“DYKES WHO GYM”
By Mel Cionco
Publishing by Mel & Irene
In recent memory, there is nothing that makes me happier than a blood pumping, sweat rolling, muscle sweating gym session.
The pictured superficial goals of a stronger grip to hold onto my friend’s weighted bags while saying “it’s nothing”, the inner applause of an arm wrestle well won, the satisfaction of a flex that notes my back in just the right way.
The sentimental gratification that even if things outside seem to not be going well, internally I am keeping things just as I need them, part healthy and part in check.
There is just nothing like it.
Credits: Mel Cionco
The satisfaction of control and improvement that visibly shows, and visibly gets the eye of more than one femme and butch at functions, knowing that at any request your strength can be depended on. To be able to provide and for every single part of me to be able to be of service and bring a smile or attract a stare or two is so euphoric.
My perspective however is one of many, and we at Dirty Dyke Magazine realised that this happiness is one shared in many sporty/gym dykes.
One of the perspectives in this articles comes from Hannah Ruth, bodybuilder and influencer known as “@lesbianlifts_” in Instagram.
We have followed (and admired) her content for a while, so it was a no brainer to feature her voice and story in this article.
Credits: Hannah Ruth
When did you start going to the gym?
“I am a former D1 college athlete! I played field hockey (gay) and was a goalie (even more gay) but I was also deeply closeted. In 2020, I was preparing to graduate from my Masters Degree program when the pandemic struck. I ended up moving back in with my parents, lost a bunch of weight doing very heavy cardio. In 2024, I watched Arcane for the first time, and was awestruck by Vi and Sevika; the way they carried themselves, their strength, their muscles -- and the fact that they were hot lesbians. It completely opened my eyes to what I wanted to become, which was a casual bodybuilder. December 2024 I joined a gym, and have been bodybuilding since then!”
What are your aims every time you go to the gym?
“I just want to get one degree better every time I step into the gym. It doesn't need to be related to hitting strength PR's, or seeing a good physique in the mirror; it can even be a better mindset. A better version of myself. I also want to show queer people that they can be visibly queer, and take up space in the gym. By showing up every day and getting it done, I'm showing my followers that they can, and should, too.”
How has the gym improved your self-image?
“It has improved my self-image immensely. Before getting into bodybuilding, I thought my body could only be seen as valuable if it was the smallest version possible. Bodybuilding has shown me that I'm meant to take up space. I'm not meant to shrink myself. My value is in being the most abundant self I can be.”
Why did you start your content at lesbianlifts_?
“My friends encouraged me to! I had been posting gym stuff on my "close friends" stories. I'd have friends from college, new friends, old friends, telling me they thought I'd be good at making fitness content. I am not someone who believes in myself easily, so to have friends believe so deeply in me got me started. At this point, I think my content is a mix of fitness and queer content, which I think is a direct reflection of myself. Before I am a bodybuilder, I am a lesbian, and I think it's important to have lesbian fitness creators who acknowledge and uplift the community that they are a part of.”
In what ways is it important to help the LGBT community find their way through gym culture?
“It's beyond important. The gym can be a hostile environment, especially to anyone who exists outside of cis-heteronormativity. But we deserve to be able to feel strong, to take care of our bodies, if we have the privilege to do so. Plus, the gym is expensive, and so is personal training. That's why I create the content I create; the internet is such a useful tool for beginning, and it's more relatable when it comes from a queer person.”
Credits: Hannah Ruth
“ I've seen queer people organizing strength training communities in their cities so that people can go to the gym and not feel alone, or even learn from their peers, and that's how we can get more queer people in the gym. Creating community off the internet.”
What do you think the struggles are when queer people go to the gym?
I think the biggest struggle is confidence. We're people who have been judged for what people immediately see our entire lives. So when you're new to the gym, and you don't really know what you're doing, the fear of judgement takes over and can make going to the gym feel impossible.”
look at all those STRONG DYKES
From left to right: Vic, Rach, Gene, Kady, Iza
A few months ago, after attending the MCR run lesbian residential “Dyketopia” there was a loud chatter of hikes, climbing, and running, the shared enjoyability of it all, how Dyketopia had done it a unique experience for some, and how some others wanted to organise more individual plans. A weekend away had connected all these wonderful dykes in their love of getting sweaty and pushing their bodies to new limits.
