Written by CJ Copeland

Chalk dust drifts through the air as climbers gather around a cluster of boulders, spotting each other and mapping out routes on rough stone. Laughter cuts through the quiet of the outdoors, mixing with the sounds of shoes scraping rock and people calling out encouragement from below. For some, it’s just a day of climbing. For others, it’s something more: a space where they can exist as themselves.

Morgan started climbing in college after moving to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Drawn in by the physical challenge and problem-solving, they quickly found a love for the sport. “I felt pretty closed off in the climbing community when I first got here, just because I didn’t know anybody,” they say. “Sometimes it can be hard to sort of break into it.”

That feeling isn’t uncommon. Climbing communities, especially outdoor ones, often rely on word-of-mouth, and shared experience. For someone new, not just to climbing, but to the area, it can feel like everyone else already knows where they belong.

Morgan was able to break into the community, through a simple connection.. “I ended up being invited to one of the meetups… and met all of my cool friends that I now get to hang out with on a regular basis,” they say. “I just in general found a lot of community through here.”

What started as an introduction to a group quickly became something much deeper. For Morgan, who describes themselves as “a pretty introverted person,” being surrounded by people with a shared passion made it easier to open up. “Being around a bunch of other people that share a passion… particularly like a physical one that sort of gets us outdoors into really cool places.”

Climbing itself plays a role in that connection. Unlike many solo sports, bouldering often becomes a shared experience. Climbers gather around the same route, offering encouragement and sometimes just company. “Sharing the experience of problem-solving with friends can be really fun,” Morgan says. 

And then there are the moments in between climbs, the sitting on crash pads, the conversations, the shared views after a long day outside. “Getting to go on outdoor trips and see really cool views with friends,” Morgan adds.

But what makes this group different isn’t just the climbing. It’s who it’s built for.

The question of why a queer climbing group is necessary, why it can’t simply exist as “just a climbing group” comes down to something larger than the sport itself. “We are in the South,” Morgan says. “There’s not always the same amount of support that we have from outside sources.”

That reality shapes how people move through spaces, even ones that are meant to be open and welcoming. For queer climbers, there can be an added layer of uncertainty, wondering who is safe, who understands, and where they can truly relax.

That’s where the importance of a space like this comes in. “At the very least, you know, everybody who’s hanging around you is a safe person to be around,” Morgan explains. “Either being queer themselves or an ally… it’s a nice thing to be able to share something you enjoy in a place that you feel like you’re safe to enjoy it as you are.”

That sense of safety isn’t just about comfort, it’s about freedom. Freedom to focus on the climb instead of your surroundings. Freedom to exist without filtering yourself. Freedom to just be.

It also creates a different kind of support system. The group isn’t just there to spot each other on climbs; they show up for each other off the rock, too. “We’re all here to support each other not only through climbing, but through life,” Morgan says.

For people who show up not knowing anyone, that initial barrier can be hard to get past. Morgan remembers what that felt like, and how much easier it became once they found the group. “It is a group of really cool people,” they say. “No matter who you are or what your interests are outside of climbing, you can find somebody in the group that you sort of vibe with and hang out with.”

That sense of belonging is what makes the group stand out. It’s not about being the strongest climber or having the most experience. It’s about showing up and being welcomed as you are.

“We are a very supportive group, you know, we’re all, we’re all here to support each other not only through climbing.” 

At its core, the queer climbing group is about more than just bouldering. It’s about creating space for people who might not always feel like they have one. In a place where that kind of space isn’t always guaranteed, it becomes something powerful.

Out on the rocks, surrounded by friends, that power looks simple. It looks like laughter, shared struggles, and small victories. It looks like people finding their footing, not just on the wall, but within a community that makes room for them.

---

Meet the Storyteller