Today we’d like to introduce you to Siufung Law
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I identify as nonbinary and am proud to be the world’s first visible nonbinary professional bodybuilder. Since 2015, I have been an advocate for genderqueer and genderfluid individuals in Hong Kong, raising awareness through media interviews, guest lectures at universities, and speaking engagements at community events. I served as the Ambassador for PinkDot Hong Kong, a major LGBT+ community event, and was also an ambassador and torchbearer for the Gay Games Hong Kong 2023.
Assigned female at birth and socially masculine, I compete in the female bodybuilding category. Through my participation, I challenge binary assumptions surrounding masculinity and femininity, as well as the prevailing notions of femininity in female bodybuilding, by entering the sport as a nonbinary athlete. My experiences of being bullied, discriminated and stigmatized have been powerfully transformed into development of kindness and compassion, you can see this through my TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/I3EgFBkIQ-w?si=QkULKhdxPsoN9EDD
In 2021, I moved to Atlanta to pursue my Ph.D. at Emory University, where my current research focuses on the implementation and implications of nonbinary gender divisions in bodybuilding in Taiwan. Additionally, I serve as a board member and ambassador for the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders and Powerlifters (IATBP), promoting annual bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions for trans and nonbinary athletes. I am also an ambassador for Athlete Ally, advocating against transphobia and homophobia in sports. I am currently a sports journalist for TransGriot.com and you can find my writings here: https://transgriot.com/category/recent-news/sports/
A documentary featuring my transnational gender activism in Hong Kong and America, called “They Are Siufung”, has screened worldwide in Atlanta, Seattle, Taiwan, and Seoul.
Link to my website: www.sfunglaw.com
IG handle: @siufung_law
Link to “They are Siufung”: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18769334/
IG handle: @siufung.film
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have faced numerous challenges along my journey.
As the first nonbinary advocate in Hong Kong and Asia, my advocacy for gender fluidity began in 2015. Initially, I was criticized by the local binary transgender community for creating a “neither-man-nor-woman” public image—particularly when wearing “men’s clothes” while competing in a bikini. Some binary trans activists would attend my speaking events and publicly accuse me of “betraying” the trans community. It wasn’t until the early 2020s, when the concept of nonbinary identity gained wider acceptance from Western perspectives, that this situation began to change. Today, the younger generation of Hong Kong/Asian trans and nonbinary individuals more fully embraces the idea of gender fluidity and the contextual nature of gender identity.
In the bodybuilding community, I was known as a female competitor, and since my legal gender is female, I was required to use the female changing rooms in Hong Kong. This led to multiple instances where my muscular physique drew scrutiny from male staff and even police. I faced hostile reactions from women, and following my victory at an international bodybuilding competition in 2018, I became a target of a transphobic attack. A bodybuilding platform even discussed my genitals and gender without my consent (see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0vyo8B91hM&t=189s). Since moving to America, I have often been perceived as a normative Asian man and have faced discrimination from gym staff due to my race and muscularity. While I was vocal about my gender advocacy in Hong Kong, I now hesitate to disclose my trans identity in gyms, particularly given my ethnicity.
In my work with the International Association of Trans Bodybuilders and Powerlifters (IATBP), I have come to realize the organization struggles to enhance visibility within and beyond American trans communities. Due to a lack of resources, IATBP often faces challenges securing funding and manpower to host and expand its annual events.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Emory University. My research is deeply connected to my passion for transgender activism and sports. My dissertation explores the implementation and implications of nonbinary gender divisions in bodybuilding in Taiwan through ethnographic studies. I examine how these categories affect gender representation, body aesthetics, athlete experiences, and broader societal perceptions of LGBTQ+ sports activism in Asia. As a nonbinary bodybuilder, I believe my dissertation will be impactful because I have a thorough understanding of the sport and have been an insider for years, all while maintaining a strong commitment to the trans and nonbinary sports community.
In addition to my research, I serve as a global speaker for various NGOs, corporations, and universities, where I share my activist journey and discuss the importance of human rights, trans athleticism, and nonbinary identities.
I take pride in being a trailblazer for the Asian trans and nonbinary community, creating new spaces for discussions about gender and advocating for the rights of trans athletes. I am also dedicated to helping others explore their nonbinariness, whether it manifests in identity, sexuality, body, or aesthetics. My unique experiences as a nonbinary athlete, combined with my academic training in gender studies, equip me with the language and embodied knowledge to effectively engage with the public and the LGBTQ+ community.
What matters most to you?
Kindness and compassion are essential to me as a nonbinary person. I believe that no one is born to discriminate against others. As minorities, we sometimes need to take a step back and approach those who express hatred with more compassion, recognizing that their anger is often directed at societal failures rather than at us personally. In my TEDx talk, I shared my experience in a female changing room, where a cisgender mother provided me with comfort and strength that ultimately inspired my trans activism. You can watch the talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3EgFBkIQ-w&t=10s
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sfunglaw.com
- Instagram: siufung_law; siufung.film
