4s
Donate: Donations accepted here
Regional LGBTQIA+ Outdoor Groups
Location: New York City
Mission: This Queer/ POC surf collective fosters a safe and encouraging space for surfers of all abilities, largely functioning out of Rockaway Beach in Queens, NYC. With two years of meet-ups focused on inclusion and accessibility under their belt, the fun and creative collective is beginning to expand to the West Coast, having recently hosted their first meet up outside NYC.
Structure: Regional club
Instagram: @bennys.club
Location: San Francisco, California
Mission: Not to be confused with the aforementioned Queer Surf Club, California's Queer Surf has been fostering a safe space for marginalized water people since 2015. Largely based around gatherings and group lessons, Queer Surf aims to equip the LGBTQIA community with the gear and knowledge needed to overcome fears and trauma through surfing.
Structure: Local Collective
Instagram: @queersurf
Donate: Surf gear and cash donations accepted
Location: Pacific Northwest
Mission: This PNW-based collective offers a place for queer people of color who love hiking and spending time outdoors to share stories and resources and raise awareness and representation. On top of hosting group hikes and events around the region, their site centers LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other marginalized voices by encouraging members to share stories of their outdoor experiences.
Structure: Regional club
Instagram: @qpochikers
Location: California, Wisconsin
Mission: Founded in San Diego in 2019 and with a recently-launched chapter in Wisconsin, the Queer Climbing Collective aims to connect LGBTQI+ people and allies who share a love for climbing and the great outdoors. Holding both indoor and outdoor climbing meet-ups and events, all experience levels are welcome, and founder Elli wants to make climbing a more accessible, diverse, equitable, and inclusive space.
Instagram: @queerclimbingcollective
