ClimbOut, the UK's first ever queer rock climbing festival launches on Friday. The two-day festival (19-21  May) in the Peak District will bring together LGBTQ+ climbers from across the UK to build community around queer joy and outdoor rock climbing. 

WHAT?

The festival will cater to all levels of rock climbing experience, offering courses for those climbing outdoors for the first time as well as for LGBTQ+ climbers who want to hone their trad, sport and outdoor bouldering skills. High-profile LGBTQ+ climbers Abbie Robinson, Leanora Volpe, and Zofia Reych plan to attend as evening speakers at the event. Tickets will go live on www.climbout.org for the event next week (Friday 10th March) with a range of price and activity options including concession prices, and some bursary spaces for genderqueer and trans folk, racially minoritised groups, and people with disabilities.

One of the ClimbOut volunteers, Em, said: "We're so pleased to be launching the festival today! I can't wait to bring everyone together in May - we've got such an incredible festival planned, with courses like a 'crack climbing masterclass' and 'intro to trad climbing' on offer. This will be a great event for any LGBTQ+ person who's interested in climbing outdoors or wants to polish their outdoor climbing skills."

WHO?

The festival has been organised by a grassroots team of 10 LGBTQ+ climbers in partnership with the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and outdoor clothing and gear company, Patagonia. The event is also being supported by Mountain Training, Plas y Brenin, Association of Mountaineering Instructors, and DMM.

One of the ClimbOut volunteers, AJ, said: "We have received an overwhelmingly positive response and support, especially from our partners: the British Mountaineering Council and Patagonia. We are a grassroots group of volunteers building a community packed with outdoor climbing and queer joy. I'm over the moon to finally see the project come to fruition."

WHY?

The ClimbOut festival aims to increase the visibility of queer rock climbers together to build confidence and community amongst LGBTQ+ climbers. 

Despite an increase in queer presence and representation in indoor climbing in recent years, outdoor climbing is still lagging. LGBTQ+ people still face barriers to participating in sport: 

• Only 42% of LGBT people meet the level of physical activity required for good health, compared to 59% of people in the general population (Public Health England/National LGBT Partnership)
• 17% of LGB people and 49% of trans people have witnessed homophobia or transphobia in sport (Stonewall)
• 1 in 8 LGBT people avoid going to the gym or participating in sports groups because of fear of discrimination and harassment (Stonewall)

One of the ClimbOut volunteers, Ali, said: "We're really excited to put on the festival. A lot of LGBTQ+ people want to climb outdoors but some don't have the networks or confidence to do so. I've never had any issues being an LGBTQ+ climber but there's something really empowering about bringing people like yourself together. I'm really looking forward to it!"

WHEN?

The festival will take place over the weekend of 19th - 21st May 2023 with attendees invited to arrive on the Friday evening, departing Sunday afternoon or evening. More information is available at www.climbout.org.

WHERE?

ClimbOut festival will be happening at Thornbridge Outdoor Centre in the heart of the Peak District. We have arranged for exclusive use of the centre over the festival weekend with a range of accommodation options from camping to bunk beds. The address is: Thornbridge Outdoor Centre, Great Longstone, Bakewell DE45 1NY.