So, why not just create a whole group for dykes who want to show off to other dykes, who want to boast about their goals and struggles? I decided to put all these beautiful and sexy people in a single bubble and group chat.
In discovering all these people, their goals, their own smiles and euphoria, I understood just how much lesbian joy there is to find in the gym.
So these are their stories, progress, and pictures (you are allowed and encouraged to stare).
When did you start going to the gym?
Rach: “I started regularly going to the gym again about 18 months ago. I have always been sporty, and grew up competing for my region in athletics, rugby and football. After running a half marathon in April 2023, I rejoined the gym for a new challenge and am now utterly obsessed.”
Hazel: “ The main reason was to build muscle/prevent injury/support aerobic exercise (I go to the gym for resistance training) - hindsight community spirit has a big impact.”
Aly: “June 2023. I had some time out and inconsistency between due to work/ life commitments and minor injuries. Progress is still evident though.”
Iza: “A year ago.”
Anon: “I've been going to gym yoga classes for a few years, but I only recently started using the gym equipment/weights, cause now I have a group of queer friends who are helping me out with it”
Nour: “I first started going to the gym in my third year of uni in 2024 but after graduating I didn’t start it up again until Jan of 2025!”
Anon: “It was quite a long time ago, I must have been 16 at the time (I’m 25 atm). To me it instantly clicked, it’s the best way to attune with my body.”
Vic: “I did some home workouts to support my pole dance, but only started going to the gym mid-2024. I've stopped doing pole (too feminine) but maintain my gym routine.”
Credits: Izzy
Hannah: “I started going Aug 2023.”
Abi: “I’ve always been active but started going to the gym more seriously about 6 months ago.”
Erin: “I started going with my dad when I was around 13-14 (I’m 20 now), but didn’t start going properly until I was around 16 (i.e tracking what I was lifting, training all muscle groups, eating enough protein).”
Kady: “I started going to the gym in 2023, in my senior year of high school. Even though I was always active, I didn’t feel comfortable in the body I had. I feel like me discovering I was lesbian and masculine presenting almost enhanced my desire to get stronger.”
Ashley: “I started going again frequently around 2 months ago, but I lifted a bit in highschool”
Mer: “I started going to the circus gym in 2024. I train aerial silks and Lyra Hoop. I used to train at a regular gym, but this so way more fun!”
Korra: “For starters I don't go to the gym. I go to the pool to workout by of course swimming. Grew up going to swim from being on the swim team, then kept it up after 18.”
Debbie: “When did you start going to the gym: I started going after Covid. I was in very bad shape in my 20ies and then got broken up by my then boyfriend right before Covid hit. I came out and started working out because I didn't have a lot of other things to do during lockdown.”
Izzy: “I started at the gym when I was 17, just hopping around different machines until I started to take it more seriously!”
Credits: Rach
Val: “I was thirteen years old lifting at home with a barbell, squat rack, and free weights. I did team sports growing up (mostly soccer), but I loved the privacy and gratification of lifting so much to go 3-5x nearly every week throughout adolescence and even competed in college.”
Anon: “I started properly going to the gym about 2 months ago.”
Kelsea: “I started going about 10 years ago, but I took weight training in high school which got me started earlier.”
Gene: “I started going to the gum when i was a teenager as i grew up swimming competitively in a very health conscious family, so ive been solidly going to the gym for 6 years, but working out for about 13 years.
Liv: “I’ve been active my entire life, playing sports up until my senior year of college. I really started to utilize the gym in 2022 and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Kate: “On and off since about 16 years old (now 26). I've been going regularly for the last few months.”
Freya: “I have been going on and off for the last 5 years now. I started going after COVID ended but made more effort when i first started university and continued it throughout.”
What are your aims every time you go to the gym?
Credits: Mer - Photography: Tim Possible
Rach: “I go to the gym five times a week, and like no to do a mix of different activities - I am lucky that my gym includes classes for free which helps with this. I like to do some solo sessions to build strength, and then do my cardio through Muay Thai, Netball and Boxing. In general I don’t follow a strict programme but have good knowledge of exercises I can do to focus on different muscle groups. On top of this I do yoga which I find helps my mental health more than anything, as well as keeping my body healthy and ready for all the more intense workouts.”
Hazel: “Get out the monotony of work-sleep-work! 2. See people outside of work. 3. Feeling regulated/grounded.”
