← LGBTQ Outdoors Podcast
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- [00:00]
Bailey Buckles
I know it in my heart. I won't be alive another year if I don't. If I don't accept myself. So I just. I put a name to it. I looked in the mirror, and I was just like, I am trans. I am a woman. I am not this. I am not what I'm seeing.
- [00:24]
Justin Yoder
What do you do when you come out as LGBTQ and love the outdoors? What do you do when you see the outdoor space ruled by older white CIS men and desire a diverse community of outdoor lovers? Accept it, change it, create it. I am Justin Yoder, and this is LGBT Outdoors. Hello, everyone, and welcome to the LGBT Outdoors Podcast. I am one of your hosts, Justin Yoder, and I also have Patrick with me again today.
- [00:54]
Patrick
Hey, everybody.
- [00:57]
Justin Yoder
There's a lot going on.
- [00:58]
Patrick
There's a lot going on. A lot going on.
- [01:01]
Justin Yoder
End of the year, running a nonprofit, and all the things have to be done. But it's exciting, and we're looking forward to 2025. Got some amazing things lined up, including our adventure trips.
- [01:15]
Patrick
Yes.
- [01:16]
Justin Yoder
We are working hard to get those solidified, so we. While I can't say all of them right this minute, by the time this airs, you should be able to go to our website, LGBToutdoors.com and click on Adventure Trips and see them all. I will say that you and I are leading a trip to Alaska this summer in July. So that's going to be one of them for sure.
- [01:42]
Patrick
I'm, like, super excited about that because the jealousy that I felt while you and the rest of the crew were up there this summer, it looked amazing. The stories that y'all were telling when you got back is just, like, incredible. So I'm looking forward to getting to experience that. I'd never been to Alaska and. But I did have, you know, some river rafting experience growing up and getting to do that. Well, that was in Texas, so that's going to be a vastly different experience in Alaska with the Alaska Packraft School, who are amazing, and I love both of them, Jules and Justin, and I can't wait to actually meet them in person.
- [02:36]
Justin Yoder
Yeah, they're a lot of fun. So if you aren't familiar with our adventure trips, we started them this year with two, and we did Alaska and we did the Big Ben National Park. Both were highly successful and amazing. So we decided that we're going to do more this year, 2025, and right now we're looking at, I believe, five. So, yeah, we are just working on finalizing payments and contracts and all that kind of fun things. Before we announce the dates and locations, for sure. But again, within the next week, we should have information on the website about that. And it's just an amazing time to be able to be with your own community, get out, see some national parks, wildlife, embrace the outdoors on these cool trips. So it's a lot of fun. And it wouldn't surprise me if they book up too, so don't. If it's something you want to do, be sure that you get your deposit in and sign up pretty quickly, because I think some of them will fill up pretty quick.
- [03:35]
Patrick
Yeah, I know some of the ones that y'all are working on outside of the Alaska trip, and they really, really sound awesome. One of them is to my personal favorite national park. And that. That's all I'll. I'll say. Little teaser for everybody.
- [03:54]
Justin Yoder
Also, we are wearing LGBT outdoors merch, so if you don't know. Well, let me back up a little bit, because some of you might not be seeing us right now, but if you're watching on YouTube right now, we are wearing our LGBT outdoor merch. So video is new. We started that on our last, and it's going great. People seem to be loving it. Yeah, it's taken off really well. But we have all this awesome merch T shirts. I'm in my favorite hoodie. Not just because it's LGBT outdoors. It's just so comfortable.
- [04:30]
Patrick
Okay. No, no, like, for real, like, don't. We can't let that, like, get undersold. Like, I have a navy blue one, and, like, hands down, it is my favorite hoodie. Not to sound biased, but, like, it's embroidered, but I get so comfortable. It's like a warm hug.
- [04:52]
Justin Yoder
Who doesn't want a warm hug? So head over to the website, pick yourself up a hoodie T shirt, merch.
- [05:00]
Patrick
It's fun ball caps and all sorts of stuff. Our store manager and outdoor fest coordinator and new LGBT outdoors board member Josh McNabb is heading up the store in addition to everything else. Well, yeah, so he does. He does a great job. So check it out.
- [05:24]
Justin Yoder
Definitely. I am, as always, thrilled to have our guests that we have today. I stumbled across her on Instagram, I believe, originally and immediately became addicted and went through all of her posts and started liking them, and she's probably like, who's this new stalker that I have? But we are so excited to have Bailey Buckles from Colorado joining us today, and she is a avid outdoors person, loves adventure, loves getting out there, and also as a big advocate for the community and especially the trans community, Which I think is highly important and so critical at this time. So, Bailey, welcome to the podcast.
- [06:13]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, thanks so much. And, yeah, Justin, you were definitely creeping on my IG a little bit. And, you know, for a second, I was just like, wow, like, someone named Justin is really going deep on my Instagram. Then I was like, oh, I know who Justin is. Then I was very flattered.
- [06:31]
Justin Yoder
Oh, well, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, no, didn't mean to come across creepy. Just like, this is great stuff, and this is somebody that we need to get on the podcast. I want to get connected with. I really wish I could just, like, fly right out there and do a hike with you, and at some point, that's going to happen, but I. I am just. I think you're just an awesome person, and you're doing great things, and you're the kind of people that we want to be connected with. So, yeah, I would love it. Like, let's kick this off with you sharing about your journey, who you are, and that can be as deep as you want to go with it. But a lot of our listeners might not know who you are, and we want to be sure that they are introduced to you and get connected to you for sure. So tell us a little bit about who you are.
- [07:21]
Bailey Buckles
For sure. For sure. So my name is Bailey Buckles. My pronouns are she, they. I live in Colorado Springs. It's where I grew up. It's home, just about 60 miles south of Denver. I'm very proud to be from Colorado Springs. It's. It's a very hot take. People usually are just like, you're from Colorado Springs and you like it. Yes, it's. It's home for sure. So I am biased, but direct access to the outdoors at the foothills of the mountains. Just a totally beautiful spot to be. Y'all are welcome to come out anytime. And really, like the backstory, who I am, there's always, like, I feel like with all of us, there's this unique aspect of our life and journey where there's the. The short version and there's the long version of how we come out and tell their story. The short version is I have always known who I am from a very young age, and then that's it, and the rest is history. And I'm here before you today with.
- [08:20]
Justin Yoder
A long version that is. That is a short version for sure.
- [08:24]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah. Like, no doubts. From, like, earliest memories, I always knew who I was and who I wanted to be in the capacity of just my gender identity. Growing up, I definitely was very well aware That I am not one of the boys that everyone's perceiving me to be from just, I remember just being in trouble, wearing like my mom's clothes or my sister's clothes, just like taking out of the dryer, wearing their things and just feeling at home and at peace. And also from that young age, just being told, like, what are you doing? That's not for you. You're not allowed to wear those clothes. And like, you're. You're a boy, be a boy. And it's just like, that doesn't make sense to me. That's not who I am. So always, like, especially for the trans community from a very young age, a lot of us specifically know exactly who we are. We might not just have the language to say it. We don't really have those tools and resources. I grew up in the time with the dawn of the Internet, where there wasn't. There wasn't much resources available. Growing up, I really didn't know much about trans existence. Even going into high school, just, I knew you could be straight, you could be gay, you could be bi, but I never really knew any other trans people. I didn't have community with trans women, with trans men. So there was always just this big struggle I knew to suppress my feelings just because, again, at a young age I was getting in trouble for, for wearing girls clothing. Even though, like, historically I've always had male friends, I always knew that I wasn't one of the guys I would try to be. I would like, project myself in like, the. Their likeness of, like, okay, well, this is what the guys are doing. Like, let me just keep projecting and trying to almost like, match how they were behaving. But like, in high school, like, there is this period, this short window where like, I almost came out. Like, every Halloween, like, since middle school, I'd always dress as a girl, which the breadcrumbs of my life. I'm just like friends and family. How did you not know my staple costume was just dressing up as me? Like, it wasn't even wearing like a cat costume. It was just literally like, I would just go to school and just dress like how normal girls at my time would dress.
- [10:49]
Justin Yoder
Wow.
- [10:50]
Bailey Buckles
And it was like every Halloween, I remember, like, the first, like one or two, like in middle school, being like a little nervous, like, oh, what are people gonna say? But I was like, oh, it's Halloween. Like, they're not gonna say anything.
- [11:01]
Justin Yoder
And I'm curious. Like, I decided I'm going to jump in real quick. What did people say? Like, when they wanted to know what your costume was, or did they even ask what your costume was or.
- [11:13]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, like, people would ask, like, there's always, like, there'd be, like, the laughter, the. What are you doing? And I was just like, oh. Like, I would make up, like, different names of the year. It's like, I'm Bella. Like, this is my costume. I'm just this Bella high school girl. Then people were like, oh, okay.
- [11:33]
Justin Yoder
Okay.
- [11:34]
Bailey Buckles
I definitely had, like, this sense of, like. I guess some people would say it's like me being naive, but, like, I just say, like, just this youthful innocence where, like, I was in this bubble of just kind of, like, I filtered out a lot. Like, if people were being bullies or rude, one, I didn't really pick up on it. Sometimes it'd go over my head. It's like, oh, I thought they were calling me names because, like, they were my friends. I had no idea they were actually trying to be rude. I just thought it was kind of funny. They were laughing at me. I'm laughing back. We're having a good time. So if there really were, like, kind of just not good feelings around that, conversations of me, like, presenting myself during Halloween, I honestly didn't register it for better and worse. But, yeah, again, just when I look back at it, though, I'm just, like, friends and family, like, they're. They've been the breadcrumbs throughout my entire journey. And, like, in high school, though, like, what prevented me from actually, like, kind of not wearing this costume of myself every day was that, again, not really having, like, Internet was just rising. This is like the early 2000s. I really didn't know about trans identity, trans existence. I was like, I could come out and be gay and present as a gay male, but I was like, that just doesn't seem. That's not me either. I was in theater. I was definitely, like, one of the theater kids.
- [12:56]
Patrick
And, yeah, theater people. All right.
- [12:58]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, there we go. Patrick, I'm picking up on something here.
- [13:01]
Patrick
Yeah.
- [13:03]
Bailey Buckles
And, yeah, so, like, there was, like, a pocket, and I think there was a lot of us kind of expecting. Exploring our identity at that time. And some of my friends at the time came out as gay male. And then I was just kind of, like, felt encouraged. And I was like, all right. In our pocket of safety. I, too, am a gay male. And everyone was kind of like, huh, all right. Like, we accept that. We just don't really see that in you either. But, yeah, so, like, I kind of was half in the closet, half out of the closet. None of it being actually who I was. So I just like suppressed that, ignored it even happened. Like I told some of my close friends, I was like, hey guys, like, I'm gay. I'm gonna start dating guys. I just want you to know I'm not gonna tell my mom and dad. And everyone's just like, that's cool. Like we, we support you. And I was like, well, that's amazing. That's already there. So it was nice to have that even from friends that like, weren't in this like theater bubble of exploration that we were doing. And then I started dating guys and I was like, no, this, this doesn't feel right. This, this isn't the, this isn't me. This isn't my identity. So I just like kind of moved through that and just started dating girls again and then just went hyper masculine all the way up and through till I was 26. I just went on this hyper masculine journey where I was just like, I don't want to wear girls clothes anymore. I don't want to have those thoughts. This is just not. I'm not seeing this from anyone else. I don't know anyone else doing this. So I was like, I'll just be the best guy I can be. Started lifting weights, got into bodybuilding. Went from like a hundred and like ten pounds of a scrawny person up to like 180 pounds of just like lifting weights and living at the gym and sort of like this, this masculine world that I was going into of like men like coming up to me, wanting to know like fitness tips and just kind of living almost like this. Not like an alpha life because I definitely was not any type of alpha person, but just like having just this notoriety of being like a, just a strong, a strong guy. I was like, this feels great. Like I can bake my existence into this. But then I was also following at this point now I'm watching trans content creators on YouTube, I'm seeing a trans community form on Facebook and on Instagram. And I'm always drawn to it and I'm following them and I'm just like, ah, that life just feels right. Their life just feels. I see myself in their stories, I see myself in their experiences. What am I doing to myself? And then after just years of addiction, years of depression, and just really bad dark negative thoughts, I turned 26. And then I just had this wake up call where it's just like, I will not, I know it in my heart, I won't be alive another year if I don't If I don't accept myself. So I just, I put a name to it. I looked in the mirror and I was just like, I am trans. I am a woman. I am not this. I am not what I'm seeing. And I met up with a gender therapist, started talking, let her know just, like, freely through my heart. I was just like, I. I'm not, I'm not who you're seeing. There's a part of me deep inside that needs to come out and I want to start this journey. And that's where it really just, I flourished from there. Going into a conversation of just like, I know I need to talk to somebody into just being able to comfortably say, I am Bailey, what you're seeing right now is not me, but I want the world to see who I am, like, the real me. And that really started my transition journey.
