CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Pretty much every aspect of Jen Vanderhoof's life is connected to the outdoors. There's scuba diving: "I learned in Puget Sound," says Vanderhoof, who lives in Seattle. "And I think that diving in British Columbia is unbeatable."
Underwater photography: "I waited until I had 150 dives logged before I started doing underwater photography. I wanted to be an extremely efficient diver with solid buoyancy control before adding a camera to my workload."
She's been a triathlete since 2007. "In 2009 I completed my first iron-distance race at Ironman Canada," she reports, two days after completing her second Ironman competition, in Penticton, B.C..
And with "tri-season," as she calls it, wrapping up, it's time to get out for some backpacking. "My primary backpacking pal and I both enjoy photography, so we don't move along quickly," she says, "but we sure do stop and smell and photograph the flowers."
None of her work -- or her non-work activities for that matter -- is particularly connected to the LGBT community, but Vanderhoof is comfortably out in every situation. "I feel fortunate that I don't have to hide who I am in work or play. I am just myself and happy to be myself," she says. "I'm grateful that the professionals I work with are a very open-minded and accepting bunch, and many of my colleagues are also gay."
The larger community in Seattle is so geared toward fostering the simple things we can all do to help reduce our footprint on the planet, such as recycling, composting and bicycle commuting, that it makes finding likeminded folks easy. "Many of my friends, gay and straight, enjoy the same activities I do," says Vanderhoof, who grew up in Missouri and Kansas. "And when you enjoy diving or backpacking or kayaking, I think you naturally want to see those environments taken care of, preserved, unharmed."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
How a lesbian's triumph on the Portland Timbers billboard broke barriers
April 24 2024 4:52 PM
‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit unveiled at inaugural survivors’ summit
April 24 2024 4:46 PM
Trans woman Andrea Doria Dos Passos beaten to death in Miami Beach; arrest made
April 24 2024 4:36 PM
TikTok may be banned in the U.S. after Biden signs new law — Why?
April 24 2024 3:43 PM
Serial killer of gay men in New Orleans released after 46 years in prison
April 24 2024 2:16 PM
The 'largest bi+ event in the world' is happening this year. Here's when and where
April 24 2024 12:42 PM
What happens if Donald Trump is jailed for criminal contempt?
April 24 2024 12:22 PM
Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and more urge NCAA to stand up for trans inclusion
April 24 2024 8:00 AM
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM