The Trans Fitness Community: Physical Exercise As A Way To Assert Themselves

If there is a fitness community that has grown a lot, it is the trans community. Many trans people have found in physical activity a way to assert themselves and feel more confident in their bodies. Trans athlete and fitness coach Laverne Cox shared in an interview with Men's Health magazine about the importance of physical exercise in the lives of trans people.

Known for her participation in the Black Is The New Orange series, the athlete began to exercise more regularly after her sex change surgery in 2017. For Cox, exercise is a way for her to take care of herself and her body, in addition to helping her feel more confident and stronger. "I feel much better about myself when I exercise," he said.

Despite this, the trans athlete also recognises the challenges that the trans community faces in the fitness world. Transexuals are often excluded from physical exercise spaces or are the target of prejudice or discrimination. “For trans people, it can be very difficult to find a safe space to exercise,” he said. "It is important that cis people understand that the trans community faces many obstacles in everyday life, including fitness."

Many people have found in physical exercise a form of empowerment and this has made the trans fitness community grow over the past few years. “Fitness can be a way to reconnect with your own body and feel more present in it,” Cox said.

Physical exercise can also have a very positive effect on the mental health of the trans community. “Trans people often face a lot of anxiety and stress,” he said. “Exercise can help relieve these symptoms and improve mental health.”