LGBT Rock Climbers Break Barriers; Rock Climbing World

Largest LGBT Friendly Rock Climbing Convention to Date to be Held in West Virginia

History will be made on July 14 – 18, 2010 when more than 60 climbers from around the United States and Canada arrive at the New River Gorge in West Virginia for North America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) friendly bouldering and rock climbing convention. The event, organized by Homo Climbtastic (“HC”), is the third annual event for the organization and the largest to date. “It’s the biggest queer climbing event in history,” says Laurie Watkins of Atlanta, Georgia. “It’s going to be rad! I’m totally stoked!”

Others agree that history is being made as climbers from around North America come out to climb. “There’s never been anything like this before,” says Mike Abell, boulderer and founder of San Francisco LGBT climbing organization Flame & Flash. “This is history making because we are becoming more comfortable being ourselves in the sport and don’t feel the need to separate our ‘gay lives’ from our ‘climbing lives’ anymore. I know some people would distance themselves from me if they knew I was gay. I like to bring it out after I flash their project.”

Creating a climbing community for people who identify as LGBT and for those who support their equality was one of the founding purposes of Homo Climbtastic. In the three years since its founding, HC has grown to more than 500 members and has successfully helped create local LGBT climbing organizations in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Toronto. Other groups have chosen to associate with HC, such as New York’s Crag & Crux Climbers and St. Louis’ ‘Mo Climbers.

It’s also about challenging climbers to be better at the sport. “Everyone’s gotten a lot better over the last few years,” says founder Alex Rowland. “And we’ve also gotten a lot of indoor climbers outside.” Consistent with this objective, HC has organized trips to Red Rocks, the Red River Gorge, the New River Gorge, Chattanooga, and Sand Rock. Affiliated groups have also organized numerous outdoor trips.

HC has been working hard to bring together a diverse crowd around one major thing: the love of climbing. Sponsors for the 2010 annual convention include the Access Fund, Prana, Black Diamond, Friction Climbing, Chaco, Aveda, Beta Clothing, Water Stone Outdoors, and Pandora Boxx. Special thanks to our sponsors.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: email press@homoclimbtastic.com, call 901-466-6254, or visit http://www.homoclimbtastic.com