LGBTQ Breaking News Service

Canada’s first LGBTQ gym has announced it is to close, months after its staff and members became the victim of a “malicious” intimidation campaign by a far-right group.

The Queerflex gym in Edmonton, Alberta, confirmed it will close its doors on February 29, five months after the fringe group Patriot Pride Canada Wide published personal details of those associated with the gym online, a process known as doxxing.

“Although we have been assured by multiple channels that this small group has not been known to show themselves in person, we do not want to take any chances with anyone’s safety,” the gym said in September while announcing partial closure to ensure the safety of its members, employees and volunteers.

Queerflex, which opened in 2016 and acted as a safe space to the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community to exercise in, said it “deeply regrets” the decision to close the gym for good as it is no longer financially viable to keep it running.

In a statement, Queerflex said that it experienced a loss of earnings as a result of canceling all classes in the wake of the doxxing, as well as attempting to find ways to improve safety measures at the gym.

“Despite all our best efforts as a volunteer-run Board, the lack of revenue from the cancellation of our group classes and memberships in September ultimately challenged the financial sustainability of our organization,” the statement said.

“The decision to close the doors to the Queerflex gym permanently has come as a result of careful consideration of all possible alternatives.

“The Board of Directors is deeply committed to creating safer spaces for our community and this decision has not come lightly. We wouldn’t be here without the dedication and the support of our community and its allies, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Parker Pothier was one of those who attended the gym. He described how he will struggle to find another place where he feels safe and accepted after Queerflex’s closure.

“One of the rules that was the most important to me is that there was no body shaming or diet talk allowed at the gym,” Pothier told CBC.

“There were no mirrors; there were no scales to step on; all the calorie counters on the electronic machines were all covered up.

“There are other kinds of gyms but there is nothing like Queerflex, nothing is accessible as Queerflex.”

Edmonton Police’s hate crimes and violent extremism division investigated the doxxing by Patriot Pride Canada Wide, but no charges were brought forward.

“We recognized the impact on the staff and the community however the matter did not meet the threshold for criminal charges,” Sergeant Gary Willitz told The Globe and Mail.

Edmonton Police has been contacted for further comment.

In a statement to Newsweek, Edmonton’s Mayor Don Iveson said: “We were very disappointed to hear about the reasons for the closure and we understand that it is being investigated by the Edmonton Police Service.

“All Edmontonians deserve to feel safe and behaviour from any group that perpetuates hate and discrimination is not welcome in our city. We need to foster inclusiveness and understanding not walls that divide us.”

Patriot Pride Canada Wide is believed to be affiliated with the anti-Islam group The Clann.

The Clann made national news last January after its members allegedly scouted out the Al-Rashid mosque in Edmonton, the oldest mosque in Canada, in order to “provoke” the local Muslim community.

7 LGBT-friendly workout spots

As we cruise into the new year, few places await folks hoping to embrace their resolutions as much as gyms do. Whether maintaining last year’s workout regimen or starting a new one, you need to be at the right place for you. Gyms and fitness centers should be sacred realms where people looking to stay healthy can test their bodies and minds in a safe environment. Most of us like to feel comfortable wherever we workout, a place where few judging eyes stare, so here’s a list of queer-friendly area gyms to check out.
Club Dallas. This specialized 18-and-over Swiss Avenue sauna and fitness center caters to Dallas’ gay men always looking to keep fit and stay well. Just steps away from a DART station, Club Dallas provides its members a full gym, cardiovascular-focused area, whirlpool, steam room, outdoor pool and private dressing rooms. But most important, the Club prides itself as a safe and discreet place for its members to rejuvenate and stay healthy with others. Membership costs $32/mo., with one-time visits costing $8 on weekdays and $10 on weekends. The-Clubs.com.

Diesel Fitness. This uptown gym located in City Place off North Central Expressway offers weekly classes to help members work on their body tone. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the Iron Body Bootcamp could whip any newcomer into shape, and the spot’s Bun’s & Gun’s workout suits the more advanced types on Tuesday nights. And along with the usual fitness amenities, such as barbells and various lift machines, Diesel features a designated space for boxing and an indoor turf. DieselFitness214.com.

