Today we’d like to introduce you to Bucky Motter
Hi Bucky, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began working with trans bodybuilding contests starting in 2014, as head judge for the first-ever trans bodybuilding contest in the world, which was held here in Atlanta. It was really exciting to be involved at the ground level in what would become a yearly event. That bodybuilding contest was produced by Neo Sandja, in conjunction with the conference he founded, FTM Fitness World. The next year, the conference was re-branded as TransFitCon, to appeal to a the Trans community as a whole. Trans women were welcomed at the conference, but we didn’t have any trans women competing in bodybuilding until later.
In 2016, Neo separated the bodybuilding contest from TransFitCon, to create the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders (IATB). I took over as owner of IATB in 2017. In 2018 we became a nonprofit, and we have been putting on yearly contests as the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders and Powerlifters (IATBP) ever since. I currently serve as the executive director.
We are celebrating 10 years of Trans bodybuilding here in Atlanta this year. We also have a thriving powerlifting meet that happens in the morning. This year the meet starts at 9am. The bodybuilding contest starts at 7pm. Both events are being held this year on November 23. The powerlifting meet is being held at DNA Strength Gym, and the bodybuilding contest is being held at OutFront Theatre.
I feel so proud to be a part of the only bodybuilding and powerlifting federation that welcomes people across the trans spectrum. We welcome trans men and women, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals.
I am what I call a “no-ho, no-op” (no hormones or operations) trans man. My peers have really taken me into the fold, despite my decisions on hormones and operations. I feel like I’m home during these events. We all are very supportive of each other, and even though the athletes are very competitive, there is a general feeling of goodwill, and a feeling of pride in taking part in these events. We offer a safe space for trans bodybuilders to show their wares, and for powerlifters to show their might.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think the most difficult thing we deal with on a yearly basis is funding for the competitions. It’s expensive to produce these events, and our membership dues don’t fully cover the costs. This year, we have received funding from two trans organizations: The Trans Justice Funding Project, (TJFP), which awarded us a grant; and FLUX, a trans organization that is sponsoring us. The Tides Foundation helps fund the TJFP grant. FLUX is an affinity group of the Aids Healthcare Foundation.
Also, we have made mistakes along the way. Our competitors have been gracious, for the most part, as we have rectified these mistakes. We are, however, a small community, and sometimes we need some rumor control to clear up misunderstandings. Word gets around fast if we make a misstep.
One misunderstanding we dealt with was when a competitor said in an interview that he heard that a competitor in our very first competition was “booed” when he took his sports bra off. We allow competitors to compete whether they have had chest surgery or not. They can wear whatever makes them comfortable even if they haven’t had chest surgery. Some go on stage without any kind of garment on top. Of course, I was there at that competition as the head judge. Quite the opposite happened: the competitor who took his sports bra off was cheered for wildly. The audience really gets it that it takes guts to be that vulnerable in front of a crowd, even a sympatric one.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m super proud of our biweekly Instagram Live interviews. Board members Nat Veiga and Siufung Law are excellent and well-prepared interviewers. They are truly a dream team. Please check them out on Instagram or our YouTube channel! Our IG handle is @iatbp.official.
Besides being a former bodybuilder and powerlifter, I am a musician. I’m a singer/songwriter. I have produced many shows where I’ve had to wear all the hats that make a gig successful: promotion, marketing, hiring musicians, sound and light production, etc. Oh, and then I play the gig! So when I became the owner of IATB, the only experience I had to bring to the organization was my ability to produce the bodybuilding shows as well as my long experience of being our head bodybuilding judge. When we became IATBP, which is a nonprofit, I was really on a steep learning curve serving as the executive director. Fortunately, I have excellent board members who have had years of experience serving on boards. They want nothing other than to see IATBP succeed, therefore they have basically given me a crash course on being a good leader. I am so grateful for them and for this opportunity to serve the trans community.
I am most proud of our inclusiveness as an organization. We have two board members who identify as non-binary. They have really helped us up our game by teaching us how to address and include non-binary competitors in both bodybuilding and powerlifting. To that end, we are the only federation in the world that has multiple divisions for our competitors to choose from. We have competitive divisions for transmasc, transfemme, non-binary and gender non-conforming folks, as well as an open division where our competitors do not have to disclose their hormone replacement therapy (HRT) status.
What sets us apart from other federations is our commitment to being a beacon of hope to trans athletes of all kinds everywhere. We know how important it is not to feel alone and isolated. I think human beings have a spiritual need to belong. The feedback we receive from our athletes after competing is that they felt a deep sense of camaraderie, even though they were competing against each another. It’s important for trans people to express themselves in their presentation. Bodybuilders feel uplifted by presenting their bodies to the audience after months and sometimes years of hard work. They feel congruent with their gender identity as muscular people. Powerlifters feel similarly about their self-expression. For them it’s important to express themselves with their strength.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best thing folks can do as individuals to support us is to become a member of IATBP. Membership is not just for competitors, it’s for people who want to support us and our vision. Sign up on our website, iatbp.org!
We would love to collaborate and align with organizations of all kinds, especially those who produce events.
We are always on the lookout for event sponsors. We would love to put your logo on our banner! We also would love to hear from folks who have connections with businesses who have DEI programs that might be willing to contribute to us financially. We are always seeking grantors as well. Any connections you might have are welcomed. You can contact me at bucky.motter@iatbp.org.
We are always on the lookout for qualified board members. We are currently seeking a board treasurer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://iatbp.org
- Instagram: @iatbp.official
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iatbpcompetitions/
- Twitter: @IATBPOfficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iatbpcompetitions
