I’m a Black, queer, Latino trans man living in Florida, where the political climate feels like it’s always set to hostile. Every headline reminds me that people like me aren’t just debated — we’re targeted. Still, my life is full. I’ve got love. I’ve got support. I’ve built a community that holds me up. That’s not because I’m trans — but often, in spite of it.

Resilience holds it all together. Not the hashtag version. The kind built from showing up daily — for myself, my body, my business—when the world gives me every reason not to.

I started my own business to cut through corporate red tape. It’s not just work — it’s purpose. I bring my lived experience into the S.T.R.O.N.G. Men trauma-informed fitness class, into Transcendence, a group I facilitate, and to every session with my fitness clients. I create space for people to be their full selves — even those who don’t look like me, live like me, or vote like me. Because resilience isn’t just surviving — it’s helping others heal, too.

I don’t advertise my identity through my brand. It keeps most hate away — but not all. It still stings when people you thought were kind show you they’re not. And even as a naturalized citizen, I live with the reality that ICE makes mistakes. Being queer and trans only increases the risks. My safety, like so many others’, is never guaranteed.

That’s why bodybuilding became part of my safety plan. The gym gave me space to breathe and reclaim a body the world keeps trying to politicize. Lifting grounded me. Gave me power. Helped me carry myself with clarity and confidence — on the street, in rooms, in life.

Some days the weight feels like too much — literally and emotionally — but I lift it anyway.

That’s what resilience looks like to me.

Tommy J. Murrell is the founder of 3TFitness Lifestyle, where he provides trauma-informed fitness coaching and community support. He facilitates the S.T.R.O.N.G. Men program and Transcendence, creating spaces where people can show up fully as themselves. His passion for resilience, healing, and equity guides his work with clients and community.