Equinox Fitness. For those looking for a facility promoting luxury, Equinox provides high-end equipment and machines, with membership usually running about $180/mo. Locations are in Plano, Highland Park and Preston Hollow for Dallasites of all types. And members can utilize the establishment’s cycling space, personal trainers, Pilates studio and spa, featuring massage and facial stations. Along with purchasing one-on-one training sessions, members can take unlimited group fitness classes for free. Equinox.com.

Gold’s Gym. One of the definitive health centers nationwide, the Uptown branch of this national chain has remained popular in the community for years. GoldsGym.com.

LA Fitness. The sprawling center in the gayborhood, with its pool area, weights, treadmills and more, is perennially popular with queer fitness folks in Dallas. LAFitness.com.

Planet Fitness. One can find a PF almost anywhere, but the membership rates here offer the convenience at a real bargain. For about $10/mo., members can exercise in a 24/7 facility that prides itself as a Judgment Free Zone. PF even allows its members to use the restrooms and locker rooms they identify with as their preferred gender. But if patrons upgrade to Black Card membership, they get exclusive access to the gym’s massage and tanning center.

Utopia Food + Fitness. Utopia offers a unique take on fitness for those always conscientious about their diet before and after workouts. Different from a typical gym, this establishment focuses on pairing personalized workouts, which last about 20 minutes, with healthy meals ordered, prepared and ready to pick up on site. Utopia keeps a chef and dietician on site that aim to create organic cuisines to supplement the short workouts. Membership of $129/mo. comes with a $40 food credit, customized 20-minute workouts, free full body measurements and body composition analysis.

— John Carder McClanahan

It’s about this time in January that people start questioning their resolutions. Well, not if these local queer flat bellies have anything to say about it.

Photographer Russ Bowen-Youngblood visited seven of Atlanta’s gay-run and queer-friendly gyms to inspire you with their imagery, then we asked them for words of wisdom to motivate you to keep at it.

The photo essay below hosts the results as this year’s Q Fitness Issue cover story. Enjoy!

ARMOURBODY

Jeremy Ryan Allen

445 Plasamour Drive NE

404-414-5300 |armourbody.com|[email protected]

What sets your gym apart?

We are a small, personalized, strength training studio. I find it important to keep things intimate. Armourbody was built by wanting to give people a private personal training experience. This allows for teaching better direction with form and provides the atmosphere for anyone at any fitness level to be comfortable, which results in faster results as well as long-lasting commitment.

What’s your favorite part of going into work every day?

I’m very lucky that I get to wake up every day and do something I love. But at the end of the day, all businesses are built because of the people. I have the most amazing staff and members — truly, it is like a family.

What role does being/serving members of the LGBTQ-ATL play in your business?

I remember what it was like walking into a gym not knowing what to do. I wanted to build a home for people that could workout in a comfortable environment and learn in the process.

If you had to boil health and fitness into one tip, what would it be?

Consistency and habits lead to long lasting results. Set goals. If you haven’t worked out in a while, start with three days a week, or something you can achieve. Then do that for a couple months, then go to four days a week. Create the habit, see the results. Remember: if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

Gravity Fitness

Aaron Pols

Ken Penvose

David Goldstein

2201 Faulkner Road

404-486-0506 |gravgymatlanta.com|[email protected]

What got you into the fitness industry?

My personal path in the fitness industry started with my own struggle to lose weight, get in shape, and build some confidence in those awkward teen years. The years of hard work in the gym paid off, exercise and diet grew into a passion I wanted to share with others.

My love for exercise and fitness motivated me to get an exercise physiology degree, which helped me start and build a personal training business. After a few years of personal training, I knew owning a gym was a dream of mine, so when the opportunity to purchase Gravity Fitness became a possibility, I knew I needed the right team to make it work.

Three “magic ingredients” that set your business apart.

Comfortable. Working out, sweating, lifting, pushing yourself, all these things are hard enough. The place where you work out should be comfortable.

Community. Getting the motivation to go the gym is difficult, but it’s easier when your gym is filled with friendly, familiar people with a common goal of self-improvement.

