Since middle school, Cal Dobbs dreamed of running 2,800 miles across the continental United States. Around the same time, the transgender teacher and activist also began to articulate that he was a boy. But without much knowledge about the language and nuance surrounding gender identity, Dobbs put that dream on hold for several years.
Today, both aspirations are being realized in an effort to support fellow transgender individuals at a time when it’s much needed.
Since March 4, Dobbs has been traversing the southern part of the U.S., an effort referred to as the TransContinental Run, while raising awareness about the current wave of anti-trans legislation (since the start of the year, 491 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures, a new record). On the run, he is also bringing local communities together to foster connection and uplift transgender people in areas where their rights are being restricted.
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The week Dobbs was in Austin, Texas, a state in which the ACLU is currently tracking 53 anti-LGBTQ bills, he hosted the Trot for Trans Lives 5K. The community run took place at the capitol building on Saturday, May 27, a week after state legislators passed a bill that would not only ban gender-affirming health care for minors but would also require those already taking gender-affirming medication to “wean off their prescription drug,” a mandate experts say contradicts medical science.
“This run is not about changing people’s minds,” Dobbs told Runner’s World. “I’m here to bring love and support to trans people and the people who love and care about us because it is my strong belief as an educator that the narratives of hate that we see are not representative of the majority of people.”
Two days before the 5K, Dobbs sat down with Runner’s World to discuss the inspiration behind the cross-country run, his goals with the initiative, and the work being done along the way.
Running toward identity
Growing up in Venice Beach, California, running was the space where Dobbs felt the most present in his body. When societal norms dismissed his identity as a trans masculine person, running became a refuge and a place of freedom, he said.
“As an adult, I started to understand my own gender identity more. I was able to come out, I finally had the language to articulate it,” he said. “There were more people in my life that reflected back to me who I truly was, and I was able to start to embody and live my truth.”
In his early 20s, Dobbs ran on the track team at Swarthmore College and later worked as a teacher at his alma mater, Venice High School. When the pandemic hit and classrooms moved to a virtual setting, he went on a sabbatical from teaching in pursuit of a major thru-hiking goal.
In August 2022, Dobbs became the first reported transgender hiker to complete the triple crown, a challenge that includes hiking the 2,000-mile-long Appalachian Trail, the 3,000-mile Continental Divide Trail, and the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail.
In January, he underwent gender-affirming top surgery, a “life-saving” procedure, he said. Going through the experience of receiving gender-affirming care while seeing the onslaught of attacks against transgender people around the country, inspired Dobbs to finally begin his run across the U.S. starting from Los Angeles in the spring.
“There has never been a more important time to do this run for this purpose. This is the most vehemently anti-trans time our country has ever seen,” he said. “Now more than ever, we need people to speak up and advocate for trans people.”
Fostering connection
Now well through the trek, running continues to be an outlet that helps Dobbs cope. At the time of his interview with Runner’s World, he traversed California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, with upcoming stops in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. For the majority of the way, he’s been sleeping in his car with his two dogs at night and running about 30 miles during the day, usually broken up into three 10-mile runs with one day off every five days.
In each state, Dobbs is organizing community runs and fundraisers for LGBTQ grassroots organizations and nonprofits. So far, they’ve raised almost $20,000. For the 5K in Austin, donations went toward the Transgender Education Network Texas, Mahogany Project, Trans Texas, TransContinental Run, and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Dobbs is also partnering with activists who are lobbying to stop anti-LGBTQ bills from being passed in each state. Along the way, he is working with a film crew to produce a documentary that highlights the stories of trans people they meet in each city.
“My philosophy and the philosophy of the run is in these times of ignorance and fear and hatred, the antidote to that is education, love, community building, and connection,” he said.
Throughout the run, Dobbs has met many trans individuals who feel isolated and unwanted amid the restrictions against gender-affirming healthcare. By running, he hopes to not only reach them but also their families and others who want to offer support. A week prior to his arrival in Austin, Dobbs said he received a message from a mother in Nebraska whose son came out as trans. In finding Dobbs’ website, which is filled with resources, she was able to have a better understanding of her child’s experience and pinpoint different ways to help them.
At the end of June, Dobbs is scheduled to finish the run in Tallahassee, Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis just signed into law a series of new restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors, drag shows, bathroom usage, and which pronouns can be used in school. By running to Florida, Dobbs wants trans people in the state and beyond to know they’re not alone.
“There are so many neglected populations that are really going through a tough time,” he said. “I want this run to bring love from people all over the country to just be like, we’re here for you, we’re not going anywhere, and we will fight for you.”
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
