Statement on Buck Angel and “Trans Men Fight Back”

Kitty Stryker
12 min readJul 27, 2021

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Sticker by nephilimnat

On July 23rd, a letter was posted titled “Trans Men Fight Back”. Hosted by the Gender Dysphoria Alliance Canada and cosigned by TRans Educational Voices, it was signed by GDAC founder Aaron Kimberly, alongside TReVoices founder Scott Newgent, Buck Angel, Ken Pirie, Aaron Terell, and “those who don’t wish to be named”. In the letter, a series of wild, vague accusations were leveled at unnamed trans women, who the signatories claim they have been silenced by.

We, the undersigned, speak against this letter, and the ongoing campaigns by these trans men to undermine and discredit current trans activism, particularly the activism done by trans women. We feel “Trans Men Fight Back” is a group of trans men presenting a convoluted regurgitation of the same anti-science rhetoric championed by fundamentalist Christians, alt-right grifters, and regressive “feminists” disguising their transmisogyny in the phrase “gender critical”. The language of “Trans Men Fight Back” repeatedly uses “LGB” to erase trans contributions to queer liberation and distance themselves from “gender identity”, something they picked up from “gender critical feminists”. We stand in solidarity with trans women, who are repeatedly misgendered in this letter.

We challenge the claims made in this post, and assert:

Many of us have been part of or adjacent to the sex-positive, sex education and/or the feminist/queer porn communities, who claim to be supportive of our diversity and who say they stand with trans women. We are frustrated, therefore, that these communities have platformed Buck Angel without critique for too long and have stayed silent, enabling his misinformation campaign. Some of us have spoken up about his transmisogyny, transmedicalism, and mockery of nonbinary identities for over 10 years, but as individuals, we have been shut down as “divisive” (with trans women in particular shut down as self-serving).

Now, we come together, all across the gender and orientation spectrum, to stand with all those who bear the impact of transmisogyny and say: No More.

There is a wider context of transphobia that this letter completely ignores. Anti-trans violence is on the rise in the United States. At a protest down in Southern California, two people were stabbed when the right-wing fabricated a story about a predatory trans woman at a spa and proceeded to protest the spa. Various transphobic bills are being introduced all over the States under the guise of “protecting children”.

Many Americans claiming to be “gender critical” find open arms in the United Kingdom, where the head of media for Stonewall UK just stepped down, citing “a tsunami of transphobia”, adding “I’m tired of the abuse”. The media and the government both have ramped up their vocal transphobia over the years, leading to cases like this one, where under 16s were found by a judge to be “unlikely to be able to give informed consent” when it comes to puberty blockers. J.K. Rowling has found celebrity status again, this time as a famous transphobe. Despite finding that changes to gender recognition laws would be beneficial to many, the Tory government shut down any such reform.

Ignoring this problem or whispered support behind closed doors is not enough. It never was.

We call upon the sex-positive, sex education and/or the feminist/queer porn communities to stand with us in condemning transmisogyny, and transphobia more widely, by not platforming Buck Angel while he promotes these theories. This means not selling his merchandise, not inviting him to speak at their conferences or on their podcasts, not collaborating with him on videos or essays, until such a time as he has made a full, public apology acknowledging the harm he has caused to trans people by repeatedly spreading false scientific claims. We would also like to see a public apology from Buck Angel for repeatedly dismissing critiques as “divisive” and “homophobic”. We do not believe anyone is disposable, but we also feel that any attempts to reach out and address this behavior have been met with, at best, silence, and at worst, bullying, for over 10 years.

Enough is enough.

If you would like to add your support for this statement, please sign here

If you are a trans man, you can also sign this letter by Evan Tess Murray

Signed:

