Buck Angel is a transgender filmmaker, advocate, adult film star, educator, motivational speaker, and the creator of the recently launched BuckAngelDating.com, a dating site for trans men.
Before transitioning he worked as a successful female model with top agencies such as Elite Model Management and Z in London. But most people didn't know that Angel, according to his bio, felt he "was born in the wrong body" and "when he started to grow breasts and menstruate, it was devastating, as he felt his body was betraying him."
After battling depression and substance abuse, living on the streets and attempting suicide, Angel's life changed when he saw a documentary featuring a trans man and finally found a therapist who understood what he was going through.
Today, Angel is busy educating people on trans issues, as well as gender and sexual identity and fluidity through his many public appearances. The LGBT advocate was named to the board of directors of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, a group that champions sexual freedom. He also started the first female-to-male (FTM) adult website in 2003 and became the first trans man to win the AVN's (Adult Entertainment Industry's Academy awards) Transsexual Performer of the Year award in 2007. Angel also conceived and produced the documentary "Sexing The Transman."
Most recently Angel launched BuckAngelDating.com, a dating site for trans men. In a blog for the Huffington Post Angel writes:
"Much of the correspondence I've received from FTMs expressed sadness and despair as these men felt it was unlikely that they could ever meet a partner. The psychological ramifications of gender non-conformity are intense and can lead to feelings of isolation and depression… Folks who are attracted to transmen and gender-variant people have not had any venue to seek such partners. By having it all out in the open on this niche site, there is finally a place to go looking."
Each day in October, which is LGBT History Month, we'll be featuring a different LGBT icon. Check back tomorrow for a look at another incredible individual who changed history and visit our LGBT History Month Big News Page for more stories.