Queer-Friendly Strongman: Why Safe Strength Spaces Matter (and what to look out for)

Strength training is powerful.
Strength training is transformative.
Strength training should be for everyone.

But if you’re queer, trans, non-binary, or simply don’t feel at home in traditional gyms, walking into a strength space can feel less like empowerment and more like tiptoeing into a lion’s den. And that’s a huge problem – because queer people deserve the joy of strength just as much as anyone else.

In this blog post, I want to put forward why queer-friendly strongman spaces matter. Spaces like the Commando Temple and Pride in Strength workshops. Here’s how this space differs from other gyms and why it’s so important to us.

Why Queer-Friendly Strength Spaces Matter

1. Gyms Have a Culture — And It’s Not Always Safe

A lot of commercial gyms operate on:

• Rigid gender expectations
• Body judgement
• Competitive posturing
• Assumptions about how people “should” train

For many queer people, especially trans and gender-diverse folks, this environment can feel:

• Intimidating
• Alienating
• Unsafe
• Exhausting

A queer-friendly training space does the opposite, by prioritising acceptance, safety and fun. The Commando Temple might look a bit scary from the outside but we all know it’s full of absolute teddy bears.

This is the first gym I ever worked in where I felt I could truly be myself. As such, I set up the Pride in Strength workshops here knowing this would be the place to encourage trans and queer people to get into strength training. And now there’s a fantastic queer community at the gym.

2. Strength Training Is Empowering — When Your Identity Is Safe

Strongman and other strength sports can be joyful, playful, expressive and incredibly fun – but only if you feel safe enough to actually inhabit your body.

When your identity is respected:

• Lifts feel empowering
• Movement becomes expressive
• Training builds confidence rather than stress
• Strength becomes a celebration, not a defence mechanism

That’s the heart of queer-friendly strength training.

3. Queer Friendly Spaces Create Community, Not Competition

…an exception being our Queerstrong competition which is so delicious and friendly

In a queer-friendly strength environment, people aren’t just trying to outlift one another. They’re there to:

• Cheer each other on
• Explore movement
• Celebrate strength in all bodies
• Feel seen
• Laugh, grunt and grow together

Strongman is inherently communal – when paired with queer joy, it becomes something truly special. Queerstrong is such an incredible event. The atmosphere is something else, honestly. So many giggles and incredible support!

But this celebration of each other can be seen in every faction of the Commando Temple.

Stone club and Bag club (Bulgarian bags) are prime examples. We come together to train, give advice and just soak up the positivity. These unofficial group sessions are all about community. When we ran the Bulgarian bag championship at the gym, representatives from Suples were so surprised and delighted that even the refs for each competitor were screaming support constantly, even for people from other groups/countries who we were up against.

When Charlie ran his first strongman comp, I was reffing and when one of the competitors got the stone finally to his shoulder, the noise was so overwhelming I actually shed a little tear!

4. Strongman Is Highly Adaptable (AKA Perfect for Queer Bodies)

Strongman training adapts to you.

You can modify:

• Weight
• Object size
• Distance
• Reps
• Complexity

This makes it ideal for:

• Trans athletes
• Non-binary lifters
• Beginners
• Neurodivergent people
• Plus-sized people
• Anyone who’s been excluded from traditional gyms

There’s always a version of a lift that fits your body and energy levels. At Pride in Strength we always have a variety of experience, body types, abilities. It really doesn’t matter. Everyone’s training and goals are respected and everyone is not just accepted, they’re fully celebrated.

If you come into the gym outside of the workshops and queer comps, the staff will always be friendly, helpful and informative. We’re so passionate here, anyone that comes in can expect that to come across.

We don’t care how you present, all we care about is if you’re excited about training.

What To Look For In a Queer Friendly Space

• The Community Feels Like Home
• Diverse bodies
• Warm energy
• Anti-macho culture
• Genuine support

If you walk in and think, “I can breathe here,” you’ve found the right place. Many of the coaches have been here for a long time. I’ve been here 6 years and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I knew the second I walked in here it was exactly where I was meant to be.

A Space That Lets You Be You

The right environment allows you to:

• Show up in whatever presentation feels right
• Train without hypervigilance
• Feel respected
• Focus on movement, not fear

Strength should feel liberating and empowering – not full of stigma. I believe the Temple and Pride in Strength really deliver here.

Coaching That Adapts To Your Body

We have great coaches at the Temple. Queer-friendly coaching includes modifications for:

• Mobility differences
• Hormone considerations
• Dysphoria-safe options
• Energy fluctuations
• Accessibility needs

You deserve coaching that meets you where you are.

Why Queer Strongman Is Growing (And Why You Should Try It)

More queer folks are discovering strongman because it offers community, joy, play and embodied confidence

• It’s the opposite of toxic gym culture.
• It’s strength as liberation.
• It’s movement as self-respect.
• And it’s such a giggle.

It’s worth coming to Pride in Strength for the playlist alone, and Queerstrong for the drag artist!

Want to Try Queer-Friendly Strength Training In London?

I offer:

• Queer-friendly strongman workshops: Pride in Strength
• Ancient strength tool training (Indian clubs, Persian meels, Sang shields)
• Beginner-friendly strength coaching
• Private sessions for LGBTQ+ clients

All held in SE London in a supportive, inclusive environment where you can show up exactly as you are.

Ready to feel powerful on your own terms?

Cheers,

Ben Savin, Ancient Stregth Coach and Strongman