- [17:03]
Patrick
Wow. Yeah. I like your longer version better.
- [17:07]
Justin Yoder
Yeah.
- [17:10]
Patrick
Like, it's funny, you're talking about Internet resources. I, I came out in like 96, 1996, and there really weren't like, my, my resources to like, introduce me to the queer community was literally watching like, Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer because. And like, they would bring on the, these queer guests. And like, I fully understood, like, they're there for spectacle, they're there for shock value. And it was very rarely presented in a positive light. But as far as the Internet goes, like, this is back in the day where we had dial up where it has that like, God awful noise. So, like, late at night I'm like, in high school and like late at night I would bring blankets into the computer room and like, smush them around the computer so that my parents wouldn't hear the noise. And I would go into like, AOL chat rooms, which is not, definitely, not necessarily a healthy place to find, like, positive resources about being gay. AOL chat rooms were kind of more oriented for something else, I'll say that. But yeah. What, what a journey. I'm grateful, if I'm being fully honest, that you got to come to a realization before anything, like, really, really bad happened. I know that there's several people who aren't as fortunate, but I'm glad that you're still around. I'm glad that you're using your time to be an advocate and, you know, use, use your voice and get out there.
- [19:17]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah. Thank you. Thank you.
- [19:19]
Patrick
Thrilled to have you.
- [19:21]
Justin Yoder
Yeah, absolutely. When, when did, like, nature and the outdoors start coming to play with this? And did it. How did that affect your, your journey? I know for a lot of our community the outdoors can be a very healing and place of therapy for people. Did. Did that come in play with you? And did you, like. Did you like the outdoors since you were young, or did that. That become something that happened later in life?
- [19:53]
Bailey Buckles
Oh, great question. And yeah, so my journey with the outdoors. I definitely wouldn't be who I am today without building and creating a life outdoors. I always just growing up in Colorado, like, with access to the outdoors. I was always hiking and, like, taking part in outdoor things, but I really didn't, like, make a connection or love for it until probably a year or two into my transition. Like, prior to transitioning with, like, friends, I remember, like, when they first were like, hey, let's go do a 14er. Like, after we graduated high school. I'm just like, a fourteener. What are you even talking about? It's like, what numbers are you throwing at me that I don't understand? They're like, oh, you know, we have, like, 58 mountains in Colorado that are higher than 14,000ft. Let's go. Let's go hike one. I'm like, that doesn't make any sense. That doesn't sound. That doesn't sound fun. But then, you know, just this is before in Colorado especially, there's a big lore and culture around going out and climbing our 14ers that we have. But probably I did my first one when I think I was like 19, 19 or 20, and instantly fell in love with it. I was just like, this is great. Like, this is intense. Like, this is hiking, but a whole other. Just a whole other mountain, a whole nother adventure. But I didn't quite really understand what I was liking about it. I was presenting as male at the time, but, like, there was just this draw of just, like, camping overnight. Finally, for the first time, I was just like, my eyes are starting to open to it. I was like, this is great. But I was pretty fair weather into it. Up until about probably I was like, 28. I always used outdoors as a means to fitness for the longest time, where it was just a way to stay in shape. I was like, oh, I could go do fourteeners because it's a really good exercise. I'm not training for it. I'm not doing them regularly. It's like once or twice a year I could go for a hike. And that's a great exercise. It's a great workout. It keeps, like, this male image that I'm using and trying to project. And then really, like, I started when I started transitioning, I definitely went through this period of Time where I lost a lot of family, lost a lot of friends, and I found myself, just for the first time, I found myself alone. And when I found myself alone, I actually found myself alone and happy. When I was outdoors, like, I. I lost that sense of, like, in person, community. But I would just. Because I was trying to, like, lose muscle mass that I was building. I started mountain biking for the first time. A lot more. I started really going on long hikes, and I just started having that nature therapy where I started getting in touch with parts of myself that I didn't really know were there. I really started to just connect with my soul, my spirit. And I discovered my authentic self in nature throughout my transition. And there was just this awakening. And ever since then, like, that's really. I stopped doing drugs. When I transitioned, it was, like, my claim to, like, keep myself alive. I was like, I'm cleaning up my life. I'm devoted into in an existence. Like, I never really thought myself worthy of having an existence until I. I chose to. And I found a way to recover from addiction also in nature, because, again, just there was just this beauty around me. I'm seeing deer, elk, mountain lion, bears, like, not even being scared of any wild animal encounters. Just, like, being in awe of. Just, like, how am I sharing space with these creatures? How are they just out here living and doing their thing, and I'm just a part of it. I'm just, like, this observer. So it's been great. I definitely wouldn't be who I am without this connection to the outdoors and a lot of the content that I create these days. I'm bringing my viewers with me. I'm bringing and sharing my story of just life outdoors and just how it's really helped and benefit me through recovery, through understanding my identity, and in turn, finding and discovering community. Community that I felt I lost. I was able to develop and create and find a whole new one. So it's been incredible.
