’Drop Deadlift Gorgeous’ aims to support transgender people in sports
Max Poessnecker, pictured here at the 2023 Drop Deadlift Gorgeous event.
Courtesy Auden Photography
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We’re still waiting to hear what will happen to JayCee Cooper, the Minnesota transgender athlete who sued USA Powerlifting for discrimination in 2021 after the organization barred her from competing.
The Minnesota Supreme Court announced in July that it will review her case. USA powerlifting maintains she was barred because of her physiology, not because of her gender identity.
It’s within this environment that a south Minneapolis gym will host a deadlifting event in support of transgender inclusion in sport. The event is Oct. 19 at Solcana Fitness in south Minneapolis. It’s called “Drop Deadlift Gorgeous.”
For more, Event Director Max Poessnecker joined Minnesota Now to talk about the inspiration behind the event.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: We're still waiting to hear what will happen to JayCee Cooper. She's the Minnesota transgender athlete who sued USA Powerlifting for discrimination back in 2021 after the organization barred her from competing. The Minnesota Supreme Court announced in July that it will review her case.
USA Powerlifting maintains she was barred because of her physiology, not because of her gender identity. It's within this environment that a south Minneapolis gym will host a deadlifting event in support of transgender inclusion in sport. The event is this Saturday at Solcana Fitness on the corner of Minnehaha and Lake. It's called Drop Deadlift Gorgeous.
For more, we're joined by the event director Max Poessnecker. Max, thanks for taking the time.
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah, thanks for having me today.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. So I understand that this is your brainchild, right? And it's in its second year, is that correct?
MAX POESSNECKER: It is. Yeah. So Drop Deadlift Gorgeous, we actually had our first event last year in August where we supported a local organization, Family Tree Clinic, where we raised just a little over $60,000 and had about 85 participants lift that day. So Drop Deadlift Gorgeous, it's certainly a unique event, as it's kind of our event. But the idea of the event isn't necessarily new, because there's a number of organizations and gyms across the US that are really trying to achieve the same thing by literally creating a platform to really promote the importance of trans inclusion in sport.
CATHY WURZER: Is this personal for you?
MAX POESSNECKER: Absolutely. As a self-identified openly queer and transmasculine person, I'm one of the coaches at Solcana Fitness. I've also competed with a number of different kind of events, including was [INAUDIBLE]. In 2019, I actually competed in USA powerlifting.
But since then, to be able to actually compete, if I had the desire to, I wouldn't be able to as somebody who is openly trans. And so, yeah, it's absolutely personal for me.
CATHY WURZER: So you can't compete if you're using hormones, is that right?
MAX POESSNECKER: That is correct.
CATHY WURZER: OK. I'm wondering here, let's talk a little bit about the event. Do you have to be somebody who lifts? Or can you participate in different ways?
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah, absolutely. So for just some context-- powerlifting consists of three main lifts. Its back squat, bench press, and deadlift. And of those, deadlift tends to be the most accessible. And that's absolutely what we wanted this event to really focus on is being an open, inviting environment for folks who have had a background in competing or individuals who just enjoy strength sports or individuals who are like, I've never done this before, and this sounds like a great cause, and I want to try it out.
So this event, we have about 130 lifters. A good majority of those are Solcana Fitness members. But we have over 24 gyms who have athletes who are actually going to be participating in this exhibition strength event.
CATHY WURZER: When I think of weightlifters, it's a stereotype, but you know what I'm going to say probably, Max, that you think muscle-bound folks who might not be terribly smart, to be honest with you. That's what you think, right? But it sounds like you're working against that stereotype in no uncertain terms.
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah, absolutely. And so Solcana Fitness, we are a women and queer-owned gym. And that's absolutely our mission. One term that I like to use is "meathead."
So if you've gone into a stereotypical gym, you think of those like meatheads. And Solcana Fitness is really a space that tries to meet an athlete with where they're at. And so we offer a number of classes.
We have a Black strength class. We have a trans strength class. We have a fat fitness class. We have a masters class, which is for women over the age of 50. We also, as coaches are trauma informed, trained.
So we really try to approach fitness from the lens of empowerment through movement. We do not talk about diet culture in the gym. We don't talk about other stereotypical negative and sort of toxic diet and fitness culture. It's really about helping folks find happiness and joy in their body and really liberating the body through movement.
CATHY WURZER: There's a final question for you before we have to go. And I'm wondering, so you are choosing an organization to be the beneficiary of the fundraising, right? Where is the money going to go?
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah. So P Fund, which is Philanthropy Fund, they have a campaign called the Transcend Campaign. And this is a campaign that raises funds to distribute to partners across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin for individuals and organizations who are doing on-the-ground work to support trans inclusion. And that could be anything from gender-affirming care to youth to helping folks relocate to Minnesota, as Minnesota is now a trans refuge state.
And so our goal is $100,000. And I just looked, and we are just about to hit $73,000. And so we are certainly hoping to get to the $100 mark by Saturday.
CATHY WURZER: What are you hoping, ultimately, that this event does in the future? Do you plan to keep it going? And what are your hopes and dreams for it?
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah. Good question. When we started last year, our goal was to raise $25,000. And we had to increase our goal three times. And we ultimately raised $60,000. This year, we've, obviously, already surpassed that.
And so, obviously, the fundraising piece and supporting trans and gender expansive communities is the goal. But, ultimately, it's really to raise awareness about the importance of individuals being able to have access to, in this case, power sports. And so creating a literal and figurative platform for voices to feel and be strong and celebrate amongst community is really what we're hoping to do.
