Standing with LGBTQ+ Cyclists and Against Transphobia
By Camille Bergeron Parent
Since our team’s start, we have been committed to creating an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ riders. With New York City opening up this spring and summer, now there are more opportunities to show that commitment with the larger New York City cycling community. That’s why many of our team members joined the OutCycling Pride Ride.
During Pride Month in June, New York City was filled with rainbows and celebrations of love, diversity and joy. But it was also an occasion to think back about the events that marked a transition toward activism for gay rights movement in the United States, and speak out against the hate and discrimination that is still happening everyday in this country.
As a w/t/f (women/trans/femme) team supporting diversity and inclusivity, we decided to show our solidarity and join the movement by riding together. While most of our team is composed of cis gender women, we stand in solidarity with our teammates and with fellow members of this community. Joining the OutCycling Pride Ride was one way to show it.
OutCycling is a Manhattan based LGBTQ+ cycling network that organizes rides and events. Their mission is to build a community of cyclists and promote bicycles as a means of recreation, fitness, transportation and fun. Their motto is: Fun, Fitness and Friendship for all! They also collaborate with the Fearless Flyers Youth Cycling, a program in partnership with Bike NY and NYC DOT that brings together LGBTQ+ youth to learn cycling and leadership skills. A portion of the proceeds of this year’s ride went to support this initiative.
For this year’s “pandemic” edition, the OutCyling Pride Ride went hybrid and encouraged the community to ride solo, with a friend, or in small socially distanced groups. This means that wherever you were in the world, you could join the fun and ride your bike in solidarity with the movement.
Our fierce riders did not hesitate to tackle challenging distances and most of us decided to complete a scenic imperial century ride through New York and New Jersey. In the morning, we all met up at Riverbank State Park on the west side of Manhattan in Harlem and enjoyed a light breakfast. With striking views of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge (GWB) and the Palisades, it was the perfect location to meet the organizers and start our ride in cheers and laughter.
After crossing GWB, our group rode smoothly through residential neighborhoods. At the rest stop, a woman(!) bike mechanic was available for small repairs. Colavita, the main sponsor of the event, provided this service.t. We fueled up on more snacks and water in a joyous and welcoming atmosphere before heading out to Saddle River, Nyack and High Tor State Park. We rode on beautifully paved routes, passing forests and lakes, worked on some rotating pacelines and made it to the finish in time to appreciate a spirited performance by Gotham Cheer, a community-based nonprofit LGBTQIA+ adult cheerleading team helping local communities. Our day ended at Cubbyhole in the Village, building community and drinking well-deserved cold beers.
It felt especially pertinent to be participating in this year’s ride as we’ve been seeing more and more U.S. states advancing and passing retrograde anti-transgender laws. Those laws target two areas: trans youth in sports and access to transgender medical care. These bills are anti-LGBTQ+ rights. They are dangerous and based on prejudices. Century Road Club Association and CRCA/Ostroy/NYC Velo spoke out about the slew of legislation here and here.
In March 2021, Arkansas Governor signed Bill 354, banning transgender women and girls in elementary, middle, high school and collegiate level from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity. This goes against recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that states that youth should play sport in teams that match their gender identity and against statements from other sports associations like the N.C.A.A. and even the International Olympic Committee that have policies that allow for inclusivity and fairness.
Recently, the AAP has co-signed a letter with the Human Rights Campaign manifesting their opposition to the bills across the U.S.. We know that rates of mental health issues, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and attempts are disproportionately high in trans youth. More bills like these will harmfully impact youth and backtrack on the progress made in recent years. Read AAP Policy Statement on this subject here. To learn more, listen to The Daily (a New York Times podcast) from April 20, 2021 on anti-transgender legislation here.
OutCycling is just one of the New York City groups committed to creating inclusive spaces for cyclists. Ostroy/NYC Velo has also partnered with NightCAP Brooklyn, a group that organizes social rides for “trans + non-binary ppl, queer + allied cis women.”
If you’re curious what we mean by a “w/t/f” team, there is a full description in our “Welcome to Ostroy/NYC Velo” post. While Pride Month was an opportunity to celebrate the strides the LGBTQ+ community has made and honor those who paved the way, we know our commitment must remain strong year-round.