- [24:35]
Patrick
I love that. And there's a common thread through a lot of people that we talk to that a hike is never just a hike. Camping is never just sleeping in a tent. Like, there's always something that you use your words, like, kind of spiritual about it, where, you know, it's the connection in nature or seeing the. The sunset that really kind of reframes, like, you know, how you look at things, and it's just so much deeper than just a walk in the woods. Love it.
- [25:16]
Justin Yoder
Yeah. Yeah. And that community is so important, too, that you find, you know, like, we hear all the time and and it's very true. You know, like, nature doesn't care about who you are, your representation, or your gender or anything like that. That's true. There are many people that do. Um, but to get outside and especially find your community, your tribe, your family that you can get out there and enjoy the outdoors with and really connect with nature and each other, there's. There's something really powerful that happens with that. I think that's one thing that has made LGBT outdoors so successful is. Is that there's. There's this magic that happens when you get out there with your own people, and I love that. I know that you loved hiking. That's one of your big things that you enjoyed. What other outdoor activities do you really enjoy? And I know, like, Colorado, that can be a wide variety of things, but if you're like, what. What. I guess, what are your go tos along with hiking?
- [26:22]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, for sure. Definitely go tos other than hiking. Really love trail running, for sure. Trail running is trail running, hiking. I use those pretty interchangeably. And on top of that, I'm a winter sport fanatic. I grew up doing a lot of snowboarding. I stopped snowboarding because just. I broke too many bones just from going a little too. Just a little too many full sends going all in. Like, I was just like, I better. I better take a. Take a step back. And then I actually developed from there. I was like, well, if I'm not gonna just have all this fun on a snowboard. I picked up some snowshoes and just got fully in love with snowshoeing, So I make the most out of summer, but I just love snowshoeing in the wintertime. It blends. Just my biggest passion, which is, like, hiking and trail running. And I get to do the same thing just in the wintertime. And there's just something just so. Just epic and extreme and just beautiful about just hiking mountains in the snow. And even if you're not, like, climbing a mountain in the snow with snowshoes, just going out and just being through that, and it was like fresh powder. I. I just love it. And then my wife and I, we recently got into, like, paddle boarding and kayaking, which has been super good. Like, she's all about the water. She's all about. Like, she needs that in her life. And I didn't even paddle board for the first time until, like, two years ago. And I was just like, I don't know about this. I like my. I like my feet on. On the ground.
- [27:55]
Justin Yoder
Like, it's so wobbly. At first, like, I remember the first time I did, I was like, my knees are, like, shaking so bad.
- [28:03]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, same, same. And, like, we actually have this epic picture, so. Because I definitely. I make a lot of content outdoors. Like, I love photography. I love just recording experiences just through that aspect. But naturally, we're out paddleboarding for the first time, and I've got my GoPro. I mounted on the paddle board, and it was a. It was an experience. I definitely fell plenty of times, but then I finally got the hang of it. And, like, my wife starts paddling over, and she wants to, like, take a cute picture of us on the lake together. And I'm like, yeah, that's fine. And then she decides to, like, step onto my board, and I wasn't ready for it, and then I just, like, flip over. So I have just this amazing, beautiful screenshot of our first outing of me just, like, going head first in the water. She's trying to step onto my board, and it's just probably the best outtake I've ever had.
- [28:55]
Patrick
Love it. Love that.
- [28:59]
Justin Yoder
I did snowshoeing. I've only ever done it once, actually. I think it was about a year ago. We went to Colorado to film for part of our promo video that we did, and we did snowshoeing up to this lake. And, you know, I had no idea, really what to expect with snowshoeing, but it was amazing. And I. I knew this from my time in Missouri with how much snow we get up there and in the woods, how. Just quiet it becomes. But, like, you get up in Colorado into the mountains, and all the trees are covered in snow, and it's just so silent and just beautiful, and you just hear the wind blowing, and it's. I don't know. Yeah, it's magical. And I can understand how people could get addicted to snowshoeing, for sure.
- [29:47]
Bailey Buckles
Definitely. Definitely. That silence is just amazing as you. As you captured it, you should definitely come out and snowshoe sometime. Let's do it. I've got an extra.
- [29:56]
Justin Yoder
Awesome. I'm down. I would. I would love that. Yeah. It's funny, because I almost feel like I'm gaining more friends in Colorado. Texas.
- [30:07]
Patrick
Screw Texas.
- [30:11]
Justin Yoder
Well, to go along with this. So kind of developing of who you are, your love for the outdoors, what you like doing. Have you ran into any challenges or barriers being a. A transgender person or a person of color, like, in the outdoors? Because, you know, a lot of our community. So there's a stereotype that the LGBTQ community doesn't like the Outdoors, right? Well, obviously we do, but there are a lot of people that definitely don't at the same time, and do have fears about the outdoors. We don't hide anything. And a lot of times people go through very challenging things. We hear stories all the time about people that have faced. Have been discriminated against, either on a trail or in an outdoor setting or in an outdoor store. And so it does happen. So we're not trying to hide that, but we also want to make people aware of some of the challenges we go through through our community. And I'm just curious if you've faced any challenges along those lines.
- [31:23]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, no, for sure. That's always. That's. It's hard. It's hard because I. I definitely have faced challenges and barriers in the outdoors. The outdoor industry, just being in Colorado, in the outdoors is predominantly. You stumble across CIS het white men, and when you're brown or you're bipoc and you're navigating these spaces that alone, you're already kind of standing out. And then when you're trans or you identify as lgbtq, that's a whole other barrier that's on there. And I have definitely experienced a fair share of harassment on the trail. I've had experiences of actually being sexually assaulted on the trail.
- [32:08]
Justin Yoder
Wow.
