1 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to wok af with me Danielle Moody. As this 2 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: month of Pride comes to a close, I wanted to 3 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: call some attention to what is arguably the most forgotten 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: or even vilified letter under the LGBTQ plus umbrella, the 5 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: T for transgender people. In recent years, there has been 6 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: a revival of anti trans bills throughout the United States, 7 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: especially restricting healthcare and athletics for transgender Americans. Last week, 8 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: I was joined on my Patreon, which you can join 9 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: right now at patreon dot com. Slash woke af by 10 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: Ilia Parker, creator of Decolonizing Fitness and participant in Fit 11 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: for Us. Ilia's mission is to detoxify fitness spaces, and 12 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: together with these organizations, they are working to make supportive 13 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: and safe spaces for people of all genders and sexualities. 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: As many of us leave of our home gyms and 15 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: head back into society, it's important to make them better, healthier, 16 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: and more inclusive spaces for fitness, and Ilia is doing 17 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: his part to effect change and raise awareness. Once you 18 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: hear our conversation, I hope you do as well. Elia. 19 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: Let's talk about how this all came to be. How 20 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: Fit for Us moved from being what I have read 21 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: and learned from like a WhatsApp chat group, to an 22 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: actual organization. And why, Absolutely, that's a great question, Danielle, 23 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: And I'm excited to be here. So I think with 24 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: any institution, because we need to look at fitness first 25 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: and foremost as an institution, and historically institutions are usually 26 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: embedded in white supremacy. So fitness, when we talk about fitness, 27 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: we talk about a group of individuals that create a culture. 28 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: And this culture is usually dominated by white system men 29 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: six men who are able body, who are thin, who 30 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: are aesthetically pleasing by European beauty standards, and so on 31 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: and so forth. So fitness Fit for Us was a 32 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: call to that, a call to so decolonize away from 33 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: this toxic fitness culture into more of a culture that 34 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: is not only carving space for black folks, but also 35 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: celebrating black folks and making sure that we highlight the 36 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: inequities and do something about it. So I love that 37 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: Fit for Us now is bringing members of the black 38 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: community and fitness and wellness spaces that also exists beyond 39 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: the typical, the stereotypical version of what we think is 40 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: a personal trainer or a wellness professional, and then you 41 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: start bringing in the more marginalized voices within the black community. 42 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: You know, one of the things I found so interesting 43 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: as I was reading up on your work and on 44 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: Fit for Us is, you know, when we think about 45 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: how black and brown bodies have been policed, when we 46 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: think about you know, you just brought up these European 47 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: standards of beauty, even with some of the biggest athletes 48 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: in the world. Right I'm thinking about, you know, Serena 49 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: Williams and how disrespected her body and just herself has 50 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: been throughout her career, and thinking about right now the 51 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: attacks on trans youth right in Florida, in these places 52 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: where they're saying, oh, transgender girls can't play sports with 53 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: their peers, right, which is a really big part of 54 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: creating community and self esteem in young people. Can you 55 00:03:54,520 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: talk to like your response to this target that is 56 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: happening right now, particularly around trans youth and sports. We've 57 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: always highlighted the hierarchy that exists in the LGBT community, 58 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: and because of that hierarchy, we've always positioned what we 59 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: thought was important for LGBT voices, and throughout that we've 60 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: seen an erasure of trans people, and particularly back to 61 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 1: black trans people. So with marriage equality that usually lifted up, 62 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: CISS had assumed or this normal package of what LGB 63 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: looks like, it diminished and further erased trans folks. And 64 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: so now you're seeing an uptick in this type of 65 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: anti trans legislation. So we give a direct pushback. Number one, 66 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: I do want to say that we've constantly been doing 67 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: this work. So people now are understanding because it's hitting 68 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: more of online spacious social media. Everyone's conscious people want 69 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: to know. But we've been working against the erasure of 70 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: trans folks way back when when cross dressing laws were 71 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: in effect, way back when, even when you go all 72 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: the way back to enslavement and the legal the forming 73 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:26,559 Speaker 1: of disrupting the enslavement and then you having the slave 74 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: patrol calls that coming out of that, all folks who 75 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: existed beyond the gender buyingary had to deal with this 76 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: type of So now what we're doing is we're calling 77 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: attention to that, but we're making sure we let folks 78 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: know that this hierarchy exists and we have to do 79 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: away with the hierarchy even within our community. You know, 80 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: it's so important that you say that because I was 81 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: one of you know, many people who was on the 82 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 1: front lines with regard to marriage equality. And I've been 83 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: you know, I worked on the hill and did various 84 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: forms of policy work on social justice issues throughout my career. 