tags:
transgender |trans |trail running |trail race |texas |running |race |pride |new hampshire |lgbtq+ |film |black diamond
Black Diamond’s new film, 'Miles to Go,' follows trans trail runners Perry Cohen, Seth List, Bryce Spare, and Graham Oxman as they travel and train as openly trans athletes in states that are building legislation against trans participation in sports. Cohen’s passion for sports and the outdoors started at a young age, culminating in his founding the Venture Out Project a non-profit organization that “provides a safe and fun space for queer, trans, and LGBTQ+ people to experience the outdoors.”
Growing up in Southern New Hampshire, the outdoors were a place where gender didn’t matter. It was “this magical place” he could explore and get dirty. A space that didn’t have the stereotypes of gender that were put on him everywhere else.
As Cohen continued into adulthood, he recognized that there was no space for queer identifying individuals to explore the outdoors with a community of other LGBTQ folks that made them feel safe and gave them the opportunity to truly be themselves. Cohen was called to fill this void with The Venture Out Project, leading wilderness trips for a group of marginalized individuals that are often faced with a barrier of entry into the world of outdoor recreation.
Miles to Go is a film that celebrates trans joy and trans athletes' ability to be themselves in outdoor sports. We got a chance to sit down with Cohen and ask him about the new film, what went into making it, and what he hopes it will inspire in its viewers.
Cheering on their fellow runners. | Spruce Tone Films photo.
Why was making a trail running film so important?
Perry Cohen: I have been a trail runner since college, and I’ve always thought it was this magical sport. Like a lot of outdoor sports, you could race, and it could be about winning, or it could be about getting out there and being in your body, in nature with friends.
When all of this anti-trans legislation and rhetoric started popping up, I was thinking alot about sports and growing up playing. My team was my family, we always pushed each other, and I thought what would it be like to be a trans kid and not get to play sports and find your community. And I was like ‘we have to do something, we have to talk about how important sports are for the trans community.’ If the conversation about trans athletes is that there is an unfair advantage, well then let's look at a sport where it’s not about winning, it's about participating and building community as opposed to excluding people.
In the race. | Spruce Tone Films photo.
What was the inspiration for Miles to Go?
PC: I thought about the ways that trail running connects people. I thought if we get people from all over, train, road trip to these states with these anti-trans bills, meet up with people who are already doing this work there, and do a run together, what a cool way to build community. I talk to alot of trans people who have never met another trans person in real life. I thought if we have an event that people could come to, and make connections; then even if we leave, those people and connections remain.
The thing about trail running is that, oftentimes when talking about trans people it's about the statistics and transphobia. But you almost never see trans joy, and this film was about trans joy. It was about this group of friends coming together, who probably never would have known each other if we weren’t trans. We were having the time of our lives, getting to do something we love.
What was filming this project like?
PC: It was super fun! I got to be with a group of friends, running, in beautiful places. We got to talk about why we love running and how we find connection in being trans, it was a chance to let our hair down. We didn’t have to worry about being judged or anybody questioning the things that we don’t share that often. For example, our experiences in women's sports, not having to explain any of that, you use so much less energy.
Going to Texas was equal parts exciting and terrifying. Knowing that we are openly trans people going to a state where we are being legislated against is pretty scary, but also very empowering. We went in with the mentality, ‘we are here, we are going to run this race, we aren’t going to hide who we are and you can’t stop us’. If my younger self had seen how happy we were and how much fun we were having, and that Black Diamond is supporting us and these outdoor organizations are too -- that would have changed my life.
On the trail. | Spruce Tone Films photo.
What was your favorite part of filming Miles to Go?
PC: The first part we actually filmed at the Venture Out base camp was my favorite. It was really special to get to bring friends and fellow trail runners who are trans to this place that means so much to me. To have them get to experience it and to be able to do
something there together, felt really awesome. To watch them feel safe and joyful in that space was great!
What do you hope that people take away from Miles to Go?
PC: I hope that people will see the film and realize that being trans is one part of our identity -- and come to know that trans people are just people, they’re not weird, they’re just regular people, and all people deserve to have this joy and participate in sports and activities freely. Rather than excluding someone, it should be about how many people we can get involved in sports because we were able to show them all of the many benefits and joy that it brings to our lives.
We all have a gender identity, and it’s not a threat to anyone. Our existence doesn't hurt anyone and in fact it can bring so much joy.
What I love about this film is that it gives an entry point to people who might not normally be reading, watching, or paying attention to all of the gender politics happening. But, because they’re accessing it through a sport that they love, all of a sudden -- it’s so much more accessible -- and they’re learning about something really important.
What is your dream for inclusivity in the outdoor industry?
PC: My dream is that one day we don’t need groups like Venture Out because all outdoor recreation becomes so inclusive and thoughtful about how to make people feel welcomed, how to reduce barriers of entry, and how to take away some of these hierarchies.
My hope for the future is that everyone gets to feel like they belong outdoors. They’re not just fitting in or being crow-barred into the existing space, but they get to be their true selves in the outdoors; and that is celebrated and embraced.