Buck Angel

1.1. Childhood and Adolescence

Angel was born on June 5, 1962, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, and was assigned female at birth. From a young age, he exhibited tomboy characteristics and gender-atypical behavior, which was generally accepted within his home environment. However, as he entered adolescence, particularly between the ages of 15 and 16, and began to develop secondary sex characteristics, his home and school life became increasingly difficult. He faced bullying in school due to his gender non-conforming behavior and clothing choices. This psychological distress led to feelings of isolation and anger, making him difficult to interact with as a teenager. To cope with his emotional struggles, Angel resorted to self-medication with alcohol and marijuana.

During his high school years, Angel made multiple suicide attempts, which resulted in his placement in a psychiatric hospital. He found temporary solace in running, using it as a means of isolation. At 17, Angel began working as a professional model, but despite his professional success, he continued to struggle with his identity and dissatisfaction, maintaining habits of illegal drug and alcohol abuse. He has stated that he was generally unhappy with his identity and appearance, feeling that it "was not a loving life."

1.2. Gender Transition Process

Angel struggled to find appropriate resources and support for gender transition during his adolescent years. He eventually connected with a therapist who affirmed his gender identity, rather than viewing him as simply a "gay woman." With his therapist's help, Angel researched various medical transition methods and began his own journey at the age of 28. He consulted with an endocrinologist who primarily worked with transgender women, and Angel became the doctor's "guinea pig," experimenting with different doses of testosterone over a six-month period until an appropriate dose was found, eventually settling on 1mL doses every 10 days.

After initiating hormonal transition, Angel sought a surgeon for chest reconstruction to remove his breasts. Although he also desired genital surgery to construct a penis, he ultimately decided against it, believing that the technology available at the time was insufficient to create the results he wanted. Angel considers his medical transition complete without undergoing genital surgery. In 2011, he underwent a hysterectomy due to "debilitating cramps."

2.1. Early Career and Breakthrough

Angel entered the adult film industry and established his own production company, "Buck Angel Entertainment." Identifying and presenting as male, but not having undergone genital surgery, he created a unique niche for himself. He famously promoted his work with the trademark phrase "the man with a pussy," which became widely recognized.

In 2005, Angel made history by appearing in Cirque Noir, a Titan Media release. This marked him as the first trans man to be featured in an all-male film produced by a company specializing in gay male porn. The same year, he performed in Allanah Starr's Big Boob Adventures, directed by trans woman Gia Darling, which featured the first filmed sex scene between a trans woman and a trans man. This performance garnered a nomination for "Most Outrageous Sex Scene" at the AVN Awards.

2.2. Recognition and Notable Works

Angel's contributions to the adult film industry were recognized with significant accolades. In 2007, he became the first and, to date, only trans man to win "Transsexual Performer of the Year" at the AVN Awards. He continued to receive nominations for the same award in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

His 2008 performance in Buckback Mountain earned nominations for "Best Alternative Release" and "Best Specialty Release" at the GayVN Awards. Angel also appeared in NAKED, a 2008 documentary book and film by director Ed Powers that explores the adult film industry. In NAKED, he performed a sex scene with porn star Wolf Hudson, which was produced by mainstream photographer Justin Lubin.

3.1. Transition to Advocacy

Angel's work in adult entertainment significantly impacted the industry, prompting a reevaluation of its relationship with transgender actors and creating greater visibility for trans and gender non-conforming men. This pioneering role naturally evolved into a focus on advocacy and sex education. However, the transition was not without challenges. Angel faced difficulties due to the societal stigma associated with the adult film industry. He also encountered initial criticism from within the trans community, with some fearing that his identity as a porn actor might misrepresent transsexual men.

3.2. Public Speaking and Projects

In 2010, Angel was invited as a guest speaker to Ideacity, a prominent Canadian conference. During his presentation, he shared his personal experiences of physical changes and emotional adaptation throughout his transition. He used this platform to challenge conventional societal ideas about what defines a man, particularly highlighting how he was perceived as not meeting traditional requirements due to his vagina.

Between 2010 and 2015, Angel produced an award-winning four-part porn series titled Sexing the Transman XXX, which explored trans male sexuality. This film received the "Most Tantalizing Trans Film" award at the Feminist Porn Awards in 2012. In October 2010, he contributed his personal coming out story to sex educator and columnist Dan Savage's "It Gets Better Project" on YouTube. Angel has also produced multiple public service announcements focusing on positive body image, LGBTQ family acceptance, queer people of color, and transgender health and well-being.

In 2012, Angel became a contributor to The Feminist Porn Book, an anthology featuring feminist scholars and sex workers who explore the understanding, direction, acting, production, and consumption of pornography from a feminist perspective. Also in 2012, Angel intensified his focus on sex education, embarking on a global tour to speak on human sexuality. His presentation, "Bucking the System," specifically aimed to challenge traditional notions of gender. He also conducted Q&A sessions related to his documentary Sexing the Transman and his autobiographical film Mr. Angel. His speaking engagements included the San Francisco Film Festival in 2012, Stockholm Pride in 2015, Sex Week at Yale at Yale University, and IdeaCity10 in Toronto. In 2015, he established "Trantastic Storytelling," a service providing a platform for trans people to share their life experiences for educational purposes.

In October 2023, Angel participated in the Museum of Neon Art's "Light in the Dark: Queer Narratives in Neon" exhibition. He was part of a panel discussion that explored the connections between the LGBTQ+ community, neon art, and the Glendale, California community. Other panelists included museum trustee Eric Lynxwiler, filmmaker Rachel Mason, neon artist Dani Bonnet, glendaleOUT member Paul Manchester, and activist Shant Jaltorossian from GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society.

