Marquita smith
A queer woman of colour born in South Wales, Marquita is a personal trainer and biomechanics coach with a background in martial arts. She has over 25 years experience working with LGBT+ people and allies to reach their health and fitness goals.
In 2016 she co-founded Trans Can Sport; a project based in Brighton and Hove dedicated to getting trans and gender diverse people into sport and fitness.
She also works as an anti-racism consultant with Allsorts Youth Project who support LGBT+ children and young people under the age of 26 and has been curating ‘Allsorts of Visibility’ an ongoing series of resources celebrating LGBT+ People of Colour.
What does your identity mean to you?
In the past I saw my identity as something shameful, something I needed to hide, something confusing.
It separated me from the crowd more than I already felt I was with my mixed roots.
I was either the only black person in gay spaces or the only queer in black spaces, forever choosing which aspect of myself I would let shine if at all.
My identity now is where I draw strength. Where I felt shame I now feel pride. Where I would hide I’m now visible. I may be complex, but I am not confused. My identity is my journey, my ability to love, grow and to forgive myself. It’s the journey I’ve been on to get to where I am now and to where ever I am going next.