Meet The Owner
Leigha (Lee-uh) Woody (they/she) is the owner and creative mind behind Gay Day Outdoors. Leigha is a trans, queer artist, poet, and nature lover from South Carolina. After receiving a BSE in Art Education, teaching and coaching for 5 years, Leigha added a Master's Degree in Sport Administration to pursue a career in professional sports. When COVID-19 had other plans, she had to pivot from their dream career path in pro softball and so, Gay Day Outdoors was born. Leigha felt a need to use their talents to give more back to the queer community and found a niche in all things gay and outdoors.
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Aside from running Gay Day Outdoors, Leigha enjoys spending time caring for animals by working with horses and volunteering at Carolina Wildlife Center. They are also involved with Columbia's local LGBTQ+ non-profit, the Harriet Hancock Center, and travel across the Southeastern U.S. vending at local Pride festivals.
Leigha is also a published author, releasing their first poetry book, Surviving Child, under the name L. Carson Woody in 2024. This collection follows Leigha through childhood into adulthood as she navigates growing up gay in the Evangelical south. They are currently working on a second book in the series, which dives deeper into exploring gender and what their experience has been as a trans, non-binary individual.
In a recent interview, Leigha talked more in-depth about being a visual artist and their love for the queer community:
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"My artwork has always been queer focused and political. That's the part of it (to me) that gives my work meaning and power. By pivoting that into designs that also help pay bills, I feel like I can finally say I've found a creative avenue that others enjoy buying and wearing just as much as I enjoy creating them.
Being an artist in today's society is hard. Trying to do that in a way that's profitable is even harder, but not impossible. It takes time and patience, continuing to believe in yourself and your art. Finding the niche that fits you and gives you purpose or is simply fun to do is important. I stick to my own style and what I know I'm good at and find spaces that have the same values as me.
I don't have a traditional storefront or even a studio anymore. I take my queer art to queer spaces so I can connect with other queer people. It's genuinely that simple."
