Mexico City's First LGBTQ+ Gym Offers Safe Strength Training for All

A new fitness initiative in Mexico City is offering LGBTQ+ individuals a safe place to train. Christian Montoya, a trans man and former athlete, founded Fuerza Diversx to provide inclusive physical conditioning. The project focuses on strength and health rather than traditional beauty standards, aiming to remove barriers for marginalised communities. Montoya’s journey in sports began early, but discrimination repeatedly forced him out. As a child, he quit soccer after being told it was a 'man’s sport' and that he didn’t belong. Later, in powerlifting, he faced verbal abuse and deliberate misgendering, with competitors using feminine pronouns despite his transition. Even in gyms, he was pressured into violent initiation rituals just to 'fit in'. These experiences, combined with employment barriers due to his trans identity, pushed him to create an alternative space.

Before launching *Fuerza Diversx*, Montoya earned a black belt in taekwondo and studied sports science. He began his gender transition at 21, deepening his understanding of the challenges trans and queer athletes face. Now, his programme operates out of *Casa La Moira*, a community centre in San Miguel Chapultepec that supports LGBTQ+ initiatives. The address, Av. José Vasconcelos 125, is open Monday to Friday, from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The initiative stands out by offering scholarships covering 30% to 100% of training costs. Montoya designed the programme to prioritise physical capacity and well-being, not appearance or conformity. Participants train without fear of judgement, discrimination, or exclusion—problems he knows firsthand.

Fuerza Diversx now provides what Montoya once lacked: a gym where LGBTQ+ people can build strength on their own terms. The project’s scholarships and location at Casa La Moira make it accessible to those often shut out of fitness spaces. For Montoya, it’s a way to turn years of exclusion into a lasting resource for his community.