  1. Kitty Stryker, California, USA, editor of “Ask: Building Consent Culture”
  2. Chrissy Holman, New York, USA, Div44CNM/NCSF/Asexuality educator
  3. Roz Kaveney, England, UK, Author of Tiny Pieces Of Skull
  4. Semona Baston (Dirty Lola), Brooklyn, USA, Sex Educator
  5. Kaelea Kae, Delaware, USA, Trans educator & LGBTQ+ non-profit treasurer
  6. Dr. Liz Powell, Pennsylvania, USA, Sex therapist, author, speaker, coach
  7. Dr. Kiera Anderson, England, UK, Private individual
  8. Matthias Rand, Georgia, USA, Owner of Rand Leather
  9. Christopher Argyros, California, USA, Owner of Boone’s Red Onions
  10. Lilly Delvaux, Connecticut, USA, Former blogger
  11. Chris Hall, California, USA, Writer/Editor
  12. Nix Ortenberg, California, USA, Private Individual
  13. Gwen Snyder, Pennsylvania, USA, Organizer
  14. Evan Tess Murray, Maine, USA, Organizer
  15. Zach Budd, Texas, USA, Sex Educator, MSW student, Sex-Positive Activist
  16. Shafiq, Edinburgh, Scotland, Private Individual
  17. Heather Newhouse, Colorado, USA, Sex Education & Somatic Practitioner
  18. Leslee Petersen, New Hampshire, USA, LGBTQ+ activist in the Libertarian Party
  19. Jessie Anderson, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Owner of Big Bro’s Barbershop
  20. Sunny Megatron, USA, Certified Sex Educator & Coach
  21. Patrick Califia, Oregon, USA, Author and Trans Activist
  22. Nyx Taylor, California, USA, Private Individual
  23. Merril Doty, Illinois, USA, Sex Educator
  24. Emma McGowan, California, USA, Sex Educator
  25. Tammy Cravit, Arizona, USA, Private Individual
  26. Mahx Capacity, NYC, USA, Creative Director of AORTA films
  27. Dax Skratch, California, USA, Private Individual
  28. Jesse Murray, Nonbinary Activist for Sex Education
  29. Raven Malouf-Renning, California, USA, SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts
  30. Jenny Wilson, Yorkshire, UK, Founder International Day of Consent #IDoConsent
  31. Bax J Ferguson, Oaxaca, Mexico, Journalist
  32. Maggie McMuffin, New York, USA, Reproductive Health Instructor, Sex Educator
  33. Hannah Harris-Sutro, unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory aka “montréal”, Somatics Practitioner & Trauma Therapist
  34. Jaclyn Friedman, Massachusetts, USA, Feminist Activist and Author
  35. Edison Reid-McLaughlin, California, USA, Private Individual
  36. Erin Kennedy, Illinois, USA, Teacher, Sex Educator, Writer, Advocate
  37. B.M. Watson, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Private Individual
  38. Rory Abel, New York, USA, Private Individual
  39. Tristan Crane, California, Ohlone Land, Photographer
  40. Charlie Gray, California, USA, Performer and Educator
  41. Jeremy Tidwell, California, USA, Private Individual
  42. Roz Kieran Canaan, USA, Writer, Artist, Founder of West Central PA LGBTQ+
  43. Shane Burley, Oregon, USA, IWW
  44. Gwendolyn Ann Smith, California, USA, Columnist for the Bay Area Reporter
  45. Mack Frankwich, Florida, USA, Private Individual
  46. Daria Phoebe Brashear, Rhode Island, USA, Private Individual
  47. Jaymie Wagner, Minnesota, USA, Chair of 3M Pride ERN
  48. Harris O’Malley, Writer/Educator
  49. Rin, California, USA, FemmeDomme
  50. Justin Fisher, Massachusetts, USA, Private Individual
  51. Casey Morrissey, New York, USA, Bookseller
  52. Zev Hoffman, California, USA, Formerly Ran a Nonprofit
  53. Mathew R, Private Individual
  54. Denali Winter, California, USA, Adult Performer, Gender-Affirming Trans Hairstylist
  55. Angel Adeyoha, California, USA, Executive Director, Folsom Street
  56. Ren Grabert, Illinois, USA, Sex Educator
  57. Thiago Silva, New York, USA, Sex Educator
  58. Caz Killjoy, Co-Founder of the Disability and Sexuality Access Network
