Amid a growing demand for inclusive community spaces, a Tucson-based outdoor group is carving out room for LGBTQ+ people and allies to connect, explore and build community across Southern Arizona.

Tucson Queer Outdoors offers a range of activities. As the group enters its second year, organizer Jax Seline said it aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment.

“It's a space for us to collaborate about outdoor activities. So, we've done hikes, we've done biking, we've done camping trips,” Seline said. “I'm hoping to have backpacking trips in the future.”

The inspiration came from the lack of a queer outdoor group in Tucson and the push Seline felt to create what was missing.

“I had been pretty frustrated for years that there wasn't a major queer outdoors group that already existed in Tucson. I’d been looking around for one and decided, OK, I think I should just make one myself,” Seline said. “The inspiration was just wanting to meet more queer people and to have a space where it was everyone who is excited about the outdoors.”

Groups like Tucson Queer Outdoors, especially in the current political climate, are important because they offer queer individuals the chance to meet each other and share interests, Seline said.

“I think having spaces for queer people to meet each other and be able to share interests is just so important. It helps with everything from mental health to building friendships and community,” Seline said. “I think even my own sense of community has been strengthened by having Tucson Queer Outdoors. It kind of lends itself to a sense of safety even when the world feels kind of perilous as it is.”

Seline said he feels the group has had an impact on the queer community by serving as a third space for people to connect.

“I think that it's been impacting the community in terms of people actually being able to build friendships and a sense of community in Tucson. And then I think the other thing is so often queer community is centered around nightlife, especially going out, bars, drinking,” Seline said. “I think having another space, a third space where people can meet up outside and enjoy the outdoors and move their bodies … has been really important and impactful for people too.”

Seline said mental health professionals have also praised the group’s efforts to help people build a sense of community.

“I've had therapists reach out to the group, and other organizations just saying, ‘Hey, you know what, I like to share this with my clients,’” they said. “For me personally, it's been kind of fulfilling to see that aspect of it. It's just so cool to see people coming together and building community around this group. So that's been wonderful too for me.”

With a new year underway, Seline said he is hopeful for the future and excited about the inclusivity the group offers.

“I try to make this group really inclusive, not just where the location is and the types of events, but inclusive in terms of getting people's opinions about what kinds of events they like,” Seline said. “I'm always open to suggestions about where people want to go and what kinds of events they want to do. So I'm all ears if there's a trail that, you know, people have been dying to go on or something.”

Nya Belcastro is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at nya2005@arizona.edu.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.