Happy pride month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️✨
As I sit by an incredibly beautiful alpine lake, watching the distant mountains perfectly reflected in the still water, I can’t help but reflect as well. In a space where others told me I wouldn’t succeed, words I almost believed, I have over 900 miles, 65 days on the Pacific Crest Trail and I’m thriving as it is.
June marks Pride Month, an LGBTQ+ celebration of queer history, diversity, and the fight for equal rights. It is a time to reflect on the queer pioneers who have fought for equality locally and globally, allowing queer people to live authentically, safely and with pride.
Being here on the Pacific Crest Trail, I just want to take a moment to recognize the queer community in the backpacking world. To me, the outdoor backpacking community has always felt traditionally male-dominated, with a “hiker bro” mentality. I didn’t always (and sometimes still don’t) feel welcome here or like I fit in.
But along the way, I think it’s important to be authentically and unapologetically myself, to redefine what “strong” can be. I’m not here to fit a “tough guy” mold. I’m here to break that. And I’m going to continue pounding miles exactly as I am. Because there are endless ways to be badass and succeed on the PCT.
My hope is to bring more queer representation and visibility on the trail, so that others can see that the world of hiking and the outdoors is open to them too, that you don’t have to look a certain way or act a certain way, that you can wear bright pink nail polish and listen to Broadway and still thrive in nature.
If you are a queer adventurer and wondering if you belong in these spaces, you should know: you absolutely do. Pack your pink nail polish (unless you’re ultralight), listen to your favorite tunes (on your headphones, of course), and take up space. Our presence on the road is a celebration of freedom, resilience and pride!
Happy Pride everyone! Keep walking your own walk. Sending kindness, love and compassion from the Pacific Crest Trail!
Michael “BROADWAY” ✨
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