SLAQC LIFTS UP SALT LAKE’S QUEER COMMUNITY
Salt Lake Area Queer Climbers (SLAQC, pronounced “slack”) was founded in 2015 by Chris Doman, with the mission to “build community, empower LGBTQIA+ individuals in the sport of rock climbing, and create a more inclusive environment in the rock climbing community as a whole.” Temporarily on hiatus during the pandemic, SLAQC returned in 2021 hard at work to expand their mission and establish a lasting, impactful organization for years to come.
In addition to hosting weekly climbing events, SLAQC raises visibility for its community within the climbing industry by partnering with brands who share their mission, advocates for increased access to climbing with gym partners, and promotes queer-owned businesses. More broadly, the group creates a space for queer climbers to come together and climb in a supportive environment.
We sat down with each of the three co-organizing members of this peer-led group to chat about their work with the organization. Read on for our conversations with Matt Kastellec (he/him/his), Leandra Hernández (she/her/ella), and Rue Zheng (they/them).