Connecting Fitness and Activism with Dean ‘the Trainer’ Steed
thegavoice.comFitness usually tops New Year’s resolutions, and this year is no exception. Entering a gym for the first time can be completely intimidating, regardless of gender identity.
However, gyms can exacerbate feelings of dysphoria or generally feel unsafe for gender-nonconforming individuals. Atlanta-based personal trainer, Dean Steed, believes fitness should be inclusive, accessible, and “soft.” Coming from a background in community organizing and activism, Steed understands how heavy life can be without the added pressure to look a certain way or dedicate your life to the gym.
In 2018, Steed was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called multiple sclerosis that affects the brain and spinal cord. He spent a lot of that year in the emergency room with chronic illness and pain.
The experience, he says, made him more empathetic to what others are feeling. “I’m about going soft, because life is very hard on us already, especially if you’re disabled, especially if you have mental health issues, or if you’re queer or trans or person of color,” Steed told Georgia Voice.
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