“You can’t be what you can’t see” is an important mantra for Sam Goldon. “Even into adulthood, even into my queerness journey, I still didn’t know any [openly] trans people. I didn’t know non-binary was an option,” they share.
The 33-year-old nurse remembers seeing themselves reflected in a stranger on social media as recently as four years ago, when they say that everything just “clicked.” Since then, Goldon has grown into their own identity as trans and non-binary, and they’re now working to increase visibility for people like themselves in the outdoors. They have a popular Instagram account through which they share adventures with their wife Justine, and the pair also hosts travel and adventure trips for queer, trans and non-binary folks.
Goldon grew up in a military family and moved often. In high school, their family settled in Eagle River, but Goldon was disenchanted with Alaska. Looking back, they now realize that Alaska had become synonymous with the tension they felt in their conservative household as a teen. But after moving to the Lower 48 as a young adult, they quickly realized how much they missed everything the state had to offer. “I didn’t realize how much I loved the outdoors,” they say. “Especially the majesty and wonder we get to experience here, just on our drives around town or to school.”
Goldon soon married their wife Justine, and eventually the pair moved to Alaska. Though Justine was skeptical of the move, Sam convinced her to try a year in the north. It wasn’t long before both fell deeply in love with the many activities Alaska had to offer, especially in winter. Now, the Goldons run the Instagram account “theGoldonQueers,” where they share outdoor adventures from nordic skiing to packrafting to backpacking. “When it comes to queerness and transness, we didn’t grow up seeing versions of that,” Goldon says. “I can’t understate how life-changing visibility can be. I say that because it absolutely changed my life.”
For Goldon, providing that same kind of visibility for others feels like a full circle moment. “We get messages all the time — people saying ‘thank you for sharing your story, you’re giving me hope,’” they say. Goldon says that with so many barriers to accessing the outdoors, marginalized communities don’t always feel safe or welcomed. And since the 2024 election, they say many brands are shying away from showcasing queer and trans people in media. “We’re being hidden on a larger scale,” they say. “But that’s why social media is powerful — it’s a tool to have widespread reach. We get to show people ourselves that you can be trans and go outside.”
In the hopes of breaking down some of those barriers to access for their community, Goldon also organizes adventure and travel trips for friends and community members. They say that the wilderness has become a safe space where they can escape judgement or negativity. “When you’re trans, walking through the world, there’s a lot of noise. Every time I get outside and I’m just in my body, moving my body, none of that noise seems to matter,” they say.
Recently, Goldon organized a trip for a handful of their trans friends from outside of Alaska. They taught the group to cross-country ski and the group spent the night at a forest service cabin. “It was so cool to witness people experience that for the first time,” Goldon says. “To really disconnect, to be surrounded by wilderness in the quiet… going skiing at night, watching the snow fall around you. You’re like, ‘oh my gosh, I did not know this part of the world existed.’”
Looking ahead, Goldon is most excited about hosting trips for queer and trans people to Alaska. In March, they are hosting their first trans-only group on a trip to Thailand, with 20 participants registered. “The group trips are about creating containers where people feel safe to be authentic,” Goldon says. They worked at a camp for kids with chronic illnesses for years, and that experience illustrated how powerful it is to be with people who understand each other without explanation. “Our first trip was to Bali, and seeing trans bodies existing together without fear was incredibly powerful. Our camping trip in Canada was just as special. Watching people take their shirts off for the first time after top surgery and plunge into glacial lakes with their community — it was emotional. It felt like there were no limits,” they say.
As Goldon continues to travel and adventure in Alaska’s outdoors, they say they are most drawn to fast-paced activities like biking, trail running, and backpacking. They love the physical challenge because it makes them feel strong. “Getting to feel strong in this body that I’m in now just hits so different. I feel more connected to my body now, and that feels empowering,” they say. “There are no limits to who and what you can be. And you’re allowed to feel joy in that. I just want people to see that it’s possible.”
Emily Sullivan is a photographer and writer focused on outdoor recreation, environmental wellness, and community empowerment. She is based on Dena’ina lands, where she can usually be found skiing, packrafting, or berry picking.
