We’re urgently raising funds to help our friend Flynn get back on his feet following the cherry pit/transmascmtl tboy oil wrestling event on April 18th where he was injured badly.

He left with 3 torn ligaments that required crutches for the weeks following the event, and a concussion that has caused him to not be able to work since he is experiencing symptoms of post concussion syndrome.

We are raising money to help him cover the cost of rent, utilities, groceries, opus card, medical tests/supplies.

All the money raised will go towards covering these living expenses as well as Flynn’s lost wages due to his injuries.

Please donate whatever you can and share widely. Flynn is a beloved member of our community who lights up any room he enters. He is a dedicated youth worker and someone who is always there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

We want to make sure our friend can prioritize recovering from the torn ligaments and concussion and not have to worry about money while he heals. Any amount helps.

More context:

We reached out to the organizers of the oil wrestling event to share in detail what had happened. We shared our concerns for the safety of the performers and even offered suggestions for how to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We requested support and accountability from cherrypit and transmascmtl and we were met with dismissive responses and absolutely no concern or care for this Black trans community member who participated in their event.

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Some words from Flynn about his experience with t-boy oil wrestling and the impact it has had:

“Hi I’m a Black, trans and queer person. I decided to do the Tboy Oil Wrestling event hosted by cherry pit and transmascmtl on April 16th as I love performance and community.

In late March, we had a meetup with all 8 fighters and organization staff. We went over the rules, practiced certain moves and bonded before seeing each other on the day of the event.

Being one of only two black fighters, I was so nervous. I hoped that I’d be wrestling against Black Ice because I would’ve felt more safe. The rounds were fine except for the last fight when I was put against someone twice my weight. people came up to me to ask if I still wanted to fight and I said yes, being scared to chicken out in front of a predominantly white crowd.

Before the final match against midnight mechanic, I tried talking to him to plan our performance and get on the same page but I was met with very vague answers as to what we were gonna do and who was gonna win. That made me feel even more nervous but I went along with it either way. The match with him was split into 3 rounds. The first round was pretty okay, but the minute he put his hands on me I knew this fight was going to hurt. By the second round I remember talking to my friends in the crowd saying “oh my god, I’m gonna die. Do you see how hard he’s going?” And my friends nodding asking me silently if I’m okay. We continued the fight and towards the end of the second round, there was a moment when I thought my whole right side broke. I remember being picked up under my back and one arm under my leg and being thrown down so hard. As I was in the air I remember feeling like everything was going in slow motion, and telling myself “brace yourself, this is gonna hurt”. And the moment my back and head hit the ground, the whole crowd went “ooooh” and then there was silence for a good 5 seconds. And I knew something was up. I got back up and continued because at that point I genuinely felt out of my body. For some reason I was so scared to stop, I didn’t wanna be a spectacle in front of a predominantly white crowd which I was already stressed about.

When the whole fight was over, I went up to the green room and the paramedic came and checked me. I can’t remember half of what they said because I was that out of it. In retrospect, this was the impact head trauma that caused my concussion.

The person who coached us during the practice in late March, who was supposed to be watching the fight as a referee ready to intervene and ensure the performers’ safety, came up to me and asked “are you okay?” I said “yeah. Yeah, don’t worry.” They said “sorry, I wasn’t watching.” I said “oh?” They said “yeah I had to take a break from the crowd”. Knowing that people need breaks sometimes I just answered “yeah that’s okay”. But my friends were there not completely agreeing with this, saying that they should’ve been there to watch and step in when midnight mechanic was being way too intense and rough with me.

I have a concussion and I tore 2-3 ligaments in my entire right side (which are slowly recovering).

In the end, trying to talk to the organizers and winner of this event I’ve been met with responses that take zero accountability and demonstrate no care or concern for the harm caused at their event. In response to me letting them know what happened to me, they responded with things such as; “this didn’t happen” “they’re not telling the whole truth” “it’s not my fault” “we all chose to do this”.

I can argue the last point a little that while I did agree to this, it was under the understanding of the conditions that the fights would be monitored *properly and fully* and that my opponent gives *clear* instructions on what we were going to be doing/performing.

Both conditions had not been met leaving me in a position where I was harmed in ways that have caused major physical and financial damage from an event that was supposed to be a fun and playful community performance.

This has also had social repercussions where on more than one occasion, people I meet recognize me as “the guy from tboy oil wrestling who got badly fucked up in that last round”

While I have been physically recovering from the concussion and torn ligaments (and the medical expenses that have come with that), I have been unable to work which has resulted in lost wages.

I’m also arguing for my rights as a young trans person against older adults and organizers of such an event who should have had care at the forefront of their organizing of this event centred around trans mascs. Especially the fact that the whole organizing and support staff are white; I’ve been having issues addressing this because I do not want to be painted as the woke-young-black-guy-who-makes-a-big-deal-out-of-“nothing”. However being in that room and seeing an all-white staff and performing for a nearly all-white crowd added a layer of discomfort to this whole experience that feels extra harmful.

I did have fun but I was also badly harmed and dismissed - and two things can be true at once. Some things need to be addressed.

Lately, since I’ve stopped working, expenses for food, bus passes, medical bills, and the possibility that I won’t be able to do the seasonal jobs I usually take on (unless I push my body too hard which will delay my recovery), adds to the financial stress of the consequences of an event that was supposed to be fulfilling and freeing.

Thanks

Flynn”

Beneficiary transparency: Please note that 100% of the donations received will be e-transfered to Flynn as we were unable to set him up as the beneficiary due to ID verification process to receive funds requires a scan of a physical ID card; which our actual beneficiary does not have access to at this time.