Meet Erin Parisi, TranSending Athlete

Thanks to a virtual introduction from my dear friend, Karla Amador, Co-Founder of the 52 Hike Challenge, I was able to meet Erin and learn about her and TranSending, a 501c3 designated non-profit dedicated to the advancement of transgender rights throughout all aspects of society by promoting athletics as a platform of transgender awareness and inclusion.

With the support of TranSending, Erin has committed to their inaugural challenge of “The 7 Summits” . The goal of the challenge is for Erin to become the first transgender athlete to climb to the single highest summit on each of the seven continents. These summits are known as the "7 Summits" and include:

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa 19,341 feet

Mount Kosciuszko, Australia 7,319 feet

Mount Elbrus, Europe 18,510 feet

Vinson Massif, Antarctica 16,050 feet

Mount Aconcagua, South America 22,383 feet

Mount Denali, North America 20,310 feet

Mount Everest, Asia 29,050 feet

So far, Erin has made it to the top of four summits- with ascents in Australia, Africa, Europe, & Aconcagua. She battled many challenges, like food poisoning, extreme weather, and unfriendly LGBTQ communities along the way, but she persevered, and found success climbing the first three summits.

Erin is a lifelong athlete, and has adventured around the world including heli-skiing in Alaska, two summit completions on Kilimanjaro, a crossing of the Himalayas in Nepal, several ski mountaineering trips through Canada & the USA, and mountain bike descents across North and South America. She is an inspiring force and sharply dedicated to sharing her positive message of what it means to be "trans" .

Jaime: What is TranSending? What is the reason you founded it?

Erin: TranSending is a small organization run by an three person, volunteer board of directors that was founded to engage the LGBTQ+ community in outdoor opportunities, and is focused on working with trans and non-binary members of the community. It was founded through the efforts of a few community leaders who were seeking to put a system in place to help trans people improve their lives by engaging in outdoors spaces and activities.

We believe there are opportunities to break the historical cycle of marginalization that has been detrimental to trans people by facilitating positive and humanizing narratives and opportunities. In many ways the world has failed communicate and create narratives of trans lives that can be celebrated TranSending is attempting to fix that by visibly supporting and amplifying positive trans stories.

Jaime: Tell us about the 7 summits and your role in the inaugural challenge?

Erin: Completing the 7 Summits is mountaineering goal of standing on the highest summit in each continent. I spent my entire life looking for positive narratives and role models of trans people in the outdoor community; until recently there were none. As a matter of fact, while about 500 people have completed the 7 Summits - not one trans person is known to have completed. That shows a disturbing underrepresentation for trans folks that’s unfortunately endemic in many aspects of life. I was recruited by TranSending to help lift the trans flag to the highest point in each continent. I had already summited three of the Seven Summits when the board decided to help my efforts. We believe there are opportunities to break the historical cycle of marginalization that has been detrimental to trans people by facilitating positive and humanizing narratives and opportunities. In many ways the world has failed communicate and create narratives of trans lives that can be celebrated TranSending is attempting to fix that by visibly supporting and amplifying positive trans stories.

Jaime: Why are you drawn to the mountains- especially climbing the tallest one on each continent?

Erin: I have always been drawn to the mountains for several reasons - but mostly that revolves around the healing properties of being outside. Whether you are looking to grow as an individual, or looking to explore with friends, you can find personal growth and challenge outdoors.

As far as the Seven Summits, I took them on for a few reasons. First, I wanted to retake and tell my narrative without feeling I had to hide. The media has long amplified violence, discrimination, and misrepresentation on trans people. But, I never learned I could be “trans and adventurous” , which was a big part of my pre-transition life. In a lot of ways I was seeking to reassert my freedom to explore after such a huge life change.

The Seven Summits to me means standing up out of the shadows, and finding a place to show you are proud to be yourself - I want to scream that from the highest mountain. I was taught to hide and hate myself most of my life. I’m done feeling like I should have to hide. Plus, it give me a chance to tell the haters to aim higher!

Jaime: How have you been changed by nature? What is your advice for someone looking to make a change in their own life and not sure where to start?

Erin: Nature changes you each time you get out there - and the more you go, the more long term benefits you will gain outdoors. We all deserve the mental health and physical benefits earned through the outdoors.

I frequently tell people that the day they stop letting the world tell their story, is the day they begin to write their story the way they would choose to live it. It not always easy, nor possible, to own your narrative. My best advice is to find someone who is supportive, or begin to move away from people who aren’t supportive of positive change in your life. I’ve found friends and allies have played a huge role in my story, once I found them and gave them a chance to support me.

Jaime: You just recently returned from attempting Denali, how did that go? What did you learn from the mountain?

Erin: Denali is a whole lot of mountain, with severe conditions, and unique climbing challenges. In the lead up to Denali I watched nearly three dozen states attempt to pass almost 250 laws restricting the trans community in many aspects of life. These past six months have taught me the important of an athletes mental strength to complete a huge physical challenge.

Jaime: What kind of training goes into climbing mountains like Denali?

Erin: I was outside climbing up hill with a weighted pack or pulling a sled 4 days a week, and in the gym doing more traditional workouts 2 days a week, with one rest day. Covid added an enormous challenge to finding places to complete that work and not place myself at risk of any long term affects that have been attributed to Covid.

Jaime: What will be your next summit attempts?

Erin: I’m just now getting off of Denali, and trying not to look too far ahead. I think Vinson will be next, but Denali and I aren’t done yet. Early season Denali this year proved to be extraordinarily challenging our team wasn’t afforded a summit window.

Jaime: What does “Hike It Off” mean to you?

Erin: “Hike it off” to me sums up the mental benefits and safe space the outdoors provides. Hiking is a great way to separate yourself from the vigor of your day or even traumas in life.

Jaime: If you could choose one person to climb a mountain with who would that be and why?

Erin: Amelia Earhart. I don’t know that she loved climbing at all, but she was at the forefront of a women’s adventure revolution and probably faced the same polarizing bullying and successes I face today. Whenever I’m having a tough day I think about her saying “never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn’t be done. ” That keeps me climbing - I can only imagine what other wisdom she picked up proving her trolls wrong.

Jaime: Is there anything new on the horizon for you? How can the hiking/outdoor community support you?

Erin: - I’d encourage people to open their climbing and outdoor circles to include people who maybe aren’t traditionally associated with the outdoors. It might mean hiking a bit slower every now and then, or being patient with someone who is new to a mountain bike, but we all benefit when more people are enjoying and advocating for the outdoors. The best way to bring people in is to embrace our differences and commit to finding new folks to share the trail with. Follow Erin's journey and support TranSending at www.transcending7.org.