How to Make Your Fitness Business Inclusive for the LGBTQ+ Community

The LGBT community is growing, according to a Gallup poll (1). While 5.6% of adults in the United States identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or some other non-heterosexual orientation in 2020, that number rose to 7.1% in 2021. Helping LGBT people feel welcome within your fitness facility is important, and it can be accomplished by taking a few specific actions.

Importance of Diversity & Inclusion in the Fitness Space 

Physical activity offers both physical and mental health benefits. This is true whether the person identifies as male, female, or transgender. It’s also true whether they are nonbinary, cisgender, or genderfluid. Giving all individuals a safe place to exercise enables them to pursue their fitness journey without fear or discrimination.

Promoting diversity and inclusion in your fitness business can also be important for athletes. Why? Because the sports industry typically doesn’t welcome people with marginalized identities. 

Research indicates that LGBTQ youth who participate in sports often face a culture of exclusion (2). They also report feeling a lot less safe than “straight” athletes. This can limit their ability to achieve peak performance. It may even keep them from participating in a sport they love.

Going against this culture can help your fitness business stand out. It establishes you as an LGBTQ+ athlete ally. Most importantly, it gives individuals a place to train while being their authentic selves.

How to Make Your Fitness Business Inclusive for the LGBTQ+ Community

If you own a fitness business, there are several things you can do to be welcoming to members of the LGBTQ community. Here are some to consider.

Educate Yourself About Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Many people think that gender identity and sexual orientation are the same things. But they’re not. Sexual orientation refers to who you are attracted to sexually. Gender identity refers to a person’s sense of their own gender. One has nothing to do with the other. 

The Human Rights Campaign provides several other terms that are helpful to know when creating an inclusive fitness environment (3). They are:

• gender expression – how you express your gender in appearance and behaviors

• transgender – a person whose gender identity or expression goes against cultural expectations

• gender transition – when a person takes action to live according to their internal gender, whether this involves transitioning socially, physically, or both

• gender dysphoria – distress experienced by a person when their birth gender is different from their gender identity

Learn More About the LGBTQ+ Community

For people in less diverse areas, the only time they may be exposed to the LGBTQ community is Pride Month. They see the parades or other festivities on the news. But this doesn’t provide a picture of what it means to be a part of this community.

Take the time to learn what it’s like to be LGBTQ. The Safe Zone Project is a good educational resource (4). It also offers links to additional websites that can increase your knowledge of the LGBTQ community (5).

Talk About Diversity and Inclusion in Your Mission and Vision

If none of the information about your fitness business mentions your dedication to diversity and inclusion, how will someone in the LGBTQ community know this? They won’t. That is, unless you talk about them in your company’s mission and vision.

Let your website visitors know that you’re committed to an inclusive fitness environment. If there’s a personal reason for this, share it. People tend to connect more emotionally with a story. Tell them why these topics are so important to you. This may make them feel more comfortable choosing you as their trainer.

If You Are an LGBTQ Owned Business, Promote It

Are you a member of the LGBTQ community? If so, let potential fitness clients know. This can make them feel more welcome because you have a better idea of the issues they face. It’s also good information for anyone who wishes to support an LGBTQ-owned business.

Create an Inclusive Workplace

Another way to make your fitness business more inclusive is to hire LGBTQ employees. Some people prefer to work with similar individuals. By having something in common with an employee, they might feel less likely to be discriminated against. They also may worry less about whether your fitness facility is a safe environment for them to exercise in.

Use Inclusive Language and Images in Your Marketing Materials

Look at your website and social media pages. Does any of the text mention diversity or inclusion? Are any of your images of a nonbinary or transgender person? If you offer an inclusive fitness environment, it should be clear in both the words and images you use.

Add Gender Identity to Your Intake Paperwork

Your client paperwork should be inclusive too. One way to do this is to add gender identity to your intake forms. This shows clients that you recognize that several gender identities exist. It also allows them to share this information with you if they wish. Noting that this field is optional enables them to withhold this information if they’re not comfortable supplying it.

Ask Fitness Clients Which Pronouns They Prefer

If you want to make LGBTQ clients feel welcome, ask which pronouns to use when speaking with them. Do they want you to use “she” or “her”? What about “he” or “him”? Some people prefer more neutral pronouns like “they” or “them”. Asking about pronoun preference is a sign of respect. It shows your desire to honor their gender identity.

Provide a Gender Neutral Bathroom and/or Locker Rooms

Not everyone is comfortable using a bathroom or locker room with people with different gender identities. Providing gender-neutral facilities helps keep this from being an issue. It also gives a transgender person a private space to go to before and after working out.

Have a Zero Tolerance Policy Against Discrimination

A 2022 study indicates that LGBTQ people face discrimination in all areas of their lives (6). They’re discriminated against in their personal and work lives. They have trouble finding gender-inclusive housing and face inequalities in healthcare. You can take a stand against discrimination in your fitness business by having a zero-tolerance policy. Have new personal training clients sign a form acknowledging this policy. This provides you greater standing if you have to terminate your relationship should they decide to violate it.

Offer Access to LGBTQ Resources

You can go one step further and provide resources for LGBTQ fitness clients. The Trevor Project is an option to consider (7). Individuals can reach out to this organization 24/7 and connect with a trained counselor. Several schools also have an LGBT resource center. Encourage fitness clients to make contact with the center if they want or need help.

Create Fitness Classes Specifically for LGBTQ Individuals

In a world that is sometimes quick to exclude, imagine finding a class designed solely for LGBTQ students. Or imagine being transgender yourself and attending a fitness session with other transgender students. Providing your personal training clients with this opportunity can make them feel more comfortable when working out. They can spend more time focused on their fitness journey and less time worrying about whether they are safe.

Working with LGBTQ+ Clients as a Personal Trainer

The key to making any trainer-client relationship work is respect. Respect your clients for who they are, even if they are different from you. They’ve come to you for your fitness expertise. Share what you know. Devise a plan for them based on their fitness level and goals. 

If you’re not yet certified, ISSA offers Personal Trainer certification. Being certified can boost your credibility with potential clients. It says that you have the knowledge and skills required to get them results.

References

1. Jones, J. M. (2022, June 10). LGBT identification in U.S. ticks up to 7.1%. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/389792/lgbt-identification-ticks-up.aspx 

2. Kulick, A., Wernick, L. J., Espinoza, M. A., Newman, T. J., & Dessel, A. B. (2018). Three strikes and you’re out: Culture, facilities, and participation among LGBTQ youth in Sports. Sport, Education and Society, 24(9), 939–953. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2018.1532406 

3. Sexual orientation and gender identity definitions. Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions 

4. Facebook.com/killermann. (n.d.). Learn " the safe zone project. The Safe Zone Project. https://thesafezoneproject.com/learn/ 

5. Facebook.com/killermann. (n.d.-b). Resources " the safe zone project. The Safe Zone Project. https://thesafezoneproject.com/resources/ 

6. Director, M. C. A., Coleman, M., Director, A., Gordon, Director, P., Gordon, P., Director, Manager, N. F. S., Fowler, N., Manager, S., Medina, C., Dorazio, J., Jordan, A., Talukder, S., & Jones, K. B. (2023, March 22). The state of the LGBTQ community in 2020. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/state-lgbtq-community-2020/ 

7. For young LGBTQ LIVES. The Trevor Project. (2023, May 10). https://www.thetrevorproject.org/