Hard Work. Nothing great was ever accomplished without it, and you can see the hard work our members put in every day.

What is your favorite part of going into work every day?

The people. We are lucky to work with a fantastic group of employees, trainers and most of all, members. Working in such a positive environment motivates me every day to be better. The self-improvement is contagious.

What is the one tip most exercisers need to hear the most?

The most important part of working out is consistency, preferably with a structured plan. The best workout you’ll have is the one that you wanted to skip. Dedication = Results. Most people want to make this more complicated than it is.

What role does serving the LGBTQ community play in your approach?

The gay gyms in Atlanta have always been a great place to be social and meet people in addition to getting in shape. Over the years, the demographics in all of intown Atlanta have changed, but Gravity is still a predominantly gay gym, and as new owners we’ve been targeting our former members to come back and check out the changes we’ve been making.

Gravity’s owners, trainers and members are now a mix of LGBTQ and straight and a great place to come for workouts and making new and old friends! When the gym has some of that social aspect, you’re more likely to come and have some fun and socialize along with your workout!

Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

We are new owners, but we have each been associated with Gravity Fitness as either a trainer or member for 8+ years. We’ve made some pretty big changes and welcome you to come check things out for yourself. We offer a free three-day pass to come check us out at the times you’d be working out — we are never “too” crowded!

The Training Room ATL

Amber Goppert

742 Ponce De Leon Place

404-333-3677 |thetrainingroomatl.com|[email protected]

What got you into the fitness industry?

I wanted a career that was incredibly rewarding and would allow continual growth. Being “well” as I call it, is absolutely life changing for someone. It impacts every aspect of their life. Being able to be a part of that is everything to me.

Three “magic ingredients” that set your business apart from others:

Integrity. We are constantly educating ourselves and evolving in order to provide the best programming and coaching for each member.

Community. The majority of reviews and compliments I received mention how wonderful our people are, both members and staff.

Empowerment. We believe in being the change. Be more, promise yourself to show up every day and do that. At TTR, we believe we are all catalysts for change, in and out of the gym.

What is your favorite part of going into work every day?

The people. At our gym, people don’t see colors, or sexuality, or wealth. They see people. We support one another and stand for something bigger than ourselves.

What role does the LGBTQ community play in your approach?

I’m a small business owner. Who happens to be a woman. Who happens to be a lesbian. There are people who would love to see me fail because of one, two, or three of these things. The fear of failure can be overwhelming, but when we harvest it for good we can channel that fear into something great.

This is why I wanted to create a space where people feel comfortable and safe being who they are and where they are in their journey. A no judgment zone, just a welcoming space for anyone of any background that wants to be a part of a positive community.

To me, being better involves giving back. Every year since the doors opened, we have held a “Fight For Pride” charity events to support local nonprofits.

What one tip would you say most exercisers need to hear the most?

We are all human. Everyone was once a beginner. We all started and likely re-started at some point. It’s OK to miss a day, to eat a brownie, and to sleep in, but don’t make it a habit, treat each day as a new day — one where you put yourself first.

My challenge to all of you is to show up, every day, with the best intentions. Get lost in helping others. Lend your voice to those who cannot find their own. Whatever you are passionate about, become an expert on the subject. Find a vice that isn’t harmful, one that pushes you to be better.

And of course, when you’re ready for the best sweat in town, drop in at TTR. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and your first class is always a gift from me to you.

BoxFit Fitness & Performance Studio

Janaya ‘Jai’ Davis

1880 Harvard Ave.,College Park

678-705-5275 | boxfitfitness.com

What did your boxing career teach you about life?

Most importantly, it taught me to never give up. In boxing, you can lose every round in the fight, but if you hang in there and throw the right punch at the right time, you can knock out your opponent and win the fight. Whenever I’m going through tough or challenging times, I just become more focused and determined.

What’s excuses do you hear from people about why they don’t work out or eat well?

The biggest excuse I hear from people is “I don’t have time.” My response is always presented in a question to provoke thinking. I ask them how many times they go out to a restaurant per week. Then I say the same time you spent dining out, going to the movies and waiting for a table adds up close to the recommended hours per week of working out to reduce your chances of having obesity-related diseases. They always agree with me after that.

