What We Can Learn from Blake Hansen’s Journey to Acceptance

Blake Hansen has always known who she is deep down, but didn’t always accept it. As a queer trans girl growing up in Southern California in the 90s, coming out wasn’t exactly something that society welcomed or celebrated. Instead, Hansen denied it, which only tormented her. She reached a breaking point when she tried taking her own life in 2014 at the mere age of 24. Hansen survived, and eventually found new purpose through mountain biking. By means of a Giant Reign, Hansen learned to be herself and became a kickass racer while doing it. Now Hansen races enduro, and is expanding her skillset into freeriding. In everything she does, she hopes to be the transgender role model she wished she had and explores this powerful message further in the new short film Fuel for Life.

Be sure to check out more of Blake's story in the in depth article on BETA.