Hey nerds, I’m Drew

I hated the idea of fitness for a long time. I was a shy and sensitive child (surprise!), and my introduction to exercise was care of my PE teacher. He was ex-army, and I was convinced he existed solely to humiliate me in front of the whole class for an hour, twice a week.

Yes, I told my therapist about that PE teacher.

The world I lived in was teaching me to be ashamed of my body, and I was made to believe that I didn’t deserve any better. The very idea of a lanky, nervous guy like me partaking in any kind of fitness activity was just silly. Joining a gym was unthinkable. It would take me a long time to get over my fear of being laughed at.

Life often arrives late for LGBTQ+ people. I finally began to live mine, authentically, in my early-30s. I started to accept myself as a queer person, discover my body and, more importantly, I began to love it. I was no longer sad and angry all the time. Exercise became a great motivator.

I’ve worked with some inspiring and knowledgeable coaches, to whom I am indebted. I’ve also worked with coaches that did not understand the minority experiences that LGBTQ+ people, like us, encounter in a gym, and in the wider realms of fitness. The unkind glances, and the lack of empathy. The daily stress of just being yourself in a world designed for other people.

I qualified as a PT in 2024. I want exercise to be accessible and undaunting to all queer people. I want it to be uncomplicated, without all the bullshit. And I want us all to be able to benefit from the small but transformative joy it can bring, both physically and mentally.