What’s the key to sticking with a workout plan and healthy diet?

Consistency. You should pick set times and days in which you can commit to being there. Also being prepared to eat healthy when it’s time to eat, because if you wait until you are famished, you will more than likely grab the first thing available instead of searching for healthy options.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I will have multiple gyms with programs designed to assist the most challenging clients to show them that there is hope and not to give up on themselves.

Urban Body Fitness

Radford Slough

500 Amsterdam Ave. NE

404-885-1499 |UrbanBodyFitness.com |[email protected]

Three “magic ingredients” that set your gym apart.

Customer service, towel service, and change — we listen to our clients as to what new “toys” they want.

What is your favorite part of going into work every day?

Seeing and talking to our clients.

If you had to keep fitness to one tip, what would it be?

Food intake matters as much as how hard you workout.

What role does being in/serving the LGBTQ community play in your gym?

We are about 50/50 gay/straight. We pride ourselves as being open to everyone who strives to improve their health.

What else?

Come by and try our free seven-day trial. See the difference for yourself. We don’t have a salesperson, so no one is going to keep calling you. Our gym and staff sell themselves.

Fitted 4 Fitness

Ralph Barber

751 James P Brawley Drive NW

(612) 554-5731

fitted4fitness.com

What got you into the industry?

I got my B.A. in physical education and health along with a teaching license. I wanted to be a P.E. teacher and coach football, while also being an African-American male mentor toward single-parent homes. I came from a single-parent home. It was hard, but I feel with focus and determination, you still have an opportunity to be who you want to.

What motivated you to move on from managing a big box gym to opening your own gym?

One two-week pay period, I made $3,400. It was the most money I had ever made, and I was 24 years old. I also worked 120 hours for that. At that moment, I realized that if I put that much time into my own business, there’s no reason why I would fail. I quit that day and never looked back.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned?

What you put in is what you will get out.

What’s next for you and Fitted 4 Fitness?

I really want to establish a team while helping great entrepreneurial personal trainers succeed in their personal goals and dreams, because right now I’m living my dream running my gym.

Equilibrium Fitness

Bryan Castano

1529 Piedmont Ave. NE

404-304-4674 |EquilibriumFitnessATL.com|[email protected]

What got you into the fitness industry?

While pursuingmy own fitness goals, I noticed that I could help others along the way. I became certified and eventually became a personal trainer for the better part of 10 years.

Three adjectives that set your business apart.

Welcoming, Hospitable, Clean

What is your favorite part of going into work?

I have a fantastic team of individuals that are dedicated to our growth and success. We all come ready and dedicated to work for each and every one of our members and patrons. I enjoy knowing that we are doing our piece in the city to make it healthier and accepting for everyone.

What is your #1 Fitness Tip?

Patience is key! If you work hard, and it takes time and lots of effort, you will appreciate it more in the long term.

What role does being/serving the LGBTQ community play in your approach?

I love our LGBTQ community, and I do play an active role in it, but would I say I do things differently? No. I was raised to treat everyone the same and to treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. At Equilibrium, we are all about acceptance and learning to become better versions of ourselves. That is why our tagline is “Become A Better You.”

Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

The gym industry can be a very intimidating place for many new people who may have never stepped into a gym. At Equilibrium, we are all about making you feel welcome. Everyone, no matter how fit or athletic they may be today, had a “First Day” in a gym at some point. Let 2020 be your “First Day” with us!

All photos by Russ Bowen-Youngblood for Q except Amber Goppoert. Those photos courtesy The Training Room.

This feature originally appeared in Q magazine. Read the full issue online here:

Pick up a new edition of Q every week at queer and LGBTQ-friendly venues around town, and find back-issues in our archives here.

Need comfort while still showing off your arms, chest, legs, and ass? We’ve got the perfect workout attire to get the glances from those around you!