CATHY WURZER: Well, Max, we wish you all the best, you and all the other participants. Thank you so much.
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah. Thanks, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: We've been talking to Max Poessnecker. Max is the event director for Drop Deadlift Gorgeous. The event is this Saturday, Solcana Fitness, South Minneapolis. That's on the corner of Minnehaha Avenue and Lake Street in South Minneapolis, my old stomping grounds, as a matter of fact.
USA Powerlifting maintains she was barred because of her physiology, not because of her gender identity. It's within this environment that a south Minneapolis gym will host a deadlifting event in support of transgender inclusion in sport. The event is this Saturday at Solcana Fitness on the corner of Minnehaha and Lake. It's called Drop Deadlift Gorgeous.
For more, we're joined by the event director Max Poessnecker. Max, thanks for taking the time.
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah, thanks for having me today.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. So I understand that this is your brainchild, right? And it's in its second year, is that correct?
MAX POESSNECKER: It is. Yeah. So Drop Deadlift Gorgeous, we actually had our first event last year in August where we supported a local organization, Family Tree Clinic, where we raised just a little over $60,000 and had about 85 participants lift that day. So Drop Deadlift Gorgeous, it's certainly a unique event, as it's kind of our event. But the idea of the event isn't necessarily new, because there's a number of organizations and gyms across the US that are really trying to achieve the same thing by literally creating a platform to really promote the importance of trans inclusion in sport.
CATHY WURZER: Is this personal for you?
MAX POESSNECKER: Absolutely. As a self-identified openly queer and transmasculine person, I'm one of the coaches at Solcana Fitness. I've also competed with a number of different kind of events, including was [INAUDIBLE]. In 2019, I actually competed in USA powerlifting.
But since then, to be able to actually compete, if I had the desire to, I wouldn't be able to as somebody who is openly trans. And so, yeah, it's absolutely personal for me.
CATHY WURZER: So you can't compete if you're using hormones, is that right?
MAX POESSNECKER: That is correct.
CATHY WURZER: OK. I'm wondering here, let's talk a little bit about the event. Do you have to be somebody who lifts? Or can you participate in different ways?
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah, absolutely. So for just some context-- powerlifting consists of three main lifts. Its back squat, bench press, and deadlift. And of those, deadlift tends to be the most accessible. And that's absolutely what we wanted this event to really focus on is being an open, inviting environment for folks who have had a background in competing or individuals who just enjoy strength sports or individuals who are like, I've never done this before, and this sounds like a great cause, and I want to try it out.
So this event, we have about 130 lifters. A good majority of those are Solcana Fitness members. But we have over 24 gyms who have athletes who are actually going to be participating in this exhibition strength event.
CATHY WURZER: When I think of weightlifters, it's a stereotype, but you know what I'm going to say probably, Max, that you think muscle-bound folks who might not be terribly smart, to be honest with you. That's what you think, right? But it sounds like you're working against that stereotype in no uncertain terms.
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah, absolutely. And so Solcana Fitness, we are a women and queer-owned gym. And that's absolutely our mission. One term that I like to use is "meathead."
So if you've gone into a stereotypical gym, you think of those like meatheads. And Solcana Fitness is really a space that tries to meet an athlete with where they're at. And so we offer a number of classes.
We have a Black strength class. We have a trans strength class. We have a fat fitness class. We have a masters class, which is for women over the age of 50. We also, as coaches are trauma informed, trained.
So we really try to approach fitness from the lens of empowerment through movement. We do not talk about diet culture in the gym. We don't talk about other stereotypical negative and sort of toxic diet and fitness culture. It's really about helping folks find happiness and joy in their body and really liberating the body through movement.
CATHY WURZER: There's a final question for you before we have to go. And I'm wondering, so you are choosing an organization to be the beneficiary of the fundraising, right? Where is the money going to go?
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah. So P Fund, which is Philanthropy Fund, they have a campaign called the Transcend Campaign. And this is a campaign that raises funds to distribute to partners across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin for individuals and organizations who are doing on-the-ground work to support trans inclusion. And that could be anything from gender-affirming care to youth to helping folks relocate to Minnesota, as Minnesota is now a trans refuge state.
And so our goal is $100,000. And I just looked, and we are just about to hit $73,000. And so we are certainly hoping to get to the $100 mark by Saturday.
CATHY WURZER: What are you hoping, ultimately, that this event does in the future? Do you plan to keep it going? And what are your hopes and dreams for it?
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah. Good question. When we started last year, our goal was to raise $25,000. And we had to increase our goal three times. And we ultimately raised $60,000. This year, we've, obviously, already surpassed that.
And so, obviously, the fundraising piece and supporting trans and gender expansive communities is the goal. But, ultimately, it's really to raise awareness about the importance of individuals being able to have access to, in this case, power sports. And so creating a literal and figurative platform for voices to feel and be strong and celebrate amongst community is really what we're hoping to do.
CATHY WURZER: Well, Max, we wish you all the best, you and all the other participants. Thank you so much.
MAX POESSNECKER: Yeah. Thanks, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: We've been talking to Max Poessnecker. Max is the event director for Drop Deadlift Gorgeous. The event is this Saturday, Solcana Fitness, South Minneapolis. That's on the corner of Minnehaha Avenue and Lake Street in South Minneapolis, my old stomping grounds, as a matter of fact.
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