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Taking Pride Outside
February 12, 2022 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Justin Yoder presents Taking Pride Outside;
When an LGBTQ+ person comes “out of the closet”, they often look for that place of acceptance which can often be the bar and club scene. However, even if a person’s mother doesn’t accept them, Mother Nature always will. The outdoors is a place full of heart pounding adventure and calming serenity. While the outdoors is always an accepting place, the outdoor industry isn’t always as accepting. There are things that those who love the outdoors can do to help introduce the LGBTQ+ community to the outdoors as well as help create change in the outdoor industry to make it more welcoming. If you desire to help make the outdoors a more inclusive place, we hope you join our class!
Bio
Justin Yoder grew up in rural Missouri where his passion for the outdoors was formed. From a young age, he loved everything related to the outdoors from fishing to camping to kayaking. After coming out later in life, he realized it was hard for him to fit into the outdoor culture as a gay man. So, he founded LGBT+ Outdoors in 2019 to help connect the LGBTQ+ community to the outdoors and each other.
Since starting LGBT Outdoors, Justin has had the privilege of being a speaker for the Texas Travel Alliance, Ohio Department of Nature Recourses, the US Forest Service, SuperFeet, Write State Universities Adventure Speaker Series and others. LGBT Outdoors current has over 10,000 members in their Facebook Groups and has been featured in national Facebook commercials, USA Today, The Dallas Voice and other publications.
Justin previously ran a humanitarian NPO and is a successful professional photographer in North Texas. Justin loves sharing his passion for the outdoors and the LGBTQ+ community. Currently, Justin, residents in Fort Worth, Texas with his husband.
Justin will also be a panelist for the Diversity in the Outdoors Discussion at 1:15pm.
