My journey in powerlifting spans over a decade, a journey that has not only shaped my physical strength but also my outlook on masculinity.

For those unfamiliar, powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three movements: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Each competition allows competitors to attempt each lift three times, with the heaviest successful attempt from each forming a competitor’s overall total.

Powerlifting, for me, has transcended the mere act of lifting. It has sparked profound introspection about the essence of strength. The finest lifters are not defined by their volume or aggression; they are the ones who maintain composure in adversity, bolster others in their pursuit of goals, and persist even when the going gets tough. They don’t wield their strength as a tool to undermine others; they employ it to elevate everyone around them.

In a world where figures like Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Andrew Tate, and Joe Rogan dismiss the concept of being ‘woke’, my fellow male powerlifters and I have consciously chosen to reject this toxic masculinity. We value decency and community over the hollow, performative notion of being an ‘alpha male’.

Our approach can be best described as ‘positive masculinity,’ a form of strength deeply rooted in respect, empathy, and equality.

Positive masculinity, at its core, is about recognising that strength should never come at someone else’s expense. In a society where so many communities still face hostility, cis men have a duty to use their strength, physical, emotional, and moral, to stand beside them. Liberalism is rooted in empathy and fairness; positive masculinity is simply those principles lived out in everyday behaviour.

Nowhere is the embodiment of positive masculinity more crucial than in the battle for trans rights. All too often, the discourse on gender has been hijacked by those who equate strength with dominance and compassion with frailty. But if we genuinely believe in equality, then defending the rights of trans individuals to exist and live without fear is not a choice, but a necessity. Positive masculinity is about acknowledging that decency and bravery are intertwined: that advocating for others, even when it’s not the popular stance, is one of the most potent forms of strength a person can exhibit.

For liberal men, embracing positive masculinity isn’t just a matter of personal conduct, but political conviction. Liberalism has always stood for the idea that freedom is meaningless without fairness, and that strength is hollow unless it uplifts others. We can demonstrate that masculinity has room for empathy, kindness, and solidarity with those whose rights are threatened. The more we live those values in our workplaces, gyms, and communities, the harder it becomes for the politics of cruelty to win.

True strength doesn’t shout others down; it helps them stand taller.

* Jack Meredith is a member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Wales Chair for Centre Think Tank. His writing focuses on democratic reform, social justice, economic democracy, and the institutional foundations of effective government. He has written for Lib Dem Voice, Liberator, Fabians, Centre Write, Nation.Cymru, and Bylines Cymru.