Mr. Angel

(this article may contain offensive language -reader discretion is advised)

Pornography.  Stigma or status?  If stigmatized, than having a ‘star’ be the face to educate the public on transgender issues, would be less than optimum.  If there is “star” sangel promotatus attached, then, yes speak up loud and proud.  But, then wouldn’t either viewpoint be discriminatory?  “Mr. Angel,” a risqué documentary on controversial, transgender, porn actor, Buck Angel, punctuates this very quandary.

The strength of this independent film, by Dan Hunt, is its honest commentary on gender, relationships, acceptance, and love.  In the interest of diplomatic tact, this film deserves to be viewed on its intent and not filmmaking quality.  It is a very low budget effort, funded in part from a kickstarter campaign, and the production values are unrefined at best.

Mr. Angel addresses points about the gender binary, and what it is to be transgender, in and out of the adult film industry.  Interviews with his parents are particularly interesting, especially his father, who clearly wrestles with conflicting emotions.

Just because I have a pussy, doesn’t make me not a man

“Just because I have a pussy, doesn’t make me not a man,” says Buck Angel.  “Just because I don’t have a cock doesn’t not make me a man.”  He does rather boorishly bring the very question to the front of what it is to be a male or female.  However, using the double negate convention adds confusion to his message.

Buck doesn’t have the intellectual refinement we typically seek in a public speaker for transgender issues, however, he does bring about that valid point.  A point we, transgender advocates and straight advocates, are pressing for all to understand.  That femaleness and maleness reside in the brain, not in the genitals.

This film deviates many ways, and does make excellent points about the state of fear and misunderstanding “normal” society makes when confronted with gender variant individuals.  It also touches on the medical understanding of HRT and surgery.  At one point in his transition, Buck was seriously ill.  Caveat: for my transgender brothers, PLEASE consult your medical professional when taking testosterone and make really certain YOU UNDERSTAND the risks associated testosterone will take on your body.  And seriously discuss a hysterectomy with your medical professional.

Most porn is not designed to be sex ed, it’s designed to be a fantasy

The body of work focused on in this documentary is so far rBuck-Angel-poseemoved from any pedagogy, it is a wonder what Buck is referring to.  Buck’s braggart is evident in the clip