85 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: But I can remember being on Capitol Hill and this 86 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: is you know, this is many years ago, and them, 87 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: you know, wanting to create lgbt inclusive legislation, but having 88 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: an active conversation about removing the t removing just let's 89 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: just focus on lgb We'll come back, they were saying. 90 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: And these were you know, these are politicians, legislator, these 91 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: are people also within the LGBTQ advocacy space saying no, no, no, 92 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: we're good. Well we'll come back for them. And I 93 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: remember sitting at a table and saying, no, you won't. 94 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: You never circle back. We're here right now because you, 95 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: because of how people have been marginalized, you'd never circle back. 96 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: And I said, and if you can't with in the 97 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: context of our own community, within the LGBTQI a community, 98 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: recognize the importance of lifting everyone up, particularly the most 99 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: marginalized of us. If your responses will will come back 100 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: at a later date, like what does that say about 101 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: our inclusiveive inclusivity when we're asking the mainstream CYS society 102 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: to include us, and but we are acting actively excluding 103 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: trans the trans community from the work because it's too 104 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: hard right this in these word that they do you 105 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: feel like there has been any movement in a way 106 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: to have more inclusivity or do you feel like as 107 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: part of the trans community you're still fighting to be 108 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: recognized and seen within the community as a whole. I 109 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: think that's where I want to bring Fit for Us 110 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: back into this conversation, because that's where I see the 111 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: movement work. Because what happened was when we think about 112 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: the harbor dreadful bathroom bills in my home state that 113 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: got a lot of attention for that, it was a 114 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: lot of grassroots organizing that inform legislative policies that shut 115 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: that down. A lot of grassroots organizing is happening now 116 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: to shut down a lot of the anti trans legislation 117 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: that we see. And so when we have organizations that 118 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: Fit for Us, that reach to the roots of community, 119 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: that pull those community members up who've been boots on 120 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: the ground, myself included. I've been a grassroots organizer for 121 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: about fifteen years now and so when we merge with 122 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: organizations where you have the grassroot influence who really value 123 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: our lived experience and the work that we do, and 124 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 1: then are able to partner with corporations and companies and 125 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: other major ords that we never ever be on the 126 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: radar for, that's where the work. That's where we feel 127 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: included and not only included, but literally dismantling these systems. 128 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: But because we can't be included in systems that are 129 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: rooted in white supremacy, that's never going to work. You know. 130 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: In the self article that Fit for Us was profiled 131 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: in the Conversation. Part of it was about how, following 132 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: the murder of George Floyd that we all witnessed and 133 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: then now the trial which retraumatized many of US, companies, 134 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: you know, particularly health and fitness companies ran to declare there, 135 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: you know, we're we're anti racists, like we don't stand 136 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: for racism. And you know it, during Pride Month they 137 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: run to put up their rainbows and commodify pride. Right, 138 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: how do you make how do you build the bridge 139 00:09:54,760 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: between the commodification that is happening around inclusivity? Right, these 140 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: health companies and fitness companies saying Oh yeah, we're doing 141 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 1: these you know, we're doing the work by putting out 142 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: their statements, but then it doesn't actually connect back to 143 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: the instructors that they're employing the people that are coming 144 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: into the classes. So how do you build that bridge 145 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: between making these very you know, declarative statements but then 146 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: not actually changing structurally and through your policy, we continue 147 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: to hold them to account and hold them to the 148 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: fire and essentially tell them to cash in on all 149 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: the promises they made, and then we show them how 150 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: to do that when we partner with organizations that are 151 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: actually doing that work. For example Fit for Us. Now 152 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: I have the opportunity coming up to be one of 153 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: the feature keynote speakers for a diversity, Equity, Inclusion and 154 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: Belonging panel that's happening with Class Pass Fit for Us. 155 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: As partnering with these organizations, this puts me in a 156 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: room with major, major companies who can directly see and 157 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: learn from the folks who are doing this work. And 158 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: then we help them build the blueprint. We know this 159 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: takes tim We help them build the blueprint and we 160 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: show them what to do and continue to hire us 161 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: and bring us in these organizations so it can be 162 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: done because there's a lot of companies out there that 163 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: are actually doing the work. It should be more, but 164 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: it's folks that are out there doing the work. Now, 165 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: what does it look like? What does success look like 166 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: for fit for us? What does it look like to 167 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: feel in a way we are making progress, We are 168 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: denting this very enormous industry right and changing it for 169 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: the better. That's a great question. I think understanding that 170 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: it's a consistent thing. Understanding that we are reflective of 171 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: our community and we actually help to move away from 172 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: some of the disparities that black and brown folks face, 173 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 1: in particular black folks with multiple intersecting identities of oppression, 174 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 1: and also realizing that the onus as a collective, especially 175 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: since we're so rooted in doing the work for black folks, 176 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: that it always shouldn't fall on our shoulders. So success 177 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 1: for me also looks like the looks like the partnerships 178 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: that we're merging with major corporations continue to do the 179 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: work and elevate us with resources financing, putting us in 180 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: the right rooms, with folks continuing to amplify our work 181 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: as best that they can. Because I just have to 182 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: be explicit, we can do this work, but we need 183 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: help with the greater community always. Do you feel like 184 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: you've had to do how to do like purposeful education 185 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: process to explain to people how white supremacy works in 186 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: this space or do you think that pete folks get 187 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: it right, Because I feel like we're in a space 188 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: right now in so many different ways, still having to 189 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: explain to people how that one that white supremacy and 190 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: white privilege exist, that we're still in that place and 191 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: so getting to the actual work of unlearning this behavior, 192 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: we're not even really on that path because we're still 193 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 1: It's like I'm trying to convince you still the sky 194 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: is blue. Well, I can't move into gravity and all 195 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: of these different facets of the atmosphere and what have you, 196 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: because I'm still in this like very elementary place. Do 197 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: you feel like that? Yeah? And I feel like more 198 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: so because I think white folks get it. I know 199 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: white folks get it. You can't not get it. I 200 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: think it's more so white folks feeling like we have 201 00:13:55,760 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: to be palpable or we have to coddle their feelings 202 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: and make sure it's delivered in a particular way. And 203 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: so I want to lift up even the privilege that 204 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: I carry with that as someone who is light skinned, 205 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: someone who speaks well, someone who has a little bit 206 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: of accolades, that white people listen to me a little differently. 207 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: But I'm saying the same stuff that all my kindred 208 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: is same. So I think white folks get it. But 209 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: once we get past the place of I want you 210 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: to deliver it this way in order for me to 211 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: affirm it and validate your experience that I'm really ready 212 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: and willing to do the work with you in a 213 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: sustainable way. Those are the conversations we need to continue 214 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: to have. You know, I want to talk about for 215 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: a minute to because it's just, you know, it's popped 216 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: into my mind about how how is the pandemic played 217 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: out in the feeling of inclusivity with working out right, 218 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: Like jims were closed, you know, places where you took 219 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: classes were closed, and then folks were online, right, So 220 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: the anxiety, maybe the fear of having to walk into 221 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: these spaces and not know how you were going to 222 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: be treated. Did you find that in some ways for 223 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: the community, if they were doing this kind of doing 224 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: health and fitness online, that it was a better and 225 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: safer place to engage like did you did you find 226 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: like any upsides? I would say to us being inside, Oh, absolutely, 227 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: you know, because now on a greater scale, fitness institutions, 228 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: businesses everywhere has been forced to do essentially what my 229 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: Kindred has been doing around the work of disability justice. 230 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:57,119 Speaker 1: They've been wanting to make spaces more accessible and providing 231 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: an online opportunity that's embedded in your practice is making 232 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: spaces more accessible. And so this is a this is 233 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: a major shift for the fitness industry because I know 234 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: a lot of companies have established so much of an 235 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: online presence now because of the pandemic, they're just keeping 236 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: that factor in their business. So that allows for them 237 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: to support a wide, diverse group of people that they 238 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: normally wouldn't serve. So this is great. Yeah, I found 239 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: that too. You know, I say on the show often 240 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: that you know, with obstacles, you know, you can look 241 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: at obstacles as opportunities, right, and the pandemic, you know, 242 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: presented a lot of obstacles also showed us a lot 243 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: of the institutional issues that we kind of just swept 244 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: under the rug and figure that they would you know, 245 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: figure themselves out at some