Laughlin Artz's Skate of the Union is a tour of the country to engage people in ending the climate crisis now. Originally imagined as an 8-week tour, in October Artz declared, "I have resolved that I am going to keep skating until we accomplish what we set out to do -- to have 10,000 people join the tour/movement and raise $100,000."
Follow along here (with the latest posted on top):
Skate of the Union on Hollywood's iconic Sunset Boulevard:
"Skate if the Union" on Sunset Boulevard from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Artz skates down Los Angeles' Miracle Mile
Miracle Mile, LA skate from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Skate of the Union at Lauridsen Skate Park (the biggest skate park in the country) in Des Moines, Iowa.
Laughlin recruited a go go dancer to the cause
The 2030 or Bust awareness campaign was recently highlighted on SkateboardingSaves.org.
Catch up on the tour so far with this compilation video:
"Skate of the Union" compilation from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Laughlin in Niles District, Fremont, CA
Laughlin in the Castro, San Francisco's gay neighborhood.
In Denver Laughlin got to skate with world champion longboarder Jeff Vyain
Jeff Vyain & Laughlin - Wash Park Denver from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Here's a short video of my conversation with Sean, manager of The Triangle in Denver, a gay bar with a FIERCE commitment to sustainability. They don't use plastic (only compostable materials) and within a year they will be totally wind-powered. What a great convergence of queer culture, skateboarding and ending the climate crisis!
"Skate of the Union" at Triangle Denver from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Skate of the Union continues as Laughlin Artz stops for a shot at the Blue Haven Motel in Osceola, IA
Artz skateboards down Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois:
"Skate of the Union" on Michigan Avenue! from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Laughlin Artz skates past the Institute of Art in Chicago
"Skate of the Union" at The Art Institute of Chicago! from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Artz announces his arrival in Chicago:
"Chicago, We're Here!" from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Artz talks about the experience so far and thanks Out Traveler readers for their support.
Skate of the Union: "It's Brutal Out Here!" from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
At a stop in Albany, New York, Artz calls on skateboarders in Chicago to join him
"All Aboard, Albany!" from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Below Artz dodges cars as he zig-zags down Christopher Street in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Although no longer the heart of New York's LGBTQ+ community, Christopher Street is the home of Stonewall Inn, whose role in the queer rights movement is indelible.
Christopher St. zig-zag.MP4 from 2030 or Bust on Vimeo.
Artz launched this year's Skate of the Union with events held at The Q (NYC's biggest queer-owned club). He's pictured in the opening photo with the drag queen Castrada:
Last winter Artz skateboarded from Salt Lake City, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he dressed as a polar bear while skating down the Vegas strip:
