After finishing her college basketball career, Ryann Bowser became the general manager of a CrossFit gym.
- The members knew she was a lesbian, but when she spoke up about it or supported LGBTQ+ community causes, “it wasn’t OK,” she said.
During Pride Month, Bowser pitched an idea to do one workout each week for Pride to support the gay and lesbian community. Fifteen members quit the gym.
- “I got a lot of emails [saying things like], ‘My name is Tanya, and I’m a Christian, and I don’t believe blah blah blah.’ Just really f$%&ed up stuff,” Bowser, who came out as gay when she finished high school, said.
After that, Bowser found herself feeling increasingly unsafe and less happy at the gym, but she didn’t want to abandon fitness altogether.
Instead, Bowser — who grew up in Holton, a small town in Kansas where she experienced discrimination for being a lesbian — found a new mission.
- “A mission to create a space where I, and obviously my athletes, could feel comfortable, where I can be myself, where I can be out, where I can be visible, and where I can hang a pride flag in my gym and have people actually support that,” she said.
One year ago, Bowser made this dream a reality when she opened Rare Breed CrossFit in Kansas City, MO.
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One Year Later
Bowser’s gym has since made a name for itself in Kansas City. They are already home to nearly 100 members, more than 65 percent of whom identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
- “It’s amazing to have this space for myself and to have this space for others. We have such an intimate community, and some of my queer members feel like they can step foot in a gym for the first time without being scared,” Bowser said.
One member in particular, who is non-binary, used to belong to a different CrossFit gym, but they found every excuse not to go because they didn’t feel comfortable there.
Since joining Rare Breed CrossFit, they told Bowser they finally feel safe and supported. As a result, they’re showing up five to six times a week and have referred their friends to join the gym.
- “They finally have a community that supports them and calls them by their preferred pronouns,” Bowser said.
Bowser’s Message to Other Gym Owners
To other gym owners looking to ensure they create a safe, inclusive space that welcomes anybody regardless of gender or sexual orientation, Bowser said it’s not rocket science.
- “I would say hanging a pride flag is the first step. As a queer person, if I see that in any business, or any gym or anywhere, I immediately know that I’m safe and I will be so much more comfortable walking into that space,” she said.
Second, Bowser recommends having neutral locker rooms or bathrooms and moving away from “gendering anything in your programming.”
- “We have suggested weights. We don’t call them men’s and women’s weights. And then, like, your wall ball target. I don’t care where you throw [to]. It’s a target,” she said. “Throw to a target. And I don’t care what weight you lift. Pick a weight. Whatever you’re comfortable with where you’re going to get the correct stimulus.”
Looking Ahead
Bowser couldn’t be happier with how quickly her business has grown in just one year, but she has loftier goals. She is hoping to hit 150 members by year three, but more than anything, she wants to affect as many people in the local LGBTQ+ community as possible.
- “We have a pretty big following on social media…but I want to get more queer people in the door. I want to keep building the culture, and keep building our brand, and continue to be that safe space for people like me,” Bowser said.
“I’m here to stand, and I’m not leaving,” she added.
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Featured image: @rarebreedcfathletics / Instagram
