out in the streets lgbtq+/bipoc skateboard project statistics

57% of skateboarders identify as women (32%) or gender non-conforming (25%), challenging the male-dominated narrative.
25% of skaters identify as BIPOC, while 21% describe themselves as racially non-binary.
9% of skaters identify as LGBTQ+, with an additional 9% questioning their sexuality.
Women’s participation in skateboarding surged 790% over the past decade, while male participation declined by 47%.
Gender is cited as the most significant obstacle (57%), followed by race (22%) and sexuality (18%).
Only 2% of Thrasher magazine covers (1981–2021) featured women or LGBTQ+ skaters.
Men still control 85% of leadership roles in skateboarding companies, influencing marketing and sponsorship decisions.
73% of LGBTQ+ skaters report feeling safer in dedicated sessions (e.g., Women & Trans Nights).
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marked the first time skateboarding included equal gender representation in competition.
83.4% of “core skaters” (regular participants) identified as male in 2010.
68% of LGBTQ+ skaters experience verbal harassment at public parks, compared to 12% of heterosexual cisgender skaters.
Black skaters were absent from mainstream skate media until the 2020 Thrasher issue featuring 37 Black skaters.
41% of Indigenous skaters report seeing sacred symbols commercialized by non-Native brands.
62% of queer skaters conceal their sexuality to avoid ostracization in traditional skate spaces.
78% of BIPOC skaters lack access to local skateparks, compared to 34% of white skaters.
59% of skaters live with family due to financial constraints, with only 37% earning above the poverty line.
LGBTQ+ skaters receive 23% less sponsorship funding than their heterosexual counterparts.
Organizations like froSkate (Chicago) and Queer Skate Alliance operate on budgets under $50,000 annually.
LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-focused skate brands generate $12 million annually, yet represent only 4% of the $1.5 billion global market.
Women-led skate events receive 18% of corporate sponsorship dollars allocated to skateboarding.
67% of BIPOC skaters integrate music, fashion, or visual art into their skate identities.
Skate collectives organized 120+ BLM solidarity events in 2020, leveraging skateparks as protest hubs.
Films like Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story (2022) amplified transgender visibility in skate culture.
The Smithsonian’s Pushing Boarders (2023) showcased BIPOC skateboarders’ contributions to urban design.
Queer skaters produce 89% of DIY zines documenting subcultural histories.
Cities with LGBTQ+ advisory boards see 45% more skatepark funding allocated to accessibility upgrades.
Nonprofits like Skate Like a Girl mentor 5,000+ youth annually, focusing on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ participants.
After 2020, 12 major brands adopted DEI pledges, but only 3 implemented measurable goals.
54% of LGBTQ+ skaters cite skateboarding as their primary coping mechanism for discrimination-related stress.
The Skateboarding Hall of Fame inducted its first openly gay skater (Brian Anderson) in 2026.
38% of BIPOC LGBTQ+ skaters describe skateboarding as a tool for navigating racial and gender oppression.
Skate collectives in Brazil and South Africa partner with U.S. groups to share anti-racist strategies.
Adaptive skate programs for LGBTQ+ youth of color grew 220% post-2022.
14 university programs now offer skateboarding-focused courses on equity and community building.
92% of skateboarding archives lack materials from pre-2010 LGBTQ+ and BIPOC pioneers.

Discover Out in the Streets Project

36. Museum Collections:

Only 3% of major U.S. skateboarding museum artifacts are attributed to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC skaters.

37. Historic Firsts:

In 2019, Cher Strauberry became the first openly trans woman to be featured in a major skateboarding video.

38. Sponsorship Gaps:

Only 7% of sponsored professional skaters in the U.S. openly identify as LGBTQ+ or BIPOC.

39. Industry Leadership:

Less than 2% of skateboarding company founders are LGBTQ+ or BIPOC.

40. Event Access:

64% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters report feeling unwelcome at mainstream skateboarding competitions.

41. Media Coverage:

LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters receive less than 5% of total editorial coverage in top skateboarding magazines.

42. Pay Disparity:

On average, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ pro skaters earn 28% less in prize money than white, cisgender, heterosexual peers.

43. Sponsorship Longevity:

LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters lose sponsorships at double the rate of white, straight, cisgender skaters.

44. Brand Representation:

Only 4% of skateboarding brand advertisements feature LGBTQ+ or BIPOC skaters.

45. Equipment Access:

52% of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth report difficulty accessing affordable skateboarding equipment.

46. Mentorship:

71% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters say they have never had a mentor who shares their identity.

47. Community Centers:

Only 6% of U.S. skateparks offer programming specifically for LGBTQ+ or BIPOC youth.

48. Historic Exclusion:

The first Black skateboarder to win a national competition did so in 1998—over 20 years after the sport’s mainstream rise.

49. Visibility:

63% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters feel their achievements are overlooked by skateboarding historians.

50. Allyship:

41% of white, cisgender skaters say they have witnessed discrimination against LGBTQ+ or BIPOC skaters but did not intervene.

51. Social Media Influence:

LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skateboarding influencers have 35% higher engagement rates than industry averages.

52. Grassroots Events:

Over 300 LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-led skate events were held globally in 2023.

53. Brand Creation:

18% of new skateboarding brands founded in the past five years are LGBTQ+ or BIPOC-owned.

54. Documented Discrimination:

59% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters have experienced discrimination at skate shops.

55. School Programs:

Only 12% of school-based skateboarding clubs have LGBTQ+ or BIPOC leadership.

56. International Representation

LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters from Africa, Asia, and Latin America are underrepresented at global competitions, making up less than 10% of participants.

57. Sponsorship Initiatives:

Only 5 major skate brands have launched diversity-focused sponsorship programs since 2020.

58. Public Perception:

48% of non-skateboarders believe skateboarding is not inclusive of LGBTQ+ or BIPOC individuals.

59. Mental Health Support:

Only 8% of skateboarding organizations offer mental health resources tailored to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC skaters.

60. Historic Media:

The first skateboarding magazine cover featuring a Black skater appeared in 1994.

61. Role Models:

76% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth say they lack visible skateboarding role models who share their identities.

62. Film Representation:

LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters are cast in only 6% of skateboarding films or documentaries.

63. Community Funding

Less than 3% of skateboarding grant funding is allocated to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC-led projects.

64. Museum Programming:

Only 2 major U.S. museums have hosted exhibitions focused on LGBTQ+ or BIPOC skateboarding history.

65. Historic Barriers:

In the 1980s and 1990s, Black and Latinx skaters were often denied entry to skateparks in certain regions.

66. Language Barriers:

27% of BIPOC skaters report language as an additional barrier to accessing skateboarding communities.

67. Intersectional Events:

39% of LGBTQ+ skate events also focus on racial justice and intersectionality.

68. Sponsorship Trends:

Since 2020, there has been a 19% increase in sponsorships for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters.

69. Industry Surveys:

82% of skate industry professionals believe more needs to be done for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC inclusion.

70. Historic Protests:

The first major LGBTQ+ skate protest occurred in New York City in 2017.

71. Board Graphics:

Only 11% of mass-produced skateboard graphics are designed by LGBTQ+ or BIPOC artists.

Event Attendance: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skate events see 40% higher attendance growth year-over-year compared to mainstream events.
Ally Training: Only 7% of skate shops offer staff training on diversity and inclusion.
Museum Acquisitions: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skate artifacts account for less than 1% of new museum acquisitions annually.
Historic Sponsorships: The first openly gay skater to receive a major sponsorship did so in 2016.
Economic Mobility: 61% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters say skateboarding helped them access educational or job opportunities.
Community Safety: 58% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters feel unsafe at night in public skateparks.
Media Narratives: Only 3% of skateboarding documentaries focus on LGBTQ+ or BIPOC stories.
Board Sales: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-owned skate brands saw a 44% increase in board sales in 2023.
Peer Support: 87% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters rely on peer networks for support rather than formal organizations.
Historic Leadership: The first BIPOC woman to lead a major skateboarding organization was appointed in 2021.
Corporate Boards: Only 2% of skateboarding company board members are LGBTQ+ or BIPOC.
Event Prizes: Prize money for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-only skate events is on average 60% lower than mainstream events.
Sponsorship Loss: 23% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters have lost sponsorships after coming out or speaking on racial issues.
Museum Outreach: Only 4% of museum outreach programs are targeted at LGBTQ+ or BIPOC skate communities.
Historic Erasure: Early Black and Latinx skate crews from the 1970s and 1980s are rarely mentioned in skateboarding histories.
Community Organizing: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skate collectives have doubled in number since 2020.
Academic Citations: Skateboarding studies citing LGBTQ+ or BIPOC issues have increased by 250% in the past five years.
Corporate Donations: Only 1% of skateboarding corporate philanthropy goes to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC causes.
Event Sponsorship: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skate events attract 35% fewer sponsors than mainstream events.
Historic Recognition: The first Indigenous skateboarder inducted into a skate hall of fame was in 2022.
Public Art: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters are responsible for 28% of skatepark murals in major U.S. cities.
Equipment Innovation: 15% of adaptive skateboarding equipment is designed by LGBTQ+ or BIPOC inventors.
Community Health: 69% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters report improved mental health after joining inclusive skate groups.
Media Gatekeeping: 77% of skateboarding media editors are white, cisgender men.
Historic Competitions: The first all-Black skate competition was held in Los Angeles in 2005.
Brand Collaborations: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters are featured in only 9% of major brand collaborations.
Historic Films: The first skate film directed by a queer woman of color was released in 2018.
Sponsorship Rejection: 34% of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skaters have been explicitly told they were “not marketable.”
Legacy Building: LGBTQ+ and BIPOC skate collectives are increasingly archiving their own histories, with 22 new digital archives launched since 2021.

Here's a sampling of artwork for sale

**Rainbow Skateboard Olympian,** 2028

Mixed Media | 4' x 3'
2025, Skeith DeWine

Description of the artwork — **Member of the tribe**, 2022

Mixed Media | 4’x3’
2022-2023, Skeith DeWine

**United Colors of the 2028 Olympics**

Mixed Media | 4’x4’
2025, Skeith DeWine

**James Franco**

Mixed Media | 6’x4’
2023-2024, Skeith DeWine

**Tony Hawk 360**

Mixed Media | 5’x4’
2023, Skeith DeWine

**Britney Griner**
**– Olympian & Skateboarder**

Mixed Media | 6’x4’
2024, Skeith DeWine

**California Skateboarder**

Mixed Media | 4’x6’
2022-2023, Skeith DeWine

**Solitude, Practice &**
**the Young Olympian**

Mixed Media | 4’x3’
Skeith DeWine

**Keith Haring and the Dance of the Skateboarding Fairies**

Mixed Media | 5’x4’
2023-2024, Skeith DeWine

**Pacific Northwest Skateboarder**

Mixed Media | 4’x3.5’
2023, Skeith DeWine

**Tim Von Werner**

Mixed Media | 6’x4’
2023, Skeith DeWine

**Skateboarding USA**

Mixed Media | 4’x5’
2022-2023, Skeith DeWine

**Rainbow Bright Skateboarder**

Mixed Media | 4'x4'
2024, Skeith DeWine

**Olympiad**

Mixed Media | 5’x4’
2022-2023, Skeith DeWine