3.3. Media Appearances and Recent Critiques

Angel has made numerous appearances on various talk shows, including Howard Stern, Tyra Banks, The Joe Rogan Experience, and Maury Povich. He has also been featured on Secret Lives of Women in the US, This Morning in the UK, and Jensen! in the Netherlands. In recent years, he has also appeared as a guest on Blaire White's YouTube Channel. Since 2021, Angel has faced criticism from some members of the trans community due to his collaborations and appearances on conservative and gender-critical media platforms. Since 2022, Angel has been posting weekly videos to his YouTube channel and hosting a weekly livestream with his producer, Seth Carlson.

4.1. Art and Entrepreneurial Ventures

In 2010, British artist Marc Quinn included a life-size sculpture of Angel in his global tour, which was part of a series on human transformations unveiled at London's White Cube gallery. Angel posed for four bronze sculptures, including two solo pieces and two featuring Allanah Starr. One of the life-sized sculptures of Angel is now a permanent fixture at the Art Gallery of South Australia.

In 2012, Angel launched BuckAngelDating.com, an online dating website specifically for trans men. He explained that he created the site because there was a notable absence of dating platforms that catered to the unique needs of trans men.

In 2015, Angel co-founded Pride Wellness, a cannabis brand, with Leon Mostovoy. The initiative committed to donating a dollar from each product sold to charity. However, this venture concluded in 2021, with the founders citing intense competition from larger corporations. In 2020, Angel also launched Wings of Wellness, a cannabis delivery service designed to serve LGBTQ+ customers.

In 2016, Angel collaborated with Perfect Fit Brand to develop a sex toy specifically for trans men. The product was designed with the intention of helping trans men reduce gender dysphoria and foster a stronger connection with their bodies and sexuality.

5.1. Relationships and Marriages

Angel identifies as bisexual. In 1998, he married Karin Winslow, a San Francisco-based dominatrix known professionally as Ilsa Strix. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2001 after Winslow left him for film director Lana Wachowski, who was her client at the time.

Angel met his second wife, body piercer Elayne Angel, on a dating website in 2002. They married in New Orleans on November 17, 2003. Elayne filed for divorce in May 2014. During the divorce proceedings, Angel claimed that Elayne had moved 500.00 K USD from their joint bank account and requested 2.00 K USD in monthly spousal support. To contest the alimony payments, Elayne argued that their marriage should not have been legally recognized because Louisiana did not recognize same-sex marriage in 2003. She cited that Angel had not undergone genital reconstructive surgery and his birth certificate had not been updated to male until after their marriage. However, in August 2014, the California Superior Court ruled that their marriage was valid. The court's decision was based on the ambiguity within Louisiana's statute regarding sex reassignment surgery, which it suggested might include the "top surgery" that Angel had already received.

Angel later married his third wife, the artist and director Rachel Mason.

5.2. Notable Personal Incidents

In February 2021, Angel was a witness to a significant incident in Hollywood: the shooting of Lady Gaga's dog walker and the theft of two of her French Bulldogs.

7.1. Adult Films

• 2004: Buck's Beaver
• 2005: The Adventures of Buck Naked
• 2005: Cirque Noir
• 2005: Allanah Starr's Big Boob Adventures
• 2006: Buck Off
• 2006: V for Vagina
• 2006: The Buck Stops Here
• 2007: Even More Bang for Your Buck Vol.1
• 2008: Even More Bang for Your Buck Vol.2
• 2008: Buckback Mountain
• 2009: Ultimate Fucking Club Vol. 1
• 2009: Ultimate Fucking Club Vol.2
• 2010-2015: Sexing The Transman XXX Series
• 2016: Girl/Boy (Evil Angel)

7.2. Documentaries

• 2008: NAKED
• 2012: Sexing the Transman
• 2013: Mr. Angel
• 2016: The Trans List (HBO)
• 2016: Finding Kim
• 2016: BLOWN

7.3. Other Appearances

• 1993: Music video of "Cursed Female" by Porno for Pyros
• 2015: "Technical Difficulties of Intimacy", short film
• 2016: Music video of "Bi" by Alicia Champion
• 2016: Music video of "Shivers are Proof" by Loki Starfish

8.1. Impact on LGBTQ+ Community and Media

Buck Angel is widely regarded as a pioneering figure who significantly increased the visibility of trans men within adult entertainment and broader media. His presence pushed the adult film industry to reconsider its approach to transgender actors, contributing to a more inclusive space. By openly identifying as "the man with a pussy" and performing without genital surgery, he challenged traditional gender norms and perceptions of masculinity, particularly within sexual contexts. He is considered one of the most famous transsexual male pornographic actors to date, and his distinct image has made him a recognizable trans man in contemporary popular culture. Beyond entertainment, his transition into sex education and advocacy has further contributed to challenging societal ideas about gender and promoting sexual freedom as a human right.

8.2. Criticisms and Controversies

Angel's career choices and public persona have attracted various forms of criticism. Early in his career, when he began to focus on sex education and advocacy, he faced criticism from some within the trans community. These critics expressed concerns that his identity as a porn actor might misrepresent transsexual men or contribute to negative stereotypes. More recently, since 2021, Angel has drawn significant controversy and criticism from parts of the trans community due to his collaborations with conservative and gender-critical media platforms. These appearances have led to debates about the alignment of his current advocacy with broader LGBTQ+ rights movements and the potential impact of his platform on the community.