- [32:09]
Bailey Buckles
And it makes. Going out, it can pose some challenges, for sure. And a lot of fear. A lot of fear can happen from not wanting to be in that experience again. But even just for a visibility standpoint, I would say overall, my experiences in the outdoors have always been safe and enjoyable. It's just that marginal, that slim margin of where harm does happen. And that's the reality of it, though. I've been, I think, just something that I see especially maybe not even my transness coming out, but just being a brown woman in the outdoors. I'll get so much constant feedback from, like, CIS white men, especially of just mansplaining on the trail or just, like, making comments. I feel like a lot of, like, the bipoc community will experience this. This policing of our bodies, of just having comments of just, like, just our general appearance. I'll hear from men of just like, you don't need all that stuff on your face, like makeup. You know, you don't need that for where you're going. And it's just like, not wearing it for you, buddy. Like, it's. It's not for you, or it'll just be. You get the mansplaining of just minding your own business, and it's like, oh, Are you sure you're comfortable out here? Are you like, they'll kind of like coddle you in the sense of like talking down on you as if you're not in the space of just like, just keep going. If you need to turn around, like, now's the good time to turn around. It's just like. No, like summoned at this mountain plenty of times.
- [33:49]
Justin Yoder
I'm sure you probably could be teaching them some stuff. Probably the reality of it.
- [33:54]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah.
- [33:55]
Justin Yoder
Like hate. I hate so much that you have faced that and that you go through that I can't even imagine. And I could, I could see why that does turn a lot of people away. But I am so thankful for people like you that press on and be like, you know what? I'm not going to let this control me. I'm not going to let them control me. And I'm still going to get out there and. And if people aren't, don't feel comfortable going by themselves. Find a friend to go with. Maybe we have a chapter where you're at and you could get involved with that and go. But, but I guess my biggest thing for people that are hearing this that I want them to know is like, yeah, danger and, and danger is always around us no matter where we're at. Right. It doesn't matter if we're driving on a car down the highway or if we're out on a trail. But I think the reward is well worth the risk. And we put ourselves at risk every day. So it's kind of. What kind of risk do you want to put yourself self in? And again, if you don't feel comfortable going by yourself, go with somebody, make some outdoor friends that you like to go hiking with or go paddleboarding with and still get out there. Because the therapy that you can get from Mother Nature is just such a powerful, powerful thing.
- [35:16]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, definitely. I couldn't have said it better myself. Should always, always try to get outside. But there's definitely the ways to, to do it safe and to be safe. And I would say 99 of the time, if you're new to going to the outdoors, you're gonna have a great experience. And there's definitely community there, there's friends that you can go with, there's all sorts of groups. But like, especially again, for the bipoc community, especially like the black and brown community, just there's a lot of barriers to access and it's. I would love to see those start getting like, addressed and lifted. And I think it's getting better in time, especially just like, with what LGBT outdoors is doing with the groups and the meetups and the chapters, like, that just helps out so much because it's removing that barrier, the one just being. I don't know how to get out here by myself. And just having that connection just goes a long way, for sure.
- [36:15]
Patrick
Well, it's a connection, but it's a direct invitation. I feel like I'll speak for myself. You go to a house of worship or wherever, and they're like, oh, well, we love everybody. Okay. But until you're calling out, like. Like, we love everybody. We love the L, the G, the B, the T, the plus, like, you are legit welcome. And it's. It's just an invite. And if it's not taken as an invite, it's at least education that, you know, we do these things. We don't always go to the bars and the clubs. Like, we have lives outside of that, and, you know, that's where we find outside, not the bars and the clubs. That's where we find our. Our healing and our recovery and, like, you know, all the things that we love about the outdoors.
- [37:31]
Justin Yoder
Yeah. And it's interesting that you mentioned the invite. Um, I wish I had the exact number now with me, but we do the. The LGBT Outdoor Visibility Survey, and one of the questions on there is, like, how likely would you be to go hiking with somebody or get involved in an outdoor activity if somebody was in to invite you? And I think it was, like, 42% of LGBTQ people said that if somebody was to invite me to go do an outdoor activity, I would go with them.
- [38:01]
Patrick
So that's a really incredible.
- [38:05]
Justin Yoder
If you are listening to this and you do like the outdoors, like, invite somebody to go with you, you never know. Can you celebrate? Can you share any celebrations that you've had? Any wins that you've had? I. I feel like there's a lot with you. You are, to me, a very light in the outdoor community, and I just feel like you. I can't speak specifically of any, but I just feel like there's got to be some really cool experiences and wins that you've had along this journey as well.
- [38:45]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, no, for sure. Definitely a lot of wins and celebrations. I think probably, like, the biggest wins and celebrations that I could think of is, honestly, like, I've been having so much fun in the outdoors lately, just really advocating for trans rights in the outdoors. As I mentioned earlier. Like, I love to just climb fourteeners. I've been really getting into 13ers in Colorado, which is just 13,000ft, mountains that are less traveled than the 14ers. There's a big following around doing Colorado 14ers. Then there's like hundreds of thirteeners that really embody just the spirit of the outdoors. They're more like your bushwhacking trails. You'll see a far, you'll see a lot less people on those trails, typically where like on a 14 or you're going to stumble across herds of folks doing the same thing. And on some of these thirteeners out here, there's. You might not see anybody or you might just see like one or two people for your entire excursion. So I've been doing these 13ers, but I've just been taking my trans flag with me and I've just been waving that from the summits, posting content with it, just encouraging the trans community, just reminding them of what trans joy means to me and just encouraging them to share what trans joy means for them. And the responses that I hear back from it have just like lifted my soul in a way I didn't think possible. Where even if they're not interested in being in the outdoors and they're commenting or they're sharing what brings them joy in their life, it's just, it's huge. It's just been, it's a shift that I'm trying to make even go even bigger. I would love to just keep hearing more about just trans joy because it really can't be diminished and I love bringing it to the outdoors and I want to bring more, especially more of the trans community with me to the outdoor community and just to these outdoor adventures because I just know how it feels. I just know how life saving it can be spiritually, emotionally, as a being and how you can tap into that authentic authent. Authentic. Authentic. Oh, I can't talk. Your authentic self.
- [41:06]
Justin Yoder
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I was going to try to jump in there and help you and then I was like getting tongue tied myself and I was like, I'm not going to be able to see anything authentic. It's hard being your authentic self. Yeah, that's huge.
- [41:20]
Patrick
Yeah.
