LGBTQ+ Pride and Joy.

Lauren Macadaeg (they/them)

“Being queer/nonbinary for me is discovering my own uniqueness and finding community, which I have through roller derby,” said Macadaeg, a graphic designer from Capitola, California. “What I love about the skating community is, at any skill level, there is a sense of family and acceptance that I haven’t experienced anywhere else.

“Before derby, I knew I was on the spectrum of queer and pansexual, but I didn’t have the language or support until I met my derby mates who genuinely wanted to see me become my best self. My derby league was the first place I asked people to use they/them pronouns for me.

“I’m still figuring stuff out about myself, my gender and sexuality, and that’s OK. My teammates have always been my biggest cheerleaders on the track and in the skatepark.”

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Contained in galleries: LGBTQ+ Pride and Joy | CNN

Lauren Macadaeg (they/them)<br />
<br />
“Being queer/nonbinary for me is discovering my own uniqueness and finding community, which I have through roller derby,” said Macadaeg, a graphic designer from Capitola, California. “What I love about the skating community is, at any skill level, there is a sense of family and acceptance that I haven’t experienced anywhere else.<br />
<br />
“Before derby, I knew I was on the spectrum of queer and pansexual, but I didn’t have the language or support until I met my derby mates who genuinely wanted to see me become my best self. My derby league was the first place I asked people to use they/them pronouns for me.<br />
<br />
“I’m still figuring stuff out about myself, my gender and sexuality, and that’s OK. My teammates have always been my biggest cheerleaders on the track and in the skatepark.”