Aly: “To do as much of my planned workout as I have time for. I sometimes don’t get it all done but some is better than none.”
Iza: “One step closer to being a muscle mommy and it breaks up my day since I work remotely full time. My local leisure centre where I go to the gym has also become a bit of a community space, there's around 6 dykes that go (big up Stretford lezza centre!).”
Anon: “It's really good for my mental health. But also I want to get stronger! Also I love the social element of going to the gym with my queer friends.”
Nour: “Everytime I go to the gym my first aim is just to show up. Once there I try and do a body/mind scan to see what I think I could feasibly do the day. I have a four day split I follow so if on a Wednesday after work I don’t feel I can do a full pull day, I just try and do at least a little. I pushed myself to go hard everytime but that just leads to burn out very quick. I aim to just do my best when I show up (whatever that looks like that day).”
Anon: “I’m trying to get more into calisthenics, so I’ve asked my gym instructor for a routine that will get me to do a pull-up. I do an upper body and lower body day and try to increase the weight each week.”
Vic: “For a long time I didn't set any major goals because I didn't want to pressure myself. I just liked lifting weights and wanted to push the numbers. But now I'm aiming to get to 100kg for squats and hip thrusts.”
Hannah: “Some me time, it helps with my mental health, self esteem and body dysphoria. Also ... chin ups.”
Abi: “When I go to the gym my goal is to make myself feel better, releasing feel good chemicals through exercise helps with that!”
Erin: “My aims when I go to the gym are to get stronger, try to improve on the last session and most importantly, to have fun. If I’m having a bad day I always feel better and more clear-minded after the gym.”
Kady: “My main goal is to just be consistent. I feel like the gym space and culture makes it seem like you must workout like David Goggins every single day to be successful. I just go, push myself as much as I can, and step back when I need a break.”
Ashley: “A huge goal I have is to see how much I can push myself. By next month i plan on getting to the 1,000 club no matter where I am now.”
Mer: “My goals include building my upper body strength, flexibility and overall endurance. I want to push my body to the limit and create something beautiful as well as grow as an artist.”
Korra: “Generally just to get out of house move my body and try to get my mood in a better place. As well talk to my other queer friends there. Plus dress up with pretty swimsuits.”
Credits: Kady
Debbie: “What are my aims: I like the feeling I get after beeing to the gym. I mostly feel strong and fit. Also my goals is to have muscles and be strong. Also I like being able to lift heavy things.”
Izzy: “I love working on my performance, getting stronger but more than anything, I go to the gym to have fun. For me, it’s my playground.”
Val: “The gym is my sacred space to practice discipline, gratitude, and joy. Like in meditation, I’m immensely grateful to ground myself and see my body naturally express itself without a need for words or witness.”
Anon: “My aims would be to get stronger, and to feel more confident in myself, improving my self image but building muscle too.”
Kelsea: “My aims in the gym are to get stronger and really to put on as much muscle as possible.”
Gene: “I am to improve on whatever i last did like up my weights or do a few extra push ups, and everytime i go i make sure im actually content with what i did and that i’ve benefited from it mentally. It also helps i can now carry my elderly dog when she needs the help.”
Liv: “Break a sweat, commit to the workout I planned, and leave happy.”
Kate: “I mainly go to the gym for my mental health, to get rid of excess energy and anxiety and spend time with friends. I always have a good laugh at the gym. I also feel like going to the gym is a way to engage in bro culture with other masc lesbians, I feel a sense of community and acceptance whenever I go with friends.”
Freya: “I have a specific aim of trying to get my first pull up. I’ve been trying for a couple years but not really with focused attention On top of that, just generally feel more stronger in my physical abilities.”
How has the gym improved your self-image?
Rach: “I definitely think there is a link between working out and lesbian identity - especially for more masc leaning queers. Feeling and looking physically capable and strong, leans into a masculinity that is empowering and often desired within the community.”
Hazel: “My self image has improved, but more from understanding myself more/friends through the gym.”
Aly: “For me it’s that I can see and feel myself getting stronger which makes me feel more capable, and being low key more attractive to women is an advantage I won’t lie but helps me feel good in myself first and foremost.”
Iza: “I've never been skinny or fem so I do feel more like myself with muscle.”