- [41:22]
Justin Yoder
Like, I love the fact that you're focused on the joy and I want to, I, I want to focus on the joy. I want to kind of take a little detour from that for a second though. And I don't think I was originally planning on mentioning this and talking about it, but I think that it is. Could be really important because I, I love how vocal you are and about your advocacy and how passionate you are and you're. You're not hiding. You are out there. You are being like, I am Bailey. This is me. I am being my true self. But there's more and more recently, and I've. I've known this, always known it for quite a while, but the discrimination that you trans people can get, even from the LGBTQ community itself, I can't even begin to wrap my head around. And I would like to talk about that with you and see if you've experienced that and if you have thoughts on as to why and what we can do to help change that specifically. You're not going to go into all the details of it, but recently ran into a friend, a friend of mine, and I don't know what. What triggered it or what, but we ran into each other out one night, and all of a sudden he was on this rant about trans people. And I had no idea that that was his thoughts. And I've. I am done. Like, that is not the kind of people that I want in my life. But the things that he was saying, he. And he's a gay, gay guy just saying that he doesn't think that trans people should have the same rights as us, that trans people shouldn't have the choice of using the restrooms that they want to use, that the T shouldn't be a part of the lgbt. Like, all this stuff that I'm just like. Like, it was so shocking and so hurtful, and I can't imagine, like, being that narrow minded because for me, like, my parents don't accept me for being gay. And so even if I didn't understand something, I would want to try to understand it and get to know somebody so that I'm not like my parents. Have you, have you faced any of that from your. From the own community?
- [43:56]
Bailey Buckles
Oh, yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry to hear that you just had to be involved in that conversation too. But I've definitely have encountered that within the LGBT community. For sure. I have felt excluded from LGBT safe spaces just by being trans. Like, I remember even coming out, just even going to like, just kind of like gay bars around Colorado Springs. We had Club Q and just feeling at that time almost challenged in a way. It was a different community since back then, but it's just. It was just different sometimes for sure. I think the trans community gets picked on and bullied, a scapegoat for a lot of other issues that are out there, especially when we think about violence towards women and girls predominantly being done by CIS men. And the scapegoat to that is the trans community, specifically trans women. And from there it just kind of spews out. And I don't know what it is just about our identity in us existing that makes us threat that were not invited to have a seat at the table. I think a lot of the table wouldn't be there if it wasn't for trans activists when we go as far back to Stonewall. So it's kind of wild. Trans women, especially black trans women, have been leading the movement for LGBTQ rights for so long. But historically, we've been left behind. We've all just been left behind for whatever reason that is. And to this day, it's, it's a struggle. I don't encounter it personally as much anymore, but definitely I see it, I see it daily, I hear about it daily. And it's heartbreaking. Yeah, it's heartbreaking to know that your community that fights so hard to help everyone else.
- [46:02]
Justin Yoder
Yeah.
- [46:02]
Bailey Buckles
Gets left behind. And there's even the instances of just not advocating for trans rights in situations where we, we need advocacy, we need help, we need support. There's a lot of those that are within the LGBTQ community that kind of also sit it out. Like we, like me as myself, like, I can't advocate for the LGBT community without advocating for trans rights. But I feel like you, there's other folks out there that can advocate for the LGB community and intentionally behind trans and gender non conforming identities and people. And it just doesn't make sense to me. And yeah, I think collectively we all could. Just to your point, Justin, it'd be great if you have feelings of doubt or just not even doubt. You just don't know if you don't understand a trans person or if you don't understand what, why someone or how someone could be non binary or gender fluid. That's a great time to have a cup of coffee, have some tea and just get to know someone virtually in person. Like in today's world, you can't hop on your phone and not be exposed to the answers and answers, the questions that you have, especially when it comes out to just wanting to hear about someone's story. Like, you could hop onto Instagram, you could go to Tick Tock and look up trans or non binary creators and just hear their, hear them talk, their truths, listen to what they're saying, and you'll find your answers. There's just, there's been an unwillingness to, to take those steps. And I would just encourage anyone that has a shadow of a doubt if they're feeling that hesitation of I don't know how I can lend my voice into the trans community or I don't feel like I want to support them. Follow a trans content creator, and that might change your mind, because you'll see the humanity of us all.
- [48:06]
Justin Yoder
Yeah.
- [48:07]
Patrick
And that. That is. I think the, like, finest point you could possibly make is, for anybody, is just finding the humanity. Like, it's. It's hard to dislike or. Or hate or. Or, you know, whatever. Somebody, if you're looking them in the eyes and like, genuinely considering them, that they are a human being and that they've had parents and, you know, they grew up somewhere and that they have a backstory and they have feelings and, like, they probably cry and, you know, human. And you would think that one of the easiest things we could do as humans is just to see the humanity in each other, and that seems to be so ridiculously elusive.
- [49:10]
Justin Yoder
Yeah. Yeah. I will say this as. As the founder, as the executive director of LGBT Outdoors, we are always, always, always going to make sure that trans people feel welcome within our organization. And I say that for the. The bi community too. It's different. But I know that I have personally heard people talk about. Negatively about bi instructors we've had at LGBT Outdoor Fest. When it comes to the LGBT, LGBTQ + community. You're all welcome at LGBT Outdoors, and you are wanted here. We don't even separate our events. We don't even do, like, gay events or lesbian events or trans events. There's organizations that do that, and we have nothing against that. But for us, for LGBT Outdoors, we're looking at this as we're a family. And it doesn't matter where you fall in the LGBTQ plus categories. It doesn't matter where you fall with your race. It doesn't matter where you fall with your age. We are one big family, and everyone is welcome here and wanted here. So I. I am so sorry for everything that you've gone through, Bailey, but I am thankful that you are a fighter and being a voice out there and breaking down these stereotypes and making a difference. And there might be days when you think maybe that you aren't doing much, but I believe that your Instagram alone is a powerful tool. And so keep it up. It's awesome what you're doing.
- [50:49]
Bailey Buckles
Thank you. Thank you.
- [50:50]
Patrick
Definitely. And we'll make sure that there's a link in our show notes real quick. We're gonna take a quick little break to show some love for our sponsors, and we will be back here in just a minute.
