"It's not what's between your legs that defines your gender" - Buck Angel Interview

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buck angel Buck Angel

HB: Many of us know you but for the ones who don't already know you would you tell us a little about yourself, where you're from, what you do now?

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BA: First thanks so much for asking me to do an interview for your Hungarian site. I always like when I get these requests from other countries because it makes me see how my work is reaching out to folks all overthe world.  Now about me:  I am a transsexual ma who has chosen to keep his vagina and go public with it by inventing a whole new genre of film in the adult entertainment business. I make movies and have a website that shows me having sex with my vagina.My work has made me pretty famous, primarily because before me,  there was no one doing this. In the last two years,  my work has transcended beyond pornography  to include education and advocacy.

HB: What was the turning point or what had the effect on you in your life, that you decided starting your transition?

BA: My life was a big fat mess!! I was an alcoholic and drug addict for many years because I was not happy. It was only after I got clean and sober that I was able to get some clarity on my situation:  One day I saw a film that featured an FTM character and suddenly a light bulb went off inside of me...No one had ever told me that I could have a sex change ( All my therapists would tell me that I was just a very male identified female! ) and that I could finally have the body that matched what was  going on inside of me.  It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

HB: You usually give striking answers when they ask you those silly questions like whether you are a man or a woman, or how can a man have vagina etc. In your view what does that mean being a man?

buck angel

BA: HAA!! Yes of course people have to ask silly questions because they just do not understand. I have said this from the very beginning, when I started doing this work back in 2006:  " It's not what's between your legs that defines your gender." Now, I see so many people using that phrase, Including Chaz Bono when he recently went public with his transition. So I think it is great that my message is getting out thereand that people are beginning to have a better understanding of how fluid gender can be. You determine who you are and the kind of man you want to be.  For me,  it's all about my body and my state of mind: I like having this super hyper masculine body.

HB: One of the most frequently asked questions from you is what I have to ask too is that in your case what are the causes of not having any other surgery then top surgery?

BA: This is one of the most asked questions because people just cannot beleive that I do not want to get a penis. That to get the penis will make me a whole man. First, I just want to say that I am not against the penis surgery... It's just not for me. They have made huge medical advances and maybe one day the surgery will be perfected.  For me, it just was not perfect enough. I happen to be a little bit of a perfectionist,  did tons of research and came to the conclusion that it was not what I wanted.  I just had to come to terms with my vagina and accept the fact that this is what I was given, so make it work for you....And I did!

HB: As you know, you are a primary role model for many FTMs around the globe. Who were/are your role models?

BA: My wife. I have to say she is one hell of a person. Everyday I feel so lucky to have her in my life. She is super smart and has helped me tremendously to build my self confidence. She is an amazing business woman, who is also a pioneer the field of Body Piercing. I looked up to her when I was creating Buck Angel and pioneering something new in the adult entertainment industry.  She was a role model for me, who had the values and the vision that I wanted to incorporate in my life.

HB: You are a very active personality always full with groundbreaking ideas. You do porn, you are a trans activist, you are a website creator, recently you just started a bodybuilding site. What are your planes for the future, what is still coming?

buck angelBA: Wow that does sound like I am busy! I just always have ideas in my head and always want to keep challenging myself to be better and to make the world a better place. Right now I am working on a new film that is not adult. It is a feature documentary on trans men and sexuality. Please take a look here to read more about it. http://buckangelentertainment.com/documentary.html
I am really excited about this project because it is taking my work to a whole new level and educating people on something that I am truly passionate about...Sexuality!  I also want to help an entire new generation of young men or women who are questioning the gender that they were born into and who are thinking about transitioning....I want them to know that they are not alone and that it is their human right to choose who they want to be!

HB: What achivements are you most proud of in your life?

BA: I would say my sculpture by artist Marc Quinn( add photo here):  It is a life size nude statue of Buck Angel that is part of the artist's new show which will be touring all over the world in 2010. People have never seen anything quite like it and it is already generating a great deal of global buzz.   I must say that speaking at Yale University this past Winter was another highlight in my life.  It was amazing! For a guy like me, who was once homeless and did not graduate from high school,  to be speaking at YALE was really incredible for me.

HB: Where do you find that the trans community has the most acceptance - within the straight community, or the GLB one? Neither, or both?

BA: Funny question! I always say that it feels like the straight world is so much more accepting of trans people than gays. The GBLTQ community is still struggling with us a bit. Maybe because one is about gender and the other is more about sexuality.

buck angel

HB: People saw your face in the opening credits of the famous lesbian series The L Word. I read in your blog that they did not asked you about it. Did that disturb you they used one of your early pictures without your permission?

BA: Well, I do not own that photo;  the person who took it many years ago, Cathy Opie, owns the photo, so she has the rights to do with it what she wants. I do think they should have asked me to be in an episode though!

HB: If you had one single piece of good advice for a transguy who's just starting out on his transition, what would it be?

BA: Make sure it's really what you want to do for yourself. This is a life changing situation. I beleive too many people just jump in without having any therapy or really understanding what it means to be a transsexual. Just because you are masculine does not mean you are transsexual. I have seen many guys who start hormones then decide that they wish they had never done it.  Just take your time and think it through.

HB: It seems like media is always around you, but when Buck goes private what does he do, what does he like, what kind of man is he?

BA: This is why I live in a small town in Mexico. So I can come home and not have to be on. I love my privacy too and my home is very private. I have 7 dogs that I love to play with all the time. I also love watching films. I go to the gym all the time because I love that too. I would say I am a really simple guy who loves to eat good food and read a book.

HB: I know you are coming to Europe quite often nowadays, do you have plans coming to our little country someday?

BA: My next stop is Amsterdam then Finland in May. I would love to come to Hungary so if you know anyone interested in booking me send my info! Thanks again for the interview and allowing me to talk to the people of Hungary.

Buck Angel®

H. Barnabás - pinkvanilla.hu
Phots: Buck Angel®

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