QUEER PUNK OUTLAWS

In the back of a Brooklyn thrift shop is an unassuming wardrobe. For those in the know, it’s a Narnia-style portal to the magical world of queer, punk wrestling. The stripped down venue hosts the bi-weekly wrestling training program and the monthly shows of the Queer Punk Outlaws, an unequivocally inclusive space for aspiring and amateur wrestlers. Under the unmistakable purple LED-lit clouds, trainers teach a class of eager students mat work, spot execution, and the art of selling the performance. 

Wrestling is infamous for attracting questionable characters and misogyny. So much so, the seedy politically incorrect CEO has become a routine archetype in the plot lines, like WWE’s Vince McMahon. In a short conversation with head trainer, Logan Black, he went through a laundry list of wrestling organizations and described an industry rife with sexual predators and scandals - including other LGBTQIA+ inclusive federations. “If I can contribute one thing to this industry, it’s a locker room where my wrestlers feel safe. That way when they go into the world of wrestling, they’ll know they don’t have to tolerate predatory or bigoted behavior. Over time, I hope it will make a difference.” Effy, a pioneer in changing the culture of wrestling told Outsports, “This is going to be a jumping-off point for people to say ‘Hey, we’ve seen this happen a little bit but now let’s all grab this thing by the horns and show them that we can do it too.”

Despite an industry that refused to make space for them, these LGBTQIA+ have dedicated thousands of dollars and hours pursuing a wrestling career. Princess Boujie explained, “I used to literally HATE wrestling when I was little. But then one day when I was 15, I was browsing on YouTube and found a video (Naomi vs Alicia Fox on a random SmackDown episode). I watched It and was so in love with everything they did and the outfits they wore. After that, I became obsessed with pro wrestling for about 8 years. I ended up dreaming of doing it for so long but when I was younger, my mom couldn’t afford classes. So I decided that once I’m grown and financially stable, I’ll try and achieve the dream I had. And it’s been so fun. I have no regrets and I’m proving soooo many people wrong about me.” Part of the draw for these wrestlers seems to be entering into a space where they weren’t traditionally welcomed, and putting on a performance that drives a change in the perspective of who can be a wrestler and who wrestling is for.