Anon: “My body hasn't changed much yet but once I get more muscular I'm hoping it will help me feel more strong and sexy.”
Nour: “I think the gym has improved my self image and I have grown more of an appreciation for what my body can do. I struggle a lot with body image issues and an ED but recently I have found that going to the gym when eating regularly doesn’t feel so much like a chore. And being in a lesbian relationship has made me appreciate parts of my womanhood and body that I hadn’t really before. I’m still trying to make a friend out of my body and not an enemy and I can very assuredly say that embodying my lesbianism has helped me a lot in that process!”
Anon: “Definitely. I love feeling the muscles underneath my skin every time I help someone lift something heavy. It makes me feel more independent and useful to my friends. The trick is not looking at other people’s bodies at the gym and instead focus on your own health journey. You just need to become obsessed with yourself in the healthiest way.”
Vic: “YES! I love my buff bod. I like to flex the guns. As an NB AFAB, I love to play into the masculine. I'm not fussed about losing weight - I actually kinda enjoy the dad bod I get when I'm bloated.”
Hannah: “Yeah. A lot. I've struggled with how I look my entire adult life, not really understanding why the inside doesn't match the outside. And with constant barrage of how women should be and look, I felt like I was cos-playing and dressing up the whole time. Coming to terms with my queerness, finding a community of masc afabs, and a more general acceptance of muscular and strong women made me feel more confident to chase that body I'd always wanted and felt comfortable in. So now im lean and strong and muscled and feel better about myself than I ever have.”
Abi: “The gym has greatly improved both my mental health and physical health. When I look better, I feel better. I also enjoy pushing myself to see if I can gain more stamina through more intense workouts.”
Erin: “Definitely. It improves my mental well-being and shows me what I’m capable of, which makes me feel better about myself. As a lesbian, it allows me to fight stereotypes of women being weak/small and feel confident in a traditionally male cisheteronormative space. Also, my girlfriend likes my muscles.”
Credits: Korra
Kady: “Yes, greatly. I was 99lbs and underweight. Today I sit at 125lbs consistent. I lean towards more male clothing, and being smaller made it hard to find masculine clothing that fit me how I wanted.”
Ashley: “Honestly I struggle a lot with my image still and my body, I’m usually “not woman enough” to people anyways, so why not shut that out and be productive about it? As a trans lesbian I don’t need another box. I surprisingly have not a lot of photos but I have one from when I started vs now!”
Mer: “My self image has never been as good as it is now. I feel like being a strong womxn empowers me to be an even bigger dyke to be honest.”
Korra: “From the perspective of being a trans woman, yes. I love doing legs and making myself feel, powerful and beautiful at the same time. Definitely makes other women happy to see that.”
Debbie: “Yes, massively. I feel more powerful and more like myself. I also don’t think I would have been able to embrace becoming muscular and strong in the same way if I were still in a heteronormative relationship and not out as a lesbian.”
Izzy: “Working on my physique and strength in the gym massively helped with my self image, I finally had the confidence to be myself which then led me to building my own LGBTQ+ fitness business!”
Val: “Through trauma and trials, the gym is the bedrock of my positive self-image. Your relationship with your body is sacred and no one can take it away. The inner strength I’ve cultivated over the years has let me flourish into the sexy, confident butch I see in the mirror.”
Anon: “I would say it has begun to improve my self image even whilst not seeing a huge difference, I can feel the difference and actually attending to the gym has helped with my self image and confidence.”
Kelsea: “Has the gym improved my self image? 100% I find being more muscular extremely affirming in my gender presentation as a butch lesbian. I feel a lot more comfortable in myself.”
Gene: “Yeah definitely, as a non binary person its massively helped me present myself as more androgynous, and seeing physical improvements has balanced me out when I’ve not been so strong mentally..”
Credits: Erin
Liv: “1 million percent. It’s helped me gender wise and definitely aided in my journey to finding butchness. I am building the body that I want and it is aiding me in performing my butchness as I view it.”
Kate: “I think it has, I see sports and being athletic as a core part of my identity and how I see myself so when I neglect that part of my life I feel a disconnect between how I view myself and how others view me. Also getting stronger is an amazing feeling.”
Freya: “Massively, but I would extend it to any kind of physical activity. You come to discover and appreciate new ways in which your body serves you and make you feel confident, especially as someone thats not typically represented in gym settings.”
