By Omar Michael, Rabble player since 2024.
As someone who grew up gay in the 2000s, PE was one of my most dreaded classes in school. I didn’t feel welcomed by the other boys. And I was forced to be separated from my female friends who I actually wanted to play with.
PE was anxiety-inducing if you were visibly queer. I would always go to a toilet stall on the other side of school to get changed to avoid having to change in front of others. And I know I probably wasn’t alone in feeling this way.
For a lot of LGBTQ+ people, the words “PE class” can bring back a flood of awkward, uncomfortable, or even traumatic memories.
That’s one of the big reasons why creating LGBTQ-friendly exercise spaces matters to us.
Joining Rabble last year opened my eyes to how much fun exercise can actually be when you’re in a social environment where you feel safe and welcome.
This pride month, we want to change the way our fellow queer siblings think about group exercise. Movement should be joyful, welcoming, and inclusive, not something that dredges up memories of exclusion. And Rabble is here to help make that a reality.
Here’s why these spaces are important, and how we can rewrite the narrative around fitness for the LGBTQ+ community and as allies.
1. Healing the PE Class Hangover
For many of us, the discomfort with exercise didn’t come from the activity itself, but from the environment we were expected to do it in. Traditional PE classes and gyms often reinforce rigid gender norms. If you didn’t fit into those boxes, you were left feeling exposed and out of place.
Creating LGBTQ-friendly spaces means designing sessions where those old assumptions are dismantled. It means respecting all identities and recognising that everyone deserves to feel welcomed in group exercises.
All of our lovely instructors know the importance of this and will do their best to make sure every new-joiner feels welcome and included no matter who they are. You can see how we do it in practice through stories like Samantha’s breakdown of a typical Rabble session, where inclusion is baked into everything from warm-ups to socials.
We also encourage a welcoming environment through our Code of Conduct, which explicitly commits to respecting all identities including sexual orientation and gender expression.
2. Community Over Competition
So much of traditional fitness culture focuses on competition, performance, and appearance. That might motivate some people, but for many LGBTQ+ people, it can feel alienating.
Rabble flips that on its head. We play games, we laugh, we work as a team. We value connection, not comparison. When the focus is on community, people start to rediscover what movement can feel like: freeing, energising, and fun!
This community-driven ethos is what we call The Philosophy Behind Rabble. It’s about fun, play, and being part of something bigger, where everyone is welcome.
3. Mental Health Matters
We know that LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, often because of social stigma, discrimination, and isolation. Physical activity has well-documented mental health benefits, but only when people feel safe and welcome enough to engage in it.
Inclusive spaces like Rabble give you a chance to reconnect with your body on your own terms. It offers a release from stress, a boost in mood, and a sense of belonging.
We’ve written more about this in our blog post on the Top 5 Forms of Exercise for Your Mental Health. Spoiler alert! Fun, group-based workouts like Rabble come highly recommended 😉 You can also read more about the importance of LGBTQ+ mental health on MindOut, a charity dedicated to mental health services for the LGBTQ+ community.
4. Visibility and Representation
There’s something deeply affirming about walking into a space and seeing people who reflect your experience. LGBTQ-friendly exercise groups make visible what’s often missing in mainstream fitness culture.
That visibility helps challenge stereotypes and shows that fitness doesn’t have to look or feel one particular way. Stories like “I Was Scared of Fitness” show how visibility and support can help people overcome anxiety and find joy in movement.
So, if you’ve ever felt left out, judged, or unwelcome when it comes to fitness, know that Rabble was built with everyone in mind. Our games are silly, our vibes are supportive, and our doors are open. Come and play!
Join our Rabble London sessions this weekend (28th and 29th June in Southwark Park, Finsbury Park and Clapham Common), and for every player who joins, we will donate £1 to Out For Sport, a charity that breaks down barriers by promoting diversity and acceptance through the universal language of sport and recreation.