BLITZBEATZ Shorts

$45, Blitzbeatz.com

These Nylon/Spandex shorts come in dozens of colors with more pockets than you can handle! Two diagonally zippered front pockets, dedicated cell phone pocket, exterior zippered credit card pocket, hidden zippered inside pocket, exterior accessory loop, interior shirt-securing loop, inside drawstrings, water bottle pocket, and a cell pocket cover which holds your phone in place.

JED NORTH Shorts

$26.95, JEDNorth.com

Perfect for a heavy lifting session, miles of cardio or a peaceful yoga session. These polyester and spandex shorts fit snug but still allow you to move freely. Includes two side pockets with zippers and a ribbed waistband with external drawcord.

JED NORTH Mesh Tank Top

$20.95, JEDNorth.com

Soft, stretchy, and breathable … what more could you ask for?! This tank comes in several colors and allows you to show off the right amount of skin to your gym partners. The tank is made of performance polyester and spandex with a tapered fit for a wide range of motion while lifting or running.

JJ Malibu Donut Tank Top

$22.95, JJMalibu.com

Show your biggest indulgences on the gym floor with JJ Malibu’s donut tank top! This polyester and spandex blend tank has a sexy racerback design to show off all of your back muscles to your gym crush! Comes in dozens of fun designs!

DJX Trough Socks

$17, BoyNextdoorMenswear.com

Get these sexy knee high rugby socks for the perfect circulation during your lifting or cardio workout session. Cotton, polyester and elastic blend which comes in multiple colors.

Teamm8 Shorts

$55, BoyNextdoorMenswear.com

Whether you’re working out or just relaxing, these level shorts add another level of comfort with four way stretch quick dry fabrication. You’ll find a mesh side and leg band trim which reveals the perfect amount of skin. Two side zip pockets, and full elastic waist with outside tie-cord makes sure everything is secure.

Nasty Pig Jockstrap

$29, NastyPig.com

The L33 jockstrap gives a classic vibe while standing out among the rest! When you drop your trousers in the locker room, the super-soft modal spandex will hold your junk easily. The waistband combines our iconic SNOUT logo and reminds everyone that you’re a true Nasty Pig!

When the COVID pandemic hit in the early months of 2020, there were certainly more pressing and essential worries for us to grapple with than how it would impact the next season of a TV show. Yet it’s a testament to the power of “Pose” that many among its legion of fans were at least as concerned about the show’s disruption as they were about the possibility of running out of toilet paper.

The powerhouse FX drama — which spotlights the legends, icons and ferocious house mothers of New York’s underground ball culture in the late 1980s — had already made history. Not only did it feature the largest cast of transgender actors in regular roles, it boasted the largest recurring cast of LGBTQ actors ever included in a scripted series. In its first two seasons, the show racked up accolades and honors (including a Primetime Emmy for Billy Porter as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series) while breaking new ground for the inclusion and representation of queer people — and especially transgender people of color — in television, both in front of the camera, and behind it. With the end of its second season in August 2019, fans were hungry for a third — but thanks to COVID, its future was suddenly in question.

So, when word came that the show’s third season would have its debut on May 2, it was the best news since finding out the vaccines were finally going to start rolling out. But it was bittersweet: Along with confirmation of the series’ imminent return came the sad revelation that the new season would also be the last. “Pose” would be coming to an end with a final, seven-episode arc.

As any viewer of show can attest, there were a lot of threads left hanging when last we saw its characters. That means there’s a lot of ground to cover in these last chapters in order to give everyone — characters and audience alike — the closure they deserve.

The show’s official synopsis goes like this: It’s now 1994 and ballroom feels like a distant memory for Blanca, who struggles to balance being a mother with being a present partner to her new love, as well as her latest role as a nurse’s aide. Meanwhile, as AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for Americans ages 25 to 44, Pray Tell contends with unexpected health burdens. Meanwhile, a vicious new upstart house is emerging in the ballroom world, and the members of the House of Evangelista are forced to contend their legacy.

Obviously, there are a lot of details left hidden in that broad overview, and fans are undoubtedly full of questions about what they can expect to see.