- [51:07]
Justin Yoder
If you're looking for high quality tents, sleeping bags or backpacks at a price you can afford. Well, look no further. We're proud to partner with Sierra Designs, a leading provider of innovative outdoor gear. Outside of offering high quality premier outdoor repair on gear, CERA Designs supports game changing organizations like LGBT Outdoors. To learn more visitors their website SierraDesigns.com and enter code LGBT outdoors to receive 25% off your entire purchase. This episode of the LGBT Outdoors Podcast is brought to you by the Monterey Bay Aquarium where you can experience the wander beneath the waves and celebrate your connection to the ocean. Join Monterey Bay Aquarium in advocating for a healthy ocean. Together we can tackle climate change change and stop plastic pollutions at the source. Sign up for the Ocean Action email to learn how you can protect the oceans that connect us all@montereybayaquarium.org act.
- [52:08]
Patrick
And welcome back to the LGBT Outdoors Podcast. We're back with our second half of our fantastic chat with Bailey. So Bailey, kind of looking at some big picture encouragement, like what advice would you give queer individuals, especially transgender and people of color who might feel hesitant to explore outside spaces?
- [52:40]
Bailey Buckles
Oh yeah, that's a great question. Really the biggest piece of advice that I can really offer is to just start, take that step out. Don't be too, don't talk yourself out of exploring the outdoors and don't fall for the trap of what you see on social media. You can go start small and then as you get comfortable, go bigger. Like here in Colorado. I could go out to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs on Instagram. It could look like I'm in a whole other world that's super far away and it's like this, it could be this place where it's like oh my gosh, like I could never get out there. But it's really just a 10 minute drive in Colorado Springs to get there and you're on the Front Range and it's, it's a safe place to be. It's beautiful. And what I'm trying to say is that there's places in your community that I'm sure that if you took the right angle or picture, you might look like you're somewhere transported in a land far away. But that's the outdoors that is, that is it. If you're only used to walking around the neighborhood, see if there's a local park nearby that people go out and it's rated good for bringing dogs out there or it's rated as like a kid friendly park or just trails are rated beginner. Check it out, like start, start close Start close to your house and I'm sure you'll have a good time and definitely use whatever resources you can to, like, build your toolbox. There's plenty of content creators out there. If you don't want to go to a store like REI or any, like, outfitter store, you can definitely learn a lot just by following some content creators out there on the gear that you need, equipment that you might want to use to feel safe and protected. But I can assure you it's going to be a great time.
- [54:29]
Patrick
Yeah. And sorry, sending some love to rei and like, not to negate anything, um, but, like, I went into an REI looking for my Patrick's first pair of hiking boots. Uh, it was a momentous occasion. Uh, no clue what I was looking for at all. And the staff there was like, it. It wasn't even, like an upsell thing. Like, they made sure that I had what I needed and they. They were super helpful but without being, like, judgy at all. So super, super cool when it comes to allies, and I count myself and I would hope that most of the queer community would call themselves allies for the queer community. But what can we do to create safer and more inclusive environments in the outdoors, do you think?
- [55:33]
Bailey Buckles
Oh, I think as allies, again, just speaking from the lens of almost just like, content creation and like social media, I think for allies is just kind of just speaking truthfully about the situations and your experiences outdoors. Again, there's like, a lot of smoke and mirrors that happen online. And I think just sometimes, as even for us within the LGBTQ community, not showing so much, maybe smoke and mirrors of our experiences outdoors, but also just being vulnerable about it. Everyone breathes hard when they're hiking on the trail. There's a lot of that. Everyone's kind of huffing and puffing, especially.
- [56:14]
Patrick
In Colorado if you're not local.
- [56:19]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, so. So, yeah, like, we. We are all having a hard time. Like, we. We're all having a hard time doing something that's really, really fun. And as allies, I think it's just important for us all to just make whatever invitation that you can to those around you. If you like to be a solo hike or solo adventurer like myself, post something of just in solidarity throughout your adventures. I just send out this invitation that this space is for all, even into whatever capacity that looks like for you. That would just be my. My advice, probably.
- [57:00]
Justin Yoder
I love that. I'm curious, do you have anybody that. Anybody or anything that inspires you as well for. For you to get outside? Like, that really pushes you or encourages you to get out there on those adventures.
- [57:15]
Bailey Buckles
You know, probably what honestly. What honestly does inspire me to get out there and is again, just being a content creator out there in the world. I am just inspired by a vision for the future that I have, that I just see this more inclusive, safer future for all where trans and LGBTQ youth are protected and they're validated and they're safe. We as LGBTQ adults and elders were out there just being resources and tools for those. And yeah, like, I'm just inspired by the community itself and just my vision of what I think the future can look like in just a more loving, safe way.
- [58:00]
Justin Yoder
That's awesome. Love that. Are there any groups that you're a part of currently that you might want to shout out or recommend that would be great resource for other people to get plugged in?
- [58:12]
Bailey Buckles
So currently I'm not part of. I don't not home to any groups at the moment. I definitely tend to be a solo adventurer too, but definitely. If you're listening to this, check out LGBT Outdoors in Colorado. We have Black packers, which is an awesome group. Colorado Black Packers. We have outdoor Latino in Colorado, Outdoor Asian also here in Colorado, and I believe all of those have some chapters throughout the country as well.
- [58:41]
Patrick
Yeah, love it.
- [58:42]
Bailey Buckles
Definitely recommend checking them out because they're doing some amazing, just inclusive hikes as well as community engagement work. Again, I really actually can't advocate enough for Colorado Black Packers. I just love what they're doing. I have helped out with some of just the their volunteer hours that they do around Colorado Springs, which has been super cool. So I definitely would say check them out.
- [59:05]
Justin Yoder
Awesome. Cool. I love that. I think maybe we should do some rapid fire questions.
- [59:11]
Patrick
Rapid fire?
- [59:13]
Bailey Buckles
Oh, rapid fire. I knew this was coming.
- [59:17]
Justin Yoder
All right, so what is your first. What is your go to snack on a trail?
- [59:23]
Bailey Buckles
Cold fried chicken. Whoa.
- [59:26]
Patrick
For real?
