Why LGBTQ+ Americans Are Choosing Firearm Safety Training
With hate crimes against LGBTQ+ Americans rising 23% year over year, more community members are seeking safety education. Here's why and how to start.
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I want to be honest about something. I didn't start the Firearm Safety Team because I woke up one morning and thought it sounded like a fun business idea. I started it because my community is under threat, and I have skills that can help.
That's not dramatic. That's data.
The Numbers We Can't Ignore
The FBI's 2023 hate crime statistics reported 2,402 incidents motivated by bias against sexual orientation - a 23% increase over the prior year. Beyond that, there were 547 incidents targeting gender identity, including 401 specifically anti-transgender incidents.
And we know those numbers undercount reality. Many hate crimes go unreported. Many jurisdictions don't track them adequately. The actual number of violent incidents against LGBTQ+ Americans is almost certainly higher than what the data shows.
This isn't new, but it's intensifying. Legislative attacks on trans healthcare, drag bans, book bans, rhetoric from elected officials that paints queer and trans people as threats to children - these things create an environment where violence feels not just possible but expected.
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So when I hear that queer folks are seeking firearm safety training in record numbers, my response is: of course they are.
The Community Response
The LGBTQ+ firearms community has been around longer than most people realize. The Pink Pistols, one of the first LGBTQ+ gun organizations, now has roughly 45 chapters across the country. Their motto - "armed gays don't get bashed" - is blunt, but it captures a real sentiment.
Operation Blazing Sword, founded in the wake of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, connects LGBTQ+ individuals with volunteer firearms instructors who provide judgment-free training. It's a beautiful example of community taking care of community.
The Liberal Gun Club has seen dramatic growth, expanding from approximately 2,700 members to 4,500 following the 2024 election. Even more telling: they reported that training requests quintupled during that period. People aren't just joining organizations - they're actively seeking education.
In February 2025, Tanya Harper-Colucci launched the Sacred Warrior Movement, another organization focused on empowering marginalized communities through firearms education and self-reliance. These movements are growing because the need is growing.
And right here in Portland, that's exactly what FST was built for.
My Perspective
I'm a queer, non-binary veteran. They/them. I served ten years in the Army, deployed to Afghanistan twice, and spent six years as an armorer maintaining every firearm in my company's inventory. I also spent years after the military healing - therapy, EMDR, rebuilding myself into the person I am today.
When I decided to channel my military experience into community service, I didn't have to think hard about who I wanted to serve. My queer and trans community. My friends. My people. The folks I dance with at ecstatic dance, the people I hoop with in the park, the chosen family that has held me together.
These are people who may never have touched a firearm. People for whom the entire gun culture feels alien, hostile, or politically incompatible with their values. People who have been told - explicitly or implicitly - that guns are "not for them."
I want to say this clearly: firearms are for everyone. The Second Amendment doesn't have an asterisk. And the knowledge of how to safely handle, store, and maintain a firearm is not a political position. It's a practical skill.
Why Inclusive Training Spaces Matter
I've heard the stories. A trans woman walks into a gun shop and gets misgendered by the staff. A gay couple takes a class and hears the instructor make a homophobic joke. A non-binary person goes to a range and feels the stares, the discomfort, the unspoken message that they don't belong.
These experiences are real, they're common, and they push people away from training they genuinely need. If your choice is between learning to safely handle a firearm in a hostile environment or not learning at all, most people choose not learning at all. And I don't blame them.
That's why inclusive training spaces exist. Not because queer people need special instruction - the fundamentals of firearm safety are universal. But because the environment in which you learn matters. If you're anxious, uncomfortable, or bracing yourself for a microaggression, you're not learning. You're surviving. And surviving a class isn't the same as learning from one.
At FST, you'll be trained by a queer veteran who has pronouns in their bio and a pride flag on the wall. You'll be in a space where you can ask any question without judgment. Where your identity isn't a curiosity or a problem - it's just part of who you are, the same way it is in every other part of your life.
How to Start
If you're an LGBTQ+ person considering firearm ownership or training, here's my advice:
Start with education before purchasing. You don't need to own a firearm to take a class. Our online courses - like Basics of Pistol Shooting and Oregon Concealed Handgun License - are great places to build foundational knowledge from the comfort of your own home. Check our Online Classes page for the schedule.
Try before you buy. When you're ready for hands-on experience, a familiarization session lets you handle and fire a wide variety of firearms without committing to a purchase. This is what FST specializes in - I have twenty-two pistols, four rifles, and three shotguns specifically for this purpose. Visit our Training Options page to learn more.
Find your community. You don't have to do this alone. The Pink Pistols, the Liberal Gun Club, Operation Blazing Sword, and local LGBTQ+ shooter groups are all out there. Check our Community Resources page for links. Having a community makes everything - learning, practicing, staying motivated - easier.
Know your rights and your laws. Oregon has specific laws about firearm ownership, storage, and carry that every gun owner needs to understand. Our Oregon Firearm Laws page and Oregon CHL page break it all down in plain language.
Don't rush. There's no timeline here. If you just want to take an online class and think about it for six months before touching a firearm, that's perfectly valid. If you want to jump straight into a familiarization session, that's great too. This is your journey, at your pace.
What FST Offers
I want to be specific about what you get with FST, because I know that walking into any new firearms space can feel intimidating.
A queer, non-binary, veteran instructor - me - who uses they/them pronouns and will use yours. A private or semi-private session tailored to your experience level. Access to a wide variety of firearms across multiple calibers and types. Fundamentals-focused instruction covering safety rules, handling, operation, and storage. No tactical or combat training - just the foundational skills you need. A judgment-free environment where you can ask anything.
My goal is that you leave a session feeling informed, empowered, and confident in your ability to safely handle a firearm. Whether you decide to purchase one or not is entirely up to you. I'm here for the education, not the sales pitch.
The Bigger Picture
There's a tension in the LGBTQ+ community around firearms, and I want to acknowledge it. Many of us came to our politics through experiences of violence and oppression, and for some, firearms represent the very systems that have harmed us. That's valid.
I'm not here to convince anyone that they should own a gun. I'm here to make sure that those who choose to have access to safe, respectful, high-quality training. Because in a world where our community faces 2,402 documented hate crime incidents per year targeting sexual orientation alone, the option of self-defense education should be available to everyone - not just the people the traditional gun culture was built for.
If any of this resonates, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out through the Contact page, explore the site, or just keep reading this blog. We'll be here.