QueerOUT · Queering the outdoors. Safety, belonging and inclusion of trans people in physical education and community sports through physical activities in the outdoors

The participation of trans and non-binary (TNB) people in sport and physical education (PE) is increasingly constrained by exclusionary policies, despite growing recognition of the value of physical activity for health, wellbeing, and social belonging. Recent advances in queer pedagogies highlight new possibilities for inclusivity, yet there is still limited empirical research on TNB experiences in PE and outdoor programs and no practical frameworks available for outdoor educators. This project addresses this gap by developing a queer-informed pedagogical framework and co-designed training resources that promote TNB inclusion in formal and non-formal outdoor educational settings.Adopting a multisited ethnographic qualitative, participatory, and cross-national design, the project pursues three objectives: (1) to analyze the experiences of TNB participants in PE and outdoor programs, identifying barriers and facilitators; (2) to map and compare inclusive strategies in PE in Spain and Australia; and (3) to pilot training resources with educators and participants, generating evidence-based and adaptable guidelines.The fellowship will be implemented across three institutions: Universidad de Sevilla (Spain, supervisors: Dr. Caballero Blanco, Dr. Piedra), University of Queensland (Australia, outgoing phase, supervisor: Dr. Landi), and University of Valencia (Spain, secondment, Prof. Devís-Devís). Training combines advanced scientific, pedagogical, and transferable skills, strengthening the researcher’s capacity for leadership, cross-sector collaboration, teaching experience, and science communication.The project will produce open access outputs with societal, pedagogical and policy relevance, strengthening institutional and community capacities to foster equity in sport and education. At the same time, it prepares the researcher to become a key expert in the European Research Area, advancing equality, wellbeing, and education in line with European and global priorities.