Pride 2024 Skater Profiles

To celebrate Pride this year we asked Ottawa Valley Roller Derby (OVRD) skaters Red Headed for Trouble (she/her) and BEEF BABY (she/her) what roller derby means to them as queer skaters.

Red Headed for Trouble

When I joined roller derby at 14, I was many years from coming to terms with being queer, let alone realizing I wasn’t straight. Becoming interested in the sport after watching Elliot Page in Whip It! could have been a clue but compulsory heterosexuality meant that it took years to figure out that my attraction to all genders was real and legitimate. Being part of a community where queerness isn’t just embraced but is actually the norm played a HUGE role in me discovering who I was and being comfortable expressing that.

To me, roller derby means community care and solidarity. It means being physically active out of a love for the sport and for myself, not as a way to conform to beauty standards. It means working together to uplift others and remove barriers to accessing sport and community.

Roller derby is so much more than a sport where queer and trans people are welcome. Queerness is a fundamental element of roller derby and the sport would literally not exist without the hard work and passion of the queer and trans people in it. I am eternally grateful to all the queer and trans skaters who have mentored me and been my friends over the years. They have made my life so full and beautifully queer.

Beef Baby

The most beautiful experience of my life is being a part of the roller derby community at OVRD. It is really incredible to be a part of a community where you can be cherished, challenged, and supported while you discover yourself.

I grew up extremely closeted and came out a year ago. My coming out was directly supported by the friendships I made and the queerness of the community in general. Queer friendship is magic and allowed me the space to honour who I am.

There is a moment from our last game that stands out to me, our team was walking out to warm up and I am at the back, watching the team walk and chat together. I had this moment of “this is my team”, and it really hit me with how unique and special that experience is, to be a part of a team with so many other queer and trans skaters, where you can be wholly yourself.

It is so much more than a sport. In roller derby I have become a part of the community I have always yearned for.

Interested in joining roller derby? OVRD’s 101 program begins this Fall, no skating experience required. Get more info here!

Thanks to BEEF and Red for sharing their stories, and Jeff Campbell for the bout photos.