  59. Noah Adams, Toronto, Canada, Leadership of the Transgender Professional Association for Transgender Health
  60. Susi Beck, Louisiana, Activist
  61. MK Anderson, Georgia, Private Individual
  62. Lydia Rogue, USA, Nonbinary Author
  63. L M deLeon, California, USA, Private Individual
  64. Liv Magnotta, New York, USA, Private Individual
  65. Izebel V., Massachusetts, USA, Friendlytherapy.info
  66. Sam Schmitt, Minnesota, USA, Sexual Violence Advocate and Professor of Gender Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Augsburg University
  67. Teresa M. Theophano, New York, USA, Therapist, author, and activist
  68. Trystan Reese, Oregon, USA, Collaborate Consulting, LLC
  69. Aida Manduley, Massachusetts, USA, Licensed Social Worker, Therapist, and Sexuality Educator
  70. Aaron Seaboch, Delaware, USA, Private Individual
  71. Jamila Dawson, LMFT, Nevada, USA, Trauma-Informed Sex Therapist
  72. Tara Darcy, Florida, USA, Private Individual
  73. Luke Stavrand, First Saturday Trans Gathering
  74. Luisa Ramírez Lartigue, Mexico, Coach, Sex Educator, and Trans Rights Activist
  75. Kerry Recht, New York, USA, Private Individual
  76. Molly Stratton, DC, USA, Sew Queer DC
  77. Chris T, New York, USA, transfemme
  78. Chase Douglas Michael Onhasey, Vancouver, BC, Canada, transgender man
  79. Ev Evnen, Colorado, USA, Director of MaeBright Group
  80. Ela Maxine Bambust, Belgium, Private Individual
  81. Shelley Arellano, California, USA, Private Individual
  82. Angelo Duncan, Oregon, USA, Nonprofit
  83. Valerie Pfister, Kentucky, USA, MSSW
  84. Cam DiNardo, Massachusetts, USA, Private Individual
  85. Jeni Grant, North Carolina, USA, Transmasculine individual
  86. Allison Landry, Texas, USA, Private Individual
  87. Lacey Field, California, USA, Private Individual
  88. Gwen Warman, Maryland, USA, Private individual, former Our Whole Lives facilitator
  89. Heather Flescher, California, USA, Playwright, Spoken Word Artist, Trans Activist
  90. Gary Smith, Winnipeg, Canada, Private Individual
  91. Djaz, New York, USA, Nonbinary Librarian
  92. Faye Hermine, Massachusetts, USA, Sex Educator
  93. Laura Zeman, Kentucky, USA, Private Individual
  94. Melody Pond, New York, USA, Recording Engineer
  95. Claire Roche-Sabatino, New York, USA, Owner of Violet Leather Co
  96. Tiana No, Oregon, USA, Civilian Queer with Activist Tendencies
  97. Renée Ishlove, Canada, Private Individual
  98. Taran Hayes, Colorado, USA, Private Individual
  99. Avery Genetti, Michigan, USA, Private Individual
  100. Scott Beccard, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Private individual
  101. Laurie Penny, Melbourne, Australia, Author and journalist
  102. Rachael, California, USA, Concerned Citizen
  103. Mia Fine, Marriage and Family Therapist
  104. Crista Anne, North Carolina, USA, Sex Educator, Writer & Advocate
  105. Jamison Wagner, New Mexico, USA, Private Individual
  106. Richard Larsen, NSW Australia, Believer in Equal Rights
  107. Cal Light, California, USA, Calibration Fitness
  108. Katherine Rossiter, Oregon, USA, Sex Educator, Trans Woman
  109. Anna Schibrowsky, Illinois, USA, Community Activist
  110. Meghan Krause, California, USA, Private Individual
  111. Gabrielle Dalphonse, California, USA, Private Individual
  112. Whitten Steele, Colorado, USA, Sexuality Education Facilitator, GSA co-sponsor
  113. Colt Seidman, Oregon, USA, Musician
  114. Rowan Pierce, UK, Trans Activist/Organiser
  115. Emily A, Kentucky, Private Individual
  116. Alessandra Mondin, UK, LGBT+ Community Worke
  117. Rachel Y, Ontario, Canada, Activist, Consultant, Educator, Library worker
  118. Somhairle Kelly, UK, Artist
