With everyone watching his every move, Daniel Purcell, a third-year public relations and psychology major, pulls himself into the gymnastics ring to perform a series of maneuvers. Surprisingly, this is exactly what Purcell is aiming for.
The LGBTQ+ Lift Club held its second event on February 16th at the Hub LA Figueroa gym. Club members attended his hour-long training led by club founder and president Mr. Purcell. He led the group through multiple exercises, demonstrating proper form and giving tips and encouragement for others to follow.
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The event began with Purcell leading stretching exercises, making sure to include each member of the group in the conversation. Once the muscles were warmed up and each other warmed up, the group split into pairs and began circuit exercises. Club members connected with each other along the way, discussing the challenges of each exercise while providing support with Purcell’s experienced advice. After completing their laps, club members gathered together to congratulate each other.
Purcell’s interest in health and wellness led him to start the club. He also hopes to counter the inclusive stereotypes that LGBTQIA+ students may encounter in his community of fitness clubs, particularly the idea that gyms are only for cisgender straight men. was established.
For Purcell, the gym was an essential part of her recovery from an eating disorder, so making it a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people was even more important.
“For most of my life, I was extremely overweight, struggled with an eating disorder, and had no interest in fitness,” Purcell said. “after that [when I was an] upperclassman [in] When I got to high school, I started getting more interested in fitness and loved it. It wasn’t forced, it wasn’t forced on me. I really enjoyed working out and there were a lot of people who helped me get into this world. ”
Last summer, Purcell was inspired to build a community on campus after receiving many comments upon arriving at USC regarding her involvement in the fitness community, specifically as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Ms Purcell said she thought the idea of gay people going to the gym was commonplace, but the sheer number of requests for advice inside the gym meant that many people believed otherwise. proved.
“My freshman year of college, when I got here, a lot of people at home and here were like, ‘How do you start working out? How are your muscles? How do you do it?'” Purcell said. “I was kind of taken aback because I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m gay, so I’m going to work out, too.’ But it’s true, and a lot of people were really inspired by me and wanted to ask me for tips. ”
After spending time helping people interested in fitness, Purcell realized there was a need for a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community at USC. Community members expressed interest in participating, but she faced two major challenges: a lack of support and the prevalence of gay stereotypes in fitness.
“There are a lot of people looking for support to get into the health and wellness world, but there’s a huge stigma around queer people working out and exercising. [pushes] they [to] I didn’t even want to go to the gym, I didn’t even step in the door,” Purcell said.
Heather Mimikos, a sophomore majoring in narrative studies and journalism, noticed this energy while working out in a facility on campus. She joined LGBTQ+ Lift to help improve her health in a safe environment.
“It would be nice to have a little space to work out that doesn’t have the energy of ‘gym buddies’.” [too] Overwhelming, like a village [Fitness Center] Or at the Lyon Center,” Mimikos said. “I don’t usually practice because I’m scared to go to the gym.” [lifting]”
This discomfort at the USC Village Fitness Center and Lyon Recreation Center was a common sentiment among club members.
“So many gay people say they don’t like going to the gym at USC and that it makes them feel so uncomfortable and weird,” said Carlo, vice president of LGBTQ+ Lift and a third-year cognitive science major. Melio said. “The main purpose and biggest goal of this club is to make gay people feel safe about going to the gym.”
This widespread feeling of not belonging in campus gyms inspired Purcell’s determination to organize a club where people who fear going to the gym could finally develop the courage to do so.
“I wanted to break down that stigma, break down barriers, give them confidence, instill a foundation in lifting and training, and create a community that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives,” Purcell said. Ta.
Even deeper than the hurdles LGBTQIA+ people face when going to the gym, Purcell said, is getting them into clubs that are explicitly labeled as LGBTQIA+.
“The majority of homosexuals have thoughts like this in their minds. [they’re] I don’t participate in queer or gay groups, but [they] …And the way we were able to break down that barrier, especially for a lot of queer men, was really inspiring,” Purcell said. “The fact that we were actually able to convince them and they actually signed up and came to the meeting felt really good.”
In the future, the club is planning events with queer gyms and personal trainers, as well as regular workouts. Fundraisers with other of his LGBTQIA+ clubs and classes focused on strength and conditioning are also in the works for his late March session.
Club officials emphasized one of the main messages. Everyone is free to participate, and the main goal is to familiarize yourself with yourself and the gym environment.
“Over time, as my muscles started to grow and I started figuring out how to work out, I felt like I belonged in the gym space,” Purcell said. “If you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, you’re training correctly, you’re not bothering anyone, you know gym etiquette, there’s no reason to feel uncomfortable and you feel comfortable in your own skin. You should, you should.” Freedom to work out and be yourself. ”
