By Brianna Vance, Administrative Coordinator
This past February, Washington’s National Park Fund staff attended the Public Lands Alliance conference where we collaborated and learned from neighboring nonprofit organizations, public land managers, and outdoor leaders. Among those leaders was Mikah Meyer, who held a Q&A session about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the outdoors.
It was important to me to attend this lecture, both as a member of Washington’s National Park Fund’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, as well as someone who is proud to have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ+. I know people who have told me that, as a queer person, they don’t get the luxury of holding their partner’s hand in public or don’t always feel safe in unfamiliar areas.
This is the situation for countless people within the LGBTQ+ community and Mikah is taking action and inviting all of us to join.
In 2019, Mikah became the first person to visit all 419 National Park Service sites in one trip. Throughout his three-year journey, Mikah received an abundance of messages from LGBTQ+ individuals who shared their personal accounts of encountering homophobia while outdoors. These individuals expressed a sense of solace and reassurance upon discovering someone like Mikah, who not only identifies as queer but also shared their passion for the outdoors. During the time of his trip, there was nearly zero representation of openly queer people within the outdoor industry or the public lands he visited.
If you’re an avid hiker like me, especially on the trails in all three of our state’s national parks, you may also have wondered, “how can I show support for the LGBTQ+ people in the outdoors?”
In 2020, Mikah created the “Safe Space” symbol to be worn by LGBTQ+ people to nonverbally represent their presence and for allies to wear to show they support and welcome everyone to be completely and authentically themselves. Mikah’s Outside Safe Space website explains how the symbol was thoughtfully designed:
The symbol is a tree made up of the rainbow flag, trans flag, and bi flag, with triangles for all queer identities, and a skin tone tree trunk. The trans and bi colors have specifically been placed nearest the trunk, as symbolism of the role these communities played in the genesis of the queer civil rights movement, and as the largest/strongest branches, in acknowledgment of the times they have been overlooked compared to other members of the community.
Photo by Brianna Vance
After hearing Mikah speak, our DEI committee wasted no time, placing an order for 100 pins to share with our staff, board of directors, and extended community. Our hope is that more folks can feel welcomed and safe at Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, both during Pride Month and throughout the year.
We also updated our Pride Month blog to provide resources and share inspiring stories of how Pride is celebrated throughout the National Park Service, including right here in Washington’s national parks.
Washington’s National Park Fund is committed to equity and inclusion of all people, a commitment we share with the National Park Service and Washington’s three national parks. We aim to ensure that people of all backgrounds feel welcome, comfortable, and able to access the parks as truly, they are for all. Over the years, we have enabled a number of programs and projects that support and bring in diverse populations to the parks. You can learn more on our DEI webpage, and find projects that fall into our new Embracing Inclusion priority area that we’re currently raising funds for in our Project Portfolio.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by WA’s National Park Fund (@wanatlparkfund)
A post shared by WA’s National Park Fund (@wanatlparkfund)
Washington’s National Park Fund also plans to host an Instagram giveaway this summer to celebrate Pride by sharing Outside Safe Space pins with our followers and reaching new audiences. Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@WaNatlParkFund and @OutsideSafeSpace) to participate – and to see the pins in action. At the end of the day, wearing this pin is a small gesture that we all can do that will make a big impact.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Outside Safe Space (@outsidesafespace)
A post shared by Outside Safe Space (@outsidesafespace)
Washington’s National Park Fund is committed to equity and inclusion of all people. We strongly believe that by actively funding projects that give access and opportunities to traditionally underrepresented communities — and by building an organization whose donors and partners represent diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences — we become more fruitful stewards and champions of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. Learn more about our efforts.
Cover photo: Narada Falls at Mount Rainier National Park by Emily Brouwer, NPS.