  119. Ariel Berman, USA, Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology
  120. Ian Clark, Ontario, Canada, Private Individual
  121. Jacq Jones, Maryland, USA, Sex Educator, Store Owner, & Graduate Student in Counseling Psychology
  122. Colin Smith, California, USA, Lay Minister Member of the Leather Community
  123. Chris Maxwell Rose, New York, USA, Founder of PleasureMechanics.com
  124. Nadia West, New York, USA, Former Blogger
  125. Indie Cusack, New York, USA, MSW
  126. Lars Dabalsa, New York, USA, Private Individual
  127. Arlo Dennis, Florida, USA, Adult Educator and Transgender Activist
  128. b0ihazard, New York, USA, BDSM Educator
  129. Cassandra Corrado, Florida, USA, Sex Educator Behind @FeministSexEd
  130. L Sugrue, North America, Private Individual
  131. Sal Creber, England, UK, Private Individual
  132. Alice little, Nevada, USA, Sex Worker, Sex Educator
  133. Andy Inkster, Ontario, Canada, Student
  134. Robin Lynn, LGBTQIAA Educator
  135. Emily Judd, California, USA, Peer Counselor
  136. Dee Glickman, Maryland, USA, Nonbinary Attorney who Trains on Trans Competency
  137. Rachel B Randig, Oregon, USA, Trans Woman/Private Individual
  138. Jaki Griot, Ohio, USA, Creator of Perverts of Color
  139. Sunny Kahn, California, USA, Private Individual
  140. Augustin Kendall, Minnesota, Therapist
  141. Emily Norwood, California, USA, Private Individual
  142. Bryan Ellicott, New York, USA, Program Coordinator — Princess Janae Place
  143. Rev. KC Slack, California, USA, Unitarian Universalist Minister, Sex Educator
  144. Rosa Zamora, New Mexico, USA, Private Individual
  145. romham pàdraig gallacher, Vancouver, BC, Private Individual
  146. Lyndzi Miller, Wisconsin, USA, Sex Educator at The Tool Shed: An Erotic Boutique
  147. Gray Haak, California, USA, Just a Trans Masc Human
  148. Nina Stavinga, California, USA, Bodyworker/Educator
  149. Ethan Levine, Pennsylvania, USA Antiviolence Advocate, with a Specialization in Supporting LGBTQ+ Survivors of Sexual Violence/Assistant Professor
  150. Courtnee Fallon Rex, PNW, LMT, CGRS, SEAF Performance Director 2013–2014
  151. Elizabeth Miller, Massachusetts, USA, Public School Sexuality Educator
  152. Dr. Jessica X. Rosewillow, California, USA, Ethicist and Author
  153. Heron Greenesmith, Massachusetts, USA, Senior Research Analyst for LGBTQI Justice, Political Research Associates
  154. Angela Kempf, Colorado, USA, Sex Writer
  155. Bran Sharpton, Virginia, USA, Psychology Major
  156. Andy R. Izenson, New York, USA, President, National Lawyers Guild-NYC, Sr. Legal Director, Chosen Family Law Center, Inc.
  157. Devyn Stone, Colorado, USA, Sex Educator & Alternative Lifestyles Coach
  158. Rabbi Andrea Myers, Montreal, Canada, Rabbi, Spiritual Counselor
  159. Angie Gunn LCSW CST, Oregon, USA, Sex Therapist, Supervisor Connective Therapy Collective
  160. Grayson Schultz, USA, Sex Educator, Writer, and Transmasc Activist
  161. Ilde Senesence, Wisconsin, USA, Sex Educator, Journalist, contributor to ChronicSex
  162. Rachel Rennie, New York, USA, LCSW
  163. Lucie Fielding, Virginia, USA, Therapist, Sex Educator, Author (Trans Sex: Clinical Approaches to Trans Sexualities and Erotic Embodiments)
  164. Steph Nagoski, Delaware, USA, Nonbinary Activist, Educator, Peer Counselor, and De-escalator.
  165. August Stockwell, Illinois, USA, Researcher and Educator
  166. Lisë Donnelly, Georgia, USA, Private Individual
  167. Kym Julia Lambert, New Hampshire, USA, Private individual
  168. Phoebe Queen, Manchester, UK, Trans Safety Network
  169. Dr. Natacha Kennedy, England, UK, Goldsmiths, University of London
  170. Kit O’Connell, Texas, USA, Writer, Organizer with OS!WN? Collective ATX
  171. Lauren Ford, New York, USA, Private Individual
