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What to know about 'T-Boy Wrestling,' the sexy sport with trans guys that has us thirsting
Big Hetero has tried to give a straight spin to sports for decades, but many LGBTQ+ people are finally seeing the light: a lot of sports are exceptionally queer. While football remains the dominant American sport and indeed dominated by the straights, that's fine because football is boring. But some sports are actually not boring! Like most pop culture, if it's cool, there are queer people involved.Women's basketball? Exceedingly gay (men's basketball, take notes). Hockey? GAY. And wrestling? We've known since the days of ancient Rome what wrestling is really all about. Wrestling has been homoerotic for time immemorial, but now it's getting a uniquely trans spin.Now, stepping into the ring, here comes T-Boy Wrestling.What is T-Boy Wrestling?See on InstagramT-Boy Wrestling is an event put on in Los Angeles by Adam Bandrowski, the founder of Trans Dudes of LA, and co-organizer Mich Miller. It is an event for trans wrestlers of any skill level and any expression of trans masculinity. The only requirements are being transmasculine and a desire to get grappled.After noticing the often one-note representation for trans men, and the lack of trans specific socials even in somewhere as queer as Los Angeles, Bandrowski started Trans Dudes of LA a little over a year ago. They've held other highly successful events including but not limited to: a concert for all transmasc band The Pussyboys, a pole dancing contest, and a tattoo party.T-Boy Wrestling continues TDLA's work of creating a thriving community of trans masculine individuals in LA, and expanding ideas of what trans masc expression can look like. "Their goal for T-Boy Wrestling has been to highlight an expansive idea of trans masculinty that includes people who are still figuring out their relationship to gender," Bandrowski and Miller said in an interview with the LA Times about the event."Come see what you identify with, and if it helps you figure yourself out, we are happy," said Bandowski.How does T-Boy Wrestling work and how sexy are the matches?See on InstagramEach match consists of three rounds, each one-minute long, with two t-boys wrestling one on one, head to head. During those 60-second intervals, these hunks try to dominate one another. A win is called once both shoulders of one competitor are pinned to the mat. Hot.One official judge for the event agrees wholeheartedly. Cal Dobbs, 27, told the LA Times why events like this are so powerful in a period of such intense trans hate. "[Republicans] are scared of us because we're too sexy," said Dobbs. "Scientifically, trans masculine and trans men have better butts than cisgender men. ... As professional judges, weve been looking at everyones butt.The spectacles inside the ring are only limited by the competitor's imaginations and their commitment to camp. According to the Times, the antics seen during the bouts included: "gratuitous twerking; a prosthetic leg becoming an improvisational weapon; a whipped cream pie smashed against the face; a banana pulled out of boxers, peeled and eaten in front of an adulatory audience."How successful has T-Boy Wrestling been?See on InstagramJust like professional wrestling, much of what went down in the ring was planned beforehand and rehearsed. There was also a great deal of prep done by Bandrowski and Miller. A playlist was meticulously curated, and ASL interpreters were hired for the event. In preparation for the big night, 200 hot dogs were cooked, but no one could have known it would be TDLA's most successful event to date.500 tickets were sold in person for T-Boy Wrestling, and another 500 spectators watched live via Twitch. Hopefully, 300 of the attendees were vegetarian. Spectators and competitors alike traveled from all across Southern California, with some attendees traveling 5 hours by car just to be there.T-Boy Wrestling is now prepping for even bigger and better events in 2025.How to participate?See on InstagramThe application is currently open for competitors at T-Boy Wrestling in LA on March 22, 2025. You can apply solo or with a partner, and are encouraged to get creative with your TBW vision. If you're a trans masc person with any experience with wrestling, gogo dancing, or just have a dream in your heart to hit the mat, you should absolutely apply.A T-Boy Wrestling event is also being organized in NYC on August 9, 2025. Applications for this event have yet to open, but if you're an East Coast t-boy with a dream to pin or be pinned, keep your eye on the TBW social media.Whether you're dying to compete or just want to watch, you'll be in great company. TBW's inaugural wrestler's included a real who's who of trans guys in LA, like adult performers Noah Way, Austin Spears, and the late Apollo Moon, whose death is a tragedy and who is dearly missed by friends and fans alike.If you're looking for T4T love in the new year, T-Boy Wrestling might be just the place to be. Miller said to the Times that at least two wrestlers have gotten together since the event, but adds "Im sure theres more we dont even know about.Whatever your role, you won't want to miss being apart of such an interesting, joyful, and unapologetically queer event. Until then, you can revisit full coverage of TBW on TDLA's YouTube channel here.See on Instagram
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