I met this amazing new friend Cathy! She agreed to do a PSA for me regarding body acceptance, she rocks! One of the best things about my job is all the amazing people I meet.

WOOF!!

Buck

It has come to my attention that some people who have read my interview in Salon.com about my new dating site BuckAngelDating are misinterpreting the meaning of something I said. 

I want to appologize for any misunderstanding this may have caused, and I want to clarify what I meant when I said this:

I’m a huge advocate for disclosure, because I believe a lot of people get themselves in bad situations because they do not disclose. For example, trans women who might hook up with a cis-gendered guy and then he goes home with her and finds out she has a penis and flips out and beats her up or kills her. That’s horrible, and I really believe by not disclosing it’s very disrespectful to the other person because they might not be into it and it makes them feel very freaked out about themselves. Disclosure is huge for me, and how do you do that in a bar situation? You’re right, it’s very strange. For me, how I always did it was if I knew it was going to turn into a sexual situation, immediately, immediately, I would say, “I need to let you know about this situation.” But the dating site puts it right out there: I’m a man with a vagina!

What I am saying here is I do believe that disclosure (and honesty in general when it comes to going home with someone) is important. Disclosing that you are trans before heading home with someone can help to avoid getting into a bad situation, and you also show pride in being a trans person. I referred to trans women in my example because I am well aware of such violence happening and it is a horrible thing that I believe is avoidable. 

I was in NO WAY saying that anyone deserves to be beaten or killed because of a failure to disclose!

Disclosing is a very personal choice; I know this and respect it. I was not assuming that we all decide to make that choice. But when we do, we expose more people to trans folks, which ultimately does lead to greater awareness, and ultimately acceptance in society.  

Please accept my apology for this comment coming across in a way I did not intend. This can happen sometimes when you do a verbal interview due to the way it gets transcribed.

I am most certainly not trans-misogynist.

Buck Angel

Hello Buck Angel,

I just wanted to let you know how much I do admire you and what you do. When I first went to your website I was appalled to see a successful FTM, come on now seriously we both know that must of took a lot of shit (media) to go through in order to still be up there on the top and moving forward. With all the responsibility on your shoulders, discrimination, and all those Hate crimes out there it’s a great thing to see someone as yourself being successful with the pathway in which you you decided to take. After watching all your videos on youtube, it makes me feel as if I too can live my life the way I wish to live and become successful in which ever way I wish to get it done. You are a great inspiration for me and others, and for 8 full years now I believe you’re still holding it down! Wow that’s amazing  to even hear, you did not let anyone put you down or stop you from doing what you wanted to do. Even though you probably won’t take this email seriously or even read it, I do feel a connection with you in a way that I feel as if I can be myself and you can understand me to the fullest. I’m glad that you are here to open up people’s eyes and educate them. You are very much appreciated Buck.

Thank you kindly,

Thank you so much for the sweet email. Yes it has been over 8 years that I have been doing this and always having to deal with crazy hate and stupidity in a weird way makes me want to go more..if that makes sense. It is a rough road but I have to tell you that when I get emails like yours or from someone who feels like suicide is the only answer and my works makes them take a second look at life I have to say I feel like that is the whole reason I survived. That it is my path to help bring awareness and help people see that they don’t have to give up just because some people in the world think we should!
Thank you again it really means lots to me that you took the time to send this.

WOOF!!

***********************************************
Buck Angel®
Pioneering Filmmaker, Speaker, and Advocate

Why do you continue to make hate within our community-My PSA with MsAzariyah was from the heart and by you saying such horrible ugly things about this just shows how “not down” you really are with helping this community grow in a positive way.

I wish you much peace in your life as I see you really need a big hug.

WOOF!

Buck Angel

Trans Women of Color-Stop the Violence PSA

Buck Angel’s Public Service Announcement on the violence towards trans women of color. Trans people of color are at higher risk for unemployment, underemployment, discrimination, harassment and abuse in most settings.Learn more at http://www.transpoc.org
http://www.incite-national.org/
http://colorlines.com/
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/cms/

Post from XOJane

This is a great article please pass around..