  172. Sara Doherty, Vancouver, BC, Private Individual
  173. Britta Okes Carlisle, LICSW, Washington, USA, Gender Affirming Therapist
  174. Zen Lara, Georgia, USA, Queer Community Organizer, Healer, Embodied Inclusion Educator, and Tech Worker
  175. Oskar, England, UK, Private Individual
  176. Kat Stark, Vancouver, Canada, Author, Sex Educator, Podcaster
  177. Justin Cascio, Massachusetts, USA, Transgender Community Leader, “All transmen know each other” Facebook Community Founder/Admin
  178. O., UK, Temporary Cruising Zone
  179. Shanna Kattari, Michigan, USA, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Social Work, AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator
  180. Molly Adler, Tiwa Territory (known as Albuquerque, New Mexico, US), Therapist, Sex Therapy New Mexico
  181. Danielle Mason, Oregon, USA, Private Individual
  182. Mac (Meg) Nickerson, New Jersey, USA, just a trans guy who agrees
  183. Lauren Simpson, Hertfordshire, UK, Private Individual
  184. Marie Camacho, Texas, USA, HIV prevention educator
  185. Kathryn A. Darcy, Florida, USA, Private Individual
  186. Worner Leland, Illinois, USA, Sex, Sexuality, and Gender Educator
  187. Logan Trudeau, BC, Canada, Private Individual
  188. Dawn Nummer, Florida, USA, GSA Club Sponsor- Freedom High School
  189. Jess Gamba, Illinois, Doctor of Behavior Analysis
  190. Intimacy ConAmore, Texas, USA, Polyamorous Freedom to Love
  191. Alo Johnston, California, USA, LMFT
  192. Kevin Patterson, Pennsylvania, USA, Poly Role Models / Unfuck Your Polyamory
  193. Stacey Spencer, California, USA, LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapist trainee
  194. Fi Jacobson, UK, Private Individual
  195. Sierra Willis, Maryland, USA, Private Individual
  196. Stevie Lynn, New York, USA, just a transmasc person who was engaged by that letter
  197. Christopher Clark, USA, Private Individual
  198. Sage Pembleton, FTM with an MTF partner
  199. Sugarcunt, Oregon, USA, Sex Educator/Writer/Marketer
  200. Katie Saulnier, Montreal, Canada, Lawyer and Policy Analyst
  201. Kitty Edwards, Sydney, Australia, Private Individual
  202. Ty Aponte, California, USA, Medical Professional
  203. Meg G, Pennsylvania, USA, Sex Blogger
  204. Alys Trunzo, California, USA, Private Individual
  205. Cowen Conaghan, California, USA, Local Hedonist
  206. Meg Munoz, California, USA, Former Sex Worker/Harm Reductionist, LA Community Health Project
  207. Georgie Kelly, California, USA, Therapist
  208. Rory K. Mitchell, Texas, USA, LCSW (degree in-progress) and trans individual
  209. Yves Polich, Louisiana, USA, Private Individual
  210. Mike Malaspina, California, USA, Private Individual
  211. A.V. Flox, California, USA, author of Disrupting The Bystander: When #MeToo Happens Among Friends
  212. Blu Brackish, Vancouver, BC, Canada, trans person
  213. Margaret Walsh Applegate, Florida, USA, Private Individual
  214. Ray Ranger, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Registered Massage Therapist
  215. Harley Vale, Maryland, Community Organizer and Proud FtM Trans Individual
  216. Jennifer Creson, Maryland, USA, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Sex Therapist
  217. Eli Perry, Massachusetts, USA, Run several trans safe spaces within the online community
  218. Bettie Bondage, California, USA, Sex education/BDSM
  219. Paula Ellis, Texas, USA, Trans activist
  220. Anne Russell, New Zealand, Private Individual
  221. Mikee Inton-Campbell, California, USA, Professor of Trans and Queer of Color Studies, CSU San Marcos
  222. Liam Llambias, United Kingdom, Trans man
  223. Korrigan, Canada, Advocate for 2SLGBTIA+ communities