point and they were exasperated, 246 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: exacerbated by the pandemic. But then there was this other 247 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: side right where folks who had been traditionally shut out 248 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 1: UM had a weigh in because everyone was online UM. 249 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: And so for folks you know who who have UM, 250 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: who have who have disabilities, I thought to myself, you know, 251 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: this is a tremendous opportunity right in to work in 252 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 1: different spaces, in different places where you have been shut out, right, 253 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: not even interviewed, not even you know, looked at UM 254 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: in any type of way. And I've been thinking, you 255 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: know too, with regard again to to queer youth right 256 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: and the fact that being online and learning online UM 257 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: decrease the bullying in some there was new ways of 258 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 1: bullying that I that I have heard about, but decrease 259 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: the pressure, the social anxiety of what it means to 260 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: kind of show up in the classroom. UM. What do 261 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: you feel like the community needs to do in order 262 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,719 Speaker 1: to continue to uplift the needs and center the needs 263 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 1: of trans folks in the health and fitness space and 264 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: in general. I'm really quick. I want to go back 265 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: to what I just shared. I want to be clear 266 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: that there's still so much work. As you highlight it 267 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: to there's still so much work for those of us 268 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: who are most marginalized. There have been spaces of opportunity, 269 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: but it's disabled folks in general. We need to continue 270 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: to do as much as we can to lift them 271 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: up in fitness and wellness spaces period. But I think 272 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: the work continues around being reflective as a practice as 273 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 1: a person, what biases you hold, where your sticking points 274 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: are with your exclusivity and fitness. Fitness is very very 275 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: very exclusive industry that define certain people as experts that 276 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: very rarely listens to particular groups. And that's why I 277 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: created Decolonizing fitness in the first place, to carve spaces 278 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: for those vulnerable boat populations who could benefit the most 279 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: from fitness and wellness services. So it's about being reflective. 280 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 1: It's about getting honest with what your practices look like, 281 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: what your business models are. It's about bringing in the 282 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: people who can understand and help you without exploiting them, 283 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: And it's about getting down and doing the work. And 284 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: it's as simple as that. What is next elia form 285 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: fit for us and for decolonizing fitness. How can people 286 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 1: get involved if they're if they're interested in learning more, 287 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: if they're folks that are listening to this that want 288 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: to partner. Please absolutely, First, you can go to Fit 289 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: for Us dot org and plug in and become a member. 290 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: You can follow Fit for Us on social media. Instagram 291 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 1: is my favorite social media platform. You can follow us there. 292 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 1: You can reach out to me directly on you can 293 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: reach out to me on my website, Decolonizing Fitness dot com. 294 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: And I'm always open to answering questions. So become a 295 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,479 Speaker 1: member of Fit for Us learn, especially if you're a 296 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: black fitness and wellness professional. If you're a corporation or 297 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: work for a major organization, again, reach out to Fit 298 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: for Us. We're constantly partnering with companies I like I mentioned, 299 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: I do DAIB consultancy work for Fit for Us, so 300 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,719 Speaker 1: I would love to come in and work with their organization. 301 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: We have a wonderful team. I'm not the only one 302 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 1: that does that inclusion work, but we have a wonderful 303 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: team of folks that are willing to work with you now, 304 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: So just reach out to us and extend that branch 305 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: to us and let's do this work. Acceptance for the 306 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: trans folks in our community is crucially important. Whether you 307 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: are under the LGBTQ plus umbrella or not, it is 308 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: not an exaggeration to say that transgender people are under 309 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: attack throughout our country. Finding against anti trans legislation in 310 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: this moment and beyond is crucially important, but it's also 311 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: important to create spaces of safety and acceptance. Since many 312 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: of these hate bills are about banning trans athletes from 313 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: participating in sports, it's even more important to create an 314 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: accepting environment. In the world of fitness. Ilia Parker, Decolonizing 315 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: Fitness and Fit for Us are all doing the work 316 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: to drive us towards that necessary reality. I will be 317 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: having more of these conversations, so to hear them as 318 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,959 Speaker 1: soon as they go live, and to support me in 319 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 1: my mission to make our world a woker place, consider 320 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 1: joining the WOKEAF Nation on Patreon at patreon dot com 321 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 1: slash wokeaf You'll get five full one hour episodes every week, 322 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: exclusive interviews, and some fun bonus content, and I'll be 323 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: back here next week with some exciting news on what's 324 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: next for the podcast, So stay tuned. Power to the 325 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: people and to all the people. Power, get woke, and 326 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: stay woke as fuck.