There aren’t many porn stars who can be said to be inspiring, but Buck Angel can. Born female, Buck transitioned to male in early adulthood but has never had any genital surgery. When he started in porn he termed himself ‘the man with a Pussy’, which could have led to interest in him purely being about his unusualness.

However Angel has worked hard to show that he is a man even if he doesn’t have a penis, and while there’s no doubt he’s been fetishised to a degree, he’s done it on his own terms. He’s also used his fame to become a staunch transgender advocate, challenging perceptions of what it is to be a transman or woman, and promoting the idea of trans people as sexual beings in their own right and not just for the voyeuristic eyes of others (even if he had worked in porn). The new documentary Mr. Angel looks at Buck and his life.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Shot over six years, Mr. Angel chronicles the extraordinary life of transgender advocate, educator and porn pioneer, Buck Angel. Buck has survived addiction, homelessness, suicide and relentless opposition to his gender expression. Still, he lives his truth without compromise or apology.

‘This feature length documentary explores Buck’s moving story to understand the complexities of someone who overcame incredible obstacles, then shamelessly sought the spotlight and its backlash, to share his message of empowerment. An inspirational story of rare perseverance and an unlikely hero.’ [Read more…]