Fortunately, the bulk of the show’s main cast convened on Zoom last week (along with show co-creator and Executive Producer Steven Canals and Executive Producer Janet Mock) for a press conference to discuss their “Pose” experience, and while they didn’t exactly give away any spoilers, they definitely dropped some tantalizing hints about what’s in store for audiences in the farewell season.

In truth, most of the discussion was dominated by reminiscences and expressions of mutual appreciation, sure signs that the feeling of family we see onscreen is something that has taken hold off screen, as well. But in between the affectionate banter, the cast and creatives addressed several questions that might be most on viewers’ minds.

Perhaps the most pressing of these — why, after only three seasons, is the critic-and-audience-acclaimed show calling it quits? — was taken on by Canals, who explained:

“I always knew what the beginning and what the end of the narrative would be. And when Ryan Murphy and I first met in September of 2016, we felt really strongly that that particular narrative made sense. And so, while we certainly could have continued to create narrative around these characters and in this world, and we certainly had a conversation in the writers’ room about it … I think we all agreed that it just made sense for us to ‘land the plane,’ if you will, comfortably — as opposed to continuing to give an audience story that just simply didn’t have any real core intention or a real thrust towards specificity.”

Also of interest was the obvious subject of how the parallels between the current pandemic and the AIDS crisis that looms over the show’s narrative might be reflected in the new episodes. While he didn’t hint at any direct connections in “Pose,” Porter used the subject to underscore a theme that has always been one of the show’s most important elements:

“I think the parallels are quite profound. I know that as a Black gay man who lived through the AIDS crisis, I have been dealing with a lot of PTSD during this COVID time. It’s very reminiscent of what it was like then. The best news about that is that I survived. We got through it, and there is another side to it. We can get to the other side.

“I feel like that’s what ‘Pose’ really accomplishes this season, reminding the public that it’s when we come together and when we lead with love [that] we get to the other side.”

Mock elaborated on the theme of resilience by discussing the importance of showing the strength of House mothers like Blanca and Electra (Dominique Jackson), who hold together — and lift up — their entire community:

“It’s that matriarchal power and lineage that I think the ballroom is, and what trans women are to one another, that then feeds everyone else and enables them to shine and have all the things that they want in the world. For me, it is [about] that celebration […] of Black trans women — that they’ve created this space, that they brought everyone else in with them, and that, at the end of the day, they are often the ones most often forgotten.

“I think with this season, I want everyone across the industry, the audience, to realize that. I think it’s essential, and it’s important.”

Mock also talked about the way “Pose” focuses on the small, day-to-day lives of its characters as much as it does the larger-than-life splendor of the ballroom culture in which they participate:

“We wanted to ensure that we show the everyday, mundane moments, as well as the great, grand celebrations. The ballroom is are presentation of what it means to congregate and share testimony and to love on each other, and our show is a celebration of the everyday intimacies. So, for us, while we were plotting these big, grand moments […] we wanted to bring in traditions — weddings, matrimony, all this stuff — that our characters get to engage in. We wanted to be a part of the tradition of that, and all the moments that a family shares together. We wanted to make sure that all of those things were celebrated in this.”

When discussion turned to the unprecedented level of support and collaborative inclusion with which the show’s queer cast were bestowed by Ryan Murphy and the rest of the creative staff — from the presence of trans women like Mock and Co-producer Our Lady J in the writers’ room to the extensive reliance on the insights and talents of real-life members of the ballroom community — Jackson was quick to add that besides giving the show its ferocious authenticity, it gave her an increased recognition of her own worth:

“I will never, ever, ever walk into a space thinking that I need to impress them […] I will never walk into a space being fearful of my identity stopping me from anything. Because of this journey, when I walk into spaces now, my identity is not because I’m an abomination. My identity is a plus. My identity is my value. So, when I walk into spaces now,they need to impress me. You can be the biggest Hollywood director, producer, whatever, but you’re not going to take my story or relay stories that are reflective of my life or my existence and make them into anything you want, because of ‘Pose,’ because of Ryan, because of Steven, because of Janet and Brad [co-creator/executive producer Falchuk), because of Our Lady J, because of my cast members.

“I will never walk into spaces or live a life or an existence thinking that I need to impress anyone.”