  224. Jack Molay, Norway, Trans blogger and activist
  225. Frank Nasca, Osgoode Hall Law School
  226. Jupiter Sky, United Kingdom, Teacher. Erotica Writer
  227. Isaac Griffiths, United Kingdom, Private Individual
  228. Jordyn Page, Winnipeg, Canada, Community health
  229. Owen Meehan, New York, USA, Trans & nonbinary gender educator
  230. Sylett Strickland, Texas, USA, Private Individual
  231. Elijah G., Student
  232. AV, Finland, Volunteer
  233. Jacob Kyle, Tennessee, USA, Trans man, student
  234. Jayden Medina, Florida, USA, Private Individual
  235. Cian Hanson, United Kingdom, Private Individual
  236. Brandon, Massachusetts, USA, College student
  237. Marissa du Bois, Oregon, Private individual
  238. Juliette Dowling, United Kingdom, BiCon 2014 organiser
  239. Zefyr Scott, California, USA, Private individual
  240. Alexandra Helena, United Kingdom, Private Individual
  241. Eli Heina Dadabhoy, California, USA, blogger at The Orbit network
  242. Skye M. Kahoali’I, Hawai’I, USA, Bi-gender trans femme māhū
  243. Ashley Altadonna, Wisconsin, USA, Trans / Sex Educator
  244. Mx Rose, Texas, USA, Trans masc non binary person
  245. Kay Higgins, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Private individual
  246. Remy, Arkansas, USA, Private Individual
  247. Vicente Ugartechea, USA, Artist/Sex Education
  248. Samantha Waugh, Midwest, USA, Private Individual who happens to be transgender
  249. Ivy Verona, England, Adult Content Creator
  250. Nickie Brother, Texas, USA, Historian
  251. MrBLK, USA, Sex educator and nonprofit leader
  252. Anna Louise Peterson, Ed.D., LCPC, Montana, USA, Psychotherapist
  253. MK Lords, California, Advocate/Writer
  254. Sarah Doherty MSW, Michigan, USA, LGBTQIA+ higher education professional
  255. Natalie Burnham, Victoria, Australia, Private Individual
  256. Sandra Seaman, PsyD, Washington, USA, LMHC
  257. Pamella Smith, Canada, Student Nurse
  258. Elias Rose Gordon, Sweden, Assistant leader at local LGBTQ+ youth meetup
  259. Nicole, Illinois, USA, Sex educator
  260. Shannon C. Kelley, Iowa, USA, Private Individual
  261. Zoey, Washington, USA, D&I volunteer and activist
  262. Lena Collins, United Kingdom, Private Individual
  263. Ciara B., Iowa, USA, Ms.
  264. Jay Tyler, New York, USA, Manager of Youth Prevention and Education at a non profit
  265. Tara O’Donnell, trans nonbinary
  266. Bryona Besse, Florida, USA, Private Individual
  267. Ashe “Nyxfall” Palmer, Wisconsin, Sex & kink educator — Tool Shed Toys
  268. Hannah Howard, California, USA, Long term trans activist, previously Board Secretary and fundraiser, Gender Justice Los Angeles
  269. Oz Sager, Washington, USA, Admin of largest polyamory group on Facebook
  270. Beck Duffield, Florida, USA, Doctor and Master of Laws, Conflict Management Coach, Human Rights Advocate
  271. Jacki Yovanoff, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Sex and relationship educator
  272. Lena Wilder, Minnesota, USA; Dakota and Ojibwe land, nonbinary trans dyke
  273. Morgan Wilkinson, UK, Private Individual
  274. Katherine Williams, Illinois, USA, (ArticulatedKat on Medium) Sexual Freedom Activist, studying Communications: Public Policy/Advocacy at WI
  275. Darya Teesewell, California, USA, Independent writer
  276. Janet Rose, Colorado, USA, Rose Connections, leadership trauma-informed care training
  277. Fiona Flora, California, USA, Trans woman attorney
  278. Saul Accetta, Massachusetts, USA, FTM
  279. Xarles, Pennsylvania, USA, Trans guy
  280. Luke Blackwell-Drummond, Ontario, Canada, Activist

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Kitty Stryker

Professional Bleeding Heart. Sick & Tired. Patronize me: http://t.co/RSd5cSVGE5 Image by @mayakern