We Are Queer | Amsterdam, NL

Senn van Beek was just 19 when a deep feeling of discomfort began to grow within them. At the time, they didn’t know why they felt this way. Senn enjoyed keeping fit, but it was the binary gendered organization of sports that left them feeling self-conscious. It prevented them from going to the gym – and each time they started on a new workout journey, it would end within a few months. Seven years later, Senn reached a place of self-acceptance as a non-binary person – and with that clarity came the vision for We Are Queer.

Even before I identified as non-binary, I didn’t feel comfortable or included while working out. When I was young, I liked CrossFit – but I constantly felt trapped in this binary way of thinking. I often thought, ‘Why is it like this, and what would help me feel more at home in a sports environment?’

The idea for the gym came when I was a lot more confident in my own skin and gender identity. I realized how wonderful it would be to have a sporting environment that is inclusive towards people who struggle with the same feelings I did. So, I started talking to people from the queer community about it. I would tell them how I envisioned the gym. People were excited about it and would often say how they, too, would benefit from a place to feel safe and included while exercising.

In December 2021, I set up the We Are Queer Crowdfunder and on the first day, we made €3,000. By the weekend we had €6,000, and by the time I found the right building for the gym, we had raised €15,000. In May, I received the keys, and We Are Queer’s grand opening took place on July 28, 2022.

We are a strength gym. We work with kettlebells, dumbbells and barbells. We host small group training and strength classes. Our ‘Nothing But Butts’ class focuses on core, legs and butt and is better for those who don’t want to put emphasis on their upper body, such as people who identify as transfeminine. The ‘Stand Tall’ class, where we work on the core and upper body, is perhaps more suited towards people who identify as transmasculine.

I get questions like, ‘Is this really needed?’ by the cis/straight community. They comment on how everyone at their gym is welcoming and friendly. But I think they aren’t aware of the importance of a safe space like We Are Queer. People who identify as cis/straight don’t always realize that while they might find an environment comfortable, there may be people there who are transphobic without even realizing their prejudice. This comes from a lack of understanding of what the trans and LGBTQIA+ communities experience.

At We Are Queer, it doesn’t matter what you look like. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. It doesn’t matter how you identify within your queerness, or if you identify as a gay man or a lesbian woman. Everyone who comes through our door has had a similar feeling – they may have struggled at home, had issues at work because of their identity or lived on the streets, but we are here to welcome them no matter what their story.

Today, we have 130 members. We offer youth classes every Tuesday for 14 to 18-year-olds, and our oldest member is 64. They hadn’t been to a gym for their whole life – and now they are coming twice a week. They say it has given them a new understanding of their body, to know what it is capable of and how to feel strong.

‘Friday is for Trans People’ is an evening event hosted by the Queertopia Foundation. I set up this non-profit foundation at the same time as the gym. Coaches from the community share their knowledge on topics that affect the trans-community such as sexual relationships, consent and how to adapt your language when your body goes through changes. We also have ‘Creative Culture’ evenings to teach pottery or poetry; well-being sessions offer spiritual talks and guided meditations. We offer coaching in physical, emotional and social strength. We want to help people to feel happier within themselves. It’s a holistic experience.

 I was 26 when I started figuring out I was non-binary. If I had a place like We Are Queer to go to, it would have taken me a lot less time. I would have had a place to be accepted for me, where I could meet other people who are like me. Now, at We Are Queer people can unapologetically be themselves.

 Find out more about We Are Queer