Porter concurred, adding:

“There was never, ever a space in my brain to dream what‘Pose’ is, what Pray Tell is. I spent the first 25-plusyears of my career trying to fit into a masculinity construct that society placed on us so I could eat.‘Pose,’ and Pray Tell in particular, really taught me to dream the impossible […] the idea that the little, Black church sissy from Pittsburgh is now in a position of power in Hollywood in a way that never existed before. You can damn sure believe that I will be wielding that power and there will be a difference and a change in how things go from here on out.”

If the cast members themselves have found themselves feeling more empowered thanks to “Pose,” so too have the millions of LGBTQ people — and allies — who have tuned into it since its premiere in 2018. The show is one of those rare entries into the cultural lexicon that simply allows its queer and trans people to live authentic lives, giving long-withheld representation to countless viewers who were able to see themselves reflected back from the screen for perhaps the very first time. It’s that powerful sense of validation provided by “Pose” that keeps it standing tall in an entertainment market now providing so much LGBTQ inclusion that it’s becoming dangerously easy to take it for granted.

Whatever moments of heartbreak, joy, and celebration “Pose” brings us as it plays out its final act — and there are sure to be many — we can all be sure it will leave us with a message expressed through an oft-heard line of dialogue that Mock says she found herself writing “over and over again” during the series’ run:

“You are everything, and you deserve everything this world has to offer.” It’s that nurturing sentiment the “Pose” has been instilling in us from the beginning, like a mother to us all.

And that’s why so many of us can’t wait until the first two episodes of its final season air at 10 p.m. (both Eastern and Pacific), Sunday, May 2, on FX.

The final season of “Pose” will begin to air on FX on Sunday, May 2, at 10 p.m. ET. (Photos courtesy of FX)

As 2020 begins – and health-related New Year’s resolutions take effect – roughly one-in-five U.S. adults (21%) say they regularly wear a smart watch or wearable fitness tracker, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 3-17, 2019.

As is true with many other forms of digital technology, use of these devices varies substantially by socioeconomic factors. Around three-in-ten Americans living in households earning $75,000 or more a year (31%) say they wear a smart watch or fitness tracker on a regular basis, compared with 12% of those whose annual household income falls below $30,000. Differences by education follow a similar pattern, with college graduates adopting these devices at higher rates than those who have a high school education or less, according to the survey of 4,272 U.S. adults.

There are more modest differences by gender and race and ethnicity. Women are more likely than men to say they regularly use these devices (25% vs. 18%). Hispanic adults are more likely than whites to report regularly wearing a fitness tracker (26% vs. 20%), while black adults fall in between at 23%.

A fitness tracker can compile a variety of data about the wearer’s activities, depending on the complexity of the device. Users can monitor this data with a corresponding app, where they can manually input additional information about themselves and their lifestyle. As a result, the makers of fitness trackers amass a wealth of data on their users that can be used in many ways. Current privacy policies for many fitness tracking apps allow users’ data to be shared with others. Some researchers are already using data from these apps for health research.

Recently, some concerns have been raised over who can and should have access to this health data. Military analysts have also expressed concern about how third parties can use the data to find out where there is an American military presence.

In the Center’s survey, there’s no clear consensus among the public as to whether sharing this information with medical researchers is acceptable or not. About four-in-ten Americans (41%) say it is acceptable for makers of fitness trackers to share users’ data with medical researchers seeking to better understand the link between exercise and heart disease, while a somewhat smaller share (35%) believes this is an unacceptable practice. Another 22% are unsure if this is an acceptable practice or not.

Some groups find the use of this data more acceptable than others. White adults (39%) are more likely than those who are black (31%) or Hispanic (26%) to see sharing this data as unacceptable. At the same time, 47% of adults under the age of 50 believe that sharing this type of data with researchers is acceptable, compared with 35% of those 50 and older.

In addition, Americans who use fitness trackers are far more supportive of sharing data from these devices with health researchers than those who don’t use these devices. Roughly half of users of fitness trackers (53%) say this is acceptable, compared with 38% of those who do not use fitness trackers.

Note: Here is the list of questions asked for this report, along with responses and methodology.