10 JUNE 18-24, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Chamber in November 2024 after seeing a Reddit post seeking instructors. “It sounded like exactly what I wanted to be doing: bring- ing jiu-jitsu to the dolls,” she says. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Despite the intensity of the exercises, the room was often fi lled with laughter. Students complimented each other’s nails and tattoos between chokes and pins. While demonstrat- ing one hold, Vane described it as an ideal move to apprehend a Nazi. At the end of class, much of the group remained for a “family dinner,” grilling hot dogs in the summer sun. “Some [students] have always had an inter- est in martial arts, but never found a space to explore that. Some of them have been on the receiving end of violence or dangerous situ- ations. But what they tend to stay for is the community,” Chopin says. “I’ve had students say that this saved my life, or helped me kick drugs, or just helped me fi nd a roommate.” The recent surge in national anti-trans rhetoric has made more local trans people inclined to seek out the self-defense class, according to Chopin. “The best defense will always be a strong community,” she says. “That’s what 36th Cham- ber does: It keeps us safe. We keep us safe.” A league of their own When Trump signed a slew of executive orders rolling back transgender rights shortly after taking offi ce again in January 2025, Co- lette Rayne suddenly found herself a trans woman in one of the most anti-trans states in the nation, fi elding unprecedented attacks from the federal level. She fl ed her Oklahoma home by the fol- lowing month, driving to the nearest safe zone: Colorado. Rayne arrived in Denver not knowing a soul. But soon, she met Chopin and 36th Chamber. The group offered her a soft land- ing — and a hard punch. “When I got here, I had nobody. Almost all of the connections that I have in the city now started here,” Rayne says. “We have a blast hitting each other here, but what it’s really about is bringing in trans refugees who are coming here from all over. Giving them a welcoming place to get started and teaching them how to defend themselves.” Every attendee at the May 31 Queer Bash was offered free food and clothing. Though the events are technically fundraisers, there is no cost to enter; the audience is simply encouraged to donate if they can. Rayne participated in the fi rst Queer Bash in April 2025, shortly after moving to town. She was the runner-up during the third and latest Queer Bash, coming in second to Vane by a split decision. But as Vane declared to the crowd that night: “Whatever the judges say is bullshit. We were even.” “It’s amazing,” Rayne says. “It gives trans people from dangerous places a way to have an instant community, have instant friends, and learn to fi ght back.” The political undertones of the event were evident during Queer Bash. One fi ghter was jokingly introduced as a “tran-tifa super sol- dier” and entered the ring wearing the Soviet fl ag. Volunteers handed out zines urging voters to reject Colorado’s upcoming anti-trans- athlete ballot measure. The fi ghters helped run the ragtag tourna- ment, setting up speakers and moving chairs between matches. There was plenty of other staff present, though: a medic, corner coaches, a referee and three judges, including Chopin. Fighters weren’t organized by weight classes. They began the event wearing helmets, but Rayne and Vane ditched the head protection during their fi ve-round fi nale. The brawls were brutal at times — fi ghters were forced to pause on multiple occasions to clean blood off the mat — but the friend- ships shone through the carnage. Opponents hugged after their matches concluded. Vane even kissed both of the (adult) ring boys to celebrate making it to the fi nal. “I don’t have the words to describe how amazing this feeling is, to be here surrounded by all of these people I love,” Vane says. “I would do anything for this. I would die for this. This is the greatest thing in my life.” One of us A founding supporter of 36th Chamber was absent from Queer Bash on May 31. Harpy Candor was among Fight for Their Lives continued from page 8 Eight fi ghters competed in Queer Bash, with only one left standing at the end. HANNAH METZGER continued on page 12 Call Elaine Lustig, PhD .......................................................... at 303-369-7770 Needing Your Emotional ....... Animal W/ You? For eligible people who need their emotional support animal to accompany them at/or away from home, I am available to provide the documentation and counseling. CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