Buck

Hey Buck,
I just became aware of yourself and watched the video where you talk about a hate mail you received. What a shame! I am sure those aren’t the only kind of emails you would receive, but I still think it’s important that we praise as much as the ones that hate.
Well…What a beautiful man inside and out! The way you hold a mirror to the society and their gender norms is an inspiration to many more than the haters I would guess. You keep it up, and derive strength whenever you need, from the fact that in the distant corners of the world, there are people, not necessarily transgender or gender nonconformotive, just people, who are inspired by you simply because you are a remarkable and an inspirational man.
Much love from Istanbul,

Thank you so much for taking the time to email me with kind words. I do get many many emails like yours and really not as many hate ones. But I though it was very important to address those as well.
Hate is a very scary thing and many people hate me or my message because they do not want to understand. That is ok because there are people like you who get a positive message from me and really that is the most important.
People are not always going to like what I have to say and that is ok too.

Thanks again for taking the time.

WOOF!!
Buck Angel®
Pioneering Filmmaker, Speaker, and Advocate

A moving letter from Stockholm-It has just been such an amazing exerience being here at Pride in Stockholm. I honesty can’t remember the last time so many people have come up to me to tell me how much of an inspiration I have been to help them move on and feel like they have something to look forward to because of my strength and courage to tell my story. I feel so wonderful to be able to help people I just can’t explain the feelings in words! here is an email from someone who attended my talk here in Stockholm pride:

Hi Buck!

I saw you at Pride on the 4th, and I was just so moved by your story.
When you spoke about starting to hate yourself when you were growing up, I cried with you; I began hating every part of myself around the same time in my life, but the difference is I never stopped. I still haven’t found it in me to accept who I am. I am now 23 years old and after nearly 13 years of harming myself in just about every way imaginable in order to dull the pain of self-loathing, I’ve just started seeing a therapist to try and get better. Hearing your story and seeing you stand there, so strong, confident and beautiful really inspired me to keep fighting. Listening to your words, I felt like for the first time I really believed that everything was going to be alright, somehow.
So I just wanted to thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You’ve touched my life, and I’m so grateful.
Thank you for being you.

WOOF!!

Buck Angel

Haaa! This is pretty funny!! Of course I “trigger” or my work would not be that powerful. But how am I exploitative when it’s my body? But really I don’t expect that everyone will get me or like me.

WOOF!
Buck Angel®
Pioneering Filmmaker, Educator, and Advocate

spunkywarcannon:

He’s gorgeous, but! He’s fetishizing, exploitative and triggering.

Dear Mr. Angel,
I’m sorry to bother you, but I don’t know who else to ask. I have never met any gender queer people in my life, and I don’t know what else to do. By gender queer, I mean any masculine females or FTMs. My father was never an adequate role model, and I wasn’t ever allowed to be masculine. See, I grew up in Brazil. The area I’m from isn’t very liberal; stories about killing homosexuals or transgendered people are told as jokes. My parents know that I am attracted to women. I packed my bags to leave home because I knew that if I kept doing what they wanted me to do, I’d kill myself. After I left for college, I got heavy into drugs, specially alcohol. Well, now I’m 18, I have a crew cut, and I’m getting cleaner and cleaner, I’ve dated women, I started binding and packing. I know I’m young, but I think I need a mastectomy and to try to get on T (I’ve already talked to a psychologist about it). But these behaviors I’ve had, like a short hair cut and binding are things I can revert before I see my parents again (I’m in the US). Mastectomy and T are definitely not reversible.
If this isn’t too personal, how did your family react? If badly, how did you overcome that? I know it’s weird that I’m asking you this, but I didn’t know who else I could seek advice from.

First off the best thing you can do is go to therapy. Just because you have short hair and bind does not mean you are transgender. There is nothing wrong with being a butch female. I have to say that my parents were not happy with me because of my drinking and drugs. I was also very angry and hated myself. I used to cut myself and punch my breasts. They sent me to many psychiatrists.Disowned me, I was actually homeless for a period of time. But to no avail. But once I got myself together everything changed. Because I began to love myself and become responsible for me, Not blaming everyone else. I now have an amazing relationship with them.
My mom even did a PSA for me, Please watch and maybe send to your Mom and Dad.

I think you should live your life for you. Do not worry what people think, Your parents will either deal or not. I am happy to hear you are getting clean. That will give you a clear mind to make the right choices.
Hope this helps you and stay strong! Life is good:)

WOOF!
Buck Angel®
Pioneering Filmmaker, Educator, and Advocate