Aydian Dowling is Still a Champion for Trans Male Visibility

Aydian Dowling made it to the finals of a competition that would win him the cover of Men’s Health magazine. He placed first in the opening stage of the competition. However, Dowling came in as a runner-up to Tim Boniface. He will still be featured in the Men's Helath alongside the other top competitors. Had Aydian won the competition he would have been the first transgender man to appear on the cover of a mainstream men’s magazine.

I have followed Aydian’s journey on various social media outlets. As a trans man who is rather far removed from bodybuilding culture, I have to say I was more excited about him than I imagined I ever would be. I think that my sense of pride for Aydian really had nothing to do with why he was going to be on a cover of a men’s magazine but just that he was being considered for the cover of any publication.

Until recently, all media representation of transgender people was something our country will hopefully shift away from entirely and look at, in retrospect, as the bloody stain it’s been on the industry. The Jerry Springer Show, while an exploitative wrestling match for many demographics, deserves to go down in history as the most disturbing and disempowering representation of trans women to ever occur in my lifetime.

 

“Life is challenging. Find ways in which you can begin to give more of yourself, ways in which you can begin to help others. Help somebody and help yourself because what you give is what you get.” – Les Brown @lesbrownspeaks I have gotten so much love these last 24 hours it would be impossible for me to not feel humbled and grateful for the worlds support. Life gives you challenges and it is how you handle those challenges that make you who you are. There are no losers here- only winners. We all won for our communities and we all are more determined and empowered then every before! #lesbrown #transisbeautiful #wearemen #mhguycontest #brotherhood #ftm #lgbt #transpride #transgender #aydiandowling #lesbrown

A photo posted by Aydian Dowling (@alionsfear) on

Oct 13, 2015 at 8:55am PDT

Sadly, while growing up in South Carolina in the 1990s, the show provided the only images I had of transgender people. Not until I saw Boys Don’t Cry, when I was 19, did I even know that transgender men existed. Each time a trans woman has graced a cover of a major publication in recent years, I’ve been filled with deep admiration and joy. I would think, Take that, Jerry Springer.

While I understand that trans ladies needed enhanced support before trans men for survival purposes, I still longed for a trans man to be given the same visibility eventually. This could be why today I am over the moon to think that a trans man could be on the cover of a magazine be found in every supermarket in America.

It’s unpopular to say in some circles, for sure, but there is a type of invisibility that exists with the transmasculine community. For example, many of us possess male privilege and/or “passing” privilege. This privilege is also what makes it unpopular to claim that trans men are presented with invisibility. It’s male privilege that is given generously to many of us at a glance because of our ability to “pass.” Socially, masculinity is less inspected or mistrusted and far more adored, and people, to a great degree, don’t clock guys who are passable as being different from cis guys.

 

@menshealthmag came on a hike with Jenilee @readingsbyjenilee and myself today! John & Joseph were awesomely tough guys trekking up the Butte with all their gear!! Such a view- the sun was almost blinding haha! #trans #ftm #mhguycontest #hiking #aydiandowling #dreambig #nevergiveup #doyou #transpride #embracetee #point5cc @point5cc

A photo posted by Aydian Dowling (@alionsfear) on

Aug 26, 2015 at 3:45pm PDT

This is a privilege because we aren’t met with the same type of violence or discrimination as trans women. At the same time, often still people don’t recognize that transgender men exist at all. When we are ever given the limelight, it is men who present as incredibly masculine, are buff and white, that are given the attention.

The visibility also usually comes in the form of something like “10 Sexy Dudes Who Used to Be Girls.” So, if the general population doesn’t know we exist in different forms or exist at all, how could they know what our life goals and trials are? How are we to heal, grow, and comfortably be a part of society? How are we supposed to help the transmasculine youth feel supported and hopeful?

To say the least, I was sad when I found out that Aydian was only a runner-up in the Men’s Health contest. His loss made me relive an idea society has taught me. In many queer and trans circles I am told that because of privilege I am not to be given a voice, and simultaneously I am told by mainstream society that I am not a real man because of my body and the gender I was assigned at birth. We are taught that we need to be silent and stay unseen. There’s a chance Aydian’s loss may not have been trans-related. Tim may have just somehow brought in more votes at the last minute.

 

This shirt tho! Only problem- I couldn't get it over my damn head! Haha #fuckgendernorms #ftm #cantwaittobeking #aydiandowling #lionking @point5cc #point5ccCamohat #trans #transman #transgender

A photo posted by Aydian Dowling (@alionsfear) on

Aug 20, 2015 at 3:08pm PDT

However, this notion is incredibly hard for me to believe with all of my heart. It’s difficult for me, due to my experience, to think of cis men and women willingly voting for a man who was “born a woman” in a competition that crowns someone “The Ultimate Guy.” I think the fact that I believe Aydian’s gender identity kept him from winning this competition says a lot.

Personally, I believe that Aydian's chances were much slimmer because of the lack of previous visibility for trans men. He was dealing with a lot of presumably uneducated voters. Even if I am paranoid, the fact is trans men are consistently left out of media representation, and therefore the majority of the cis population refuses to see us as “real” men.

But all is not lost. Aydian’s second-place title may have broken a few hearts, but it also broke a glass ceiling. Here is to a future with more trans men in the media! Thanks, Aydian!