The classes will be funded using the proceeds raised from Projekt 42’s affordable sessions and other activities. Sara Hawkins, founder of Projekt 42 also explained the motivation behind the idea to create the classes, in response to research showing that LGBT+ people experience from higher rates of mental health issues compared to the general population.

Sara said: “I feel by providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ community members to come together, we can help more people work towards positive mental health.”

“It’s important to recognise the disproportionate number of community members from the LGBT+ community who struggle with mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins revealed that the classes seek to provide a place where trans and non-binary people feel comfortable exercising.

“We also recognise the difficulty some people face from the trans community when accessing traditional commercial gyms,” said Hawkins.

“Through building on our already really inclusive community, we can help break some of the barriers people feel exist when accessing fitness and mental health services.”

It is not new to anyone that LGBT+ people have a higher rate of mental health issues compared to their straight counterparts, there is plenty of ignorance and terrible stories surrounding us, as a community on a daily basis.

It is 2019 and trans people still being asked to leave certain places that are ignorant and do not understand or respect them. Even their right to go to the toilet has been questioned a few times, sadly. It just shows how important is to promote a safer place de to everyone be together and feel welcome to be themselves. It started in Edinburgh but hopefully, more and more places will start thinking about their impact on others and exercise the empathy, creating a better world for everyone.