- [59:27]
Bailey Buckles
For real, for real.
- [59:29]
Patrick
I did not see that coming.
- [59:30]
Bailey Buckles
It's the trail runner in me where it's just like, I just want some real food. And yeah, so I pack cold fried chicken, and nothing tastes better than having that when you're exhausted.
- [59:42]
Patrick
I am my jaws on the floor, and I'm also starting to drool a little bit because that sounds really good.
- [59:50]
Bailey Buckles
And it has to be cold. Like, you have to have like a good, like, cold, like, battered, crunchy chicken. My wife makes fun of me relentlessly, and I'm just happy eating my chicken outside.
- [60:01]
Justin Yoder
I could totally get behind that, though. I mean, I love cold leftover turkey, like from Thanksgiving, so absolutely.
- [60:08]
Patrick
I can See that? What is one piece of outdoor gear you can't live without?
- [60:16]
Bailey Buckles
My headlamp.
- [60:18]
Patrick
Nice.
- [60:19]
Justin Yoder
All right, sunrise or sunset paddle?
- [60:23]
Bailey Buckles
Sunrise. All the way.
- [60:25]
Patrick
Winter or summer? I think we already answered that.
- [60:28]
Justin Yoder
Yeah, that's that one coming. If you could be any animal for a day, what animal would you be?
- [60:36]
Bailey Buckles
Oh, that one's hard. I want to be all the animals. I would be. I would be a falcon for sure.
- [60:43]
Patrick
Oh, nice, nice.
- [60:45]
Bailey Buckles
Like, falcon. I just want to, like, feel the flight, but I also want to feel that speed. Like, they can dive at, like, 60. No, like, even faster. I don't know right now at the moment, because I'm too excited about being. But they're super fast. They're, like, super fast, and I want to know what that feels like.
- [61:04]
Justin Yoder
That's awesome. Love it. What's in the future for you as far as your outdoor adventures and journey goes?
- [61:10]
Bailey Buckles
Yeah, so future for me, I'm actually pretty excited. I'm gonna start a YouTube channel here pretty soon. I'm gonna shift some of the stuff that I'm doing into building LGBTQ safe spaces for personal defense. Personal self defense, safety, ways to be safe on the trail, ways to be safe in life. I grew up in martial arts. At one point, I was a martial arts instructor. So I'm just looking to find a way to blend both of these two passions and just offer different drills, practices, things we can do just with our own two hands to be empowered. If we're ever in that situation where we have to defend ourselves, we can all feel comfortable doing that.
- [61:52]
Justin Yoder
That's awesome.
- [61:53]
Patrick
Love that.
- [61:54]
Justin Yoder
Yeah.
- [61:55]
Patrick
How cool.
- [61:56]
Justin Yoder
We're going to have to stay in touch about that because that might be another whole podcast episode when you get that going. For sure.
- [62:04]
Bailey Buckles
For sure.
- [62:06]
Patrick
How can our listeners follow your adventures and support your journey?
- [62:11]
Bailey Buckles
Oh, yeah. So you can follow me. I'm on Instagram TikTok blue sky now, which Blue sky has been pretty awesome. Just Bailey underscore Buckles. So just my name. I'm, like, the only Bailey Buckles out there. I'm going to shamelessly plug in the wife, the love of my life. I married her, and I stole her last name because Bailey Buckles was too good to pass.
- [62:35]
Justin Yoder
Yeah.
- [62:37]
Bailey Buckles
Like, once. Once we started dating, I was just like, Amanda Buckles. Like, I need that name. I need your last name.
- [62:46]
Patrick
That's awesome.
- [62:48]
Justin Yoder
Hopefully you don't marry her just for her last name, but that's an added bonus.
- [62:53]
Bailey Buckles
It was an added bonus. It definitely was more for just the name. If she's listening to this, I Love you so much, I swear. But thanks for an awesome last name, too.
- [63:02]
Patrick
How long have you all been married?
- [63:04]
Bailey Buckles
We've been married since 2021. We actually got married throughout the pandemic. We snuck away to Zion national park when they were open, and we got. When we eloped in Zion, kind of just were off the big top. Our best friends joined us, and we just did this little elopement outdoors. It was super pretty, and I saw.
- [63:25]
Justin Yoder
Your photos from when I was stalking you, of course. Super cute. Yeah. I just absolutely love those photos of you guys. You look so cute. That's awesome. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with any of our listeners before we wrap up?
- [63:42]
Bailey Buckles
I would say one thing to share is just, I hope if you're new to getting to the outdoors, I hope you're able to experience it, because there is just a vast world of beauty and connection that you can have in creating a life outdoors. And it can be as simple as just a little walk through the park or as complex as climbing mountains. It's your journey to decide, and it's your journey to live. And I hope that you have a wonderful life outside.
- [64:12]
Justin Yoder
Yes, absolutely. Bailey, you have been a joy and a pleasure to have on a podcast. So I want to thank you for taking the time out of your Saturday morning and being here with us. Absolutely. Love, love everything you stand for, what you had to share, and I can't wait to get on a trail with you sometime.
- [64:33]
Bailey Buckles
Same, same.
- [64:34]
Patrick
Keep it up, please keep it up. You're doing some important stuff.
- [64:39]
Justin Yoder
Yeah, definitely, I will.
- [64:41]
Bailey Buckles
Thanks, y'all.
- [64:43]
Justin Yoder
For all of our listeners, thank you again for tuning in today. We hope that you enjoyed this episode. If you're watching on YouTube, be sure to subscribe to us. If you're wherever you're listening, like, and subscribe, leave a review that really helps us and it gets us out to more people to be able to find our podcast and learn about LGBT outdoors. Also, we have the Trailblazer Society. If you like the mission that we stand for and you believe in creating diversity and inclusion in the outdoors and breaking down those stereotypes, then head over to LGBT outdoors.com, click on Trailblazer Society for as little as 15 bucks a month, you can really help us make a difference in the outdoor world. And you'd get a free T shirt out of it as well. So it's a win, win. All right, everyone, thanks for tuning in. Until next time, get out there.