The first queer parkour group in the world has been set up in Cardiff to create a more inclusive space for LGBTQ+ people within the sport.
Queer Parkour Cardiff run sessions suitable for beginners and more experienced athletes.
Parkour is a sport where athletes run, jump and climb over obstacles.
Kian Telford is the group’s policy director. He told CJS News he has experienced discrimination in parkour and was put off from the sport, but came back to it when he saw this community advertised.
“It’s been dominated by cis, straight men and there’s been this sort of boyish attitude.”
He said having a separate group encourages people from a range of backgrounds to get involved, especially trans people.
Kian said trans people often feel excluded in other sports. But in parkour, he said, “There’s pretty much no excuse to not include trans people… we really want to bring them in, for them to be themselves, to go on their own personal journey within sports.”
The instructors use inclusive language and try to create a more relaxed atmosphere. Kian said, “There’s no questions asked on what you identify as, you can just come and you know that people have similar experiences that you can bond over.”
Jae Hee, one of the participants said, “I feel like I can just be myself here, I don’t have to act a certain way. It’s really nice to just be able to focus on the fun of the exercise and the sport and not worry about anything else.”
I feel like I can just be myself here, I don’t have to act a certain way
Kian said the growth he’s seen in participants is significant. “You can see them achieve things that they never thought you could… you see their progression week by week and you see them become more comfortable with themselves.”
Kian said him and the team are trying to expand the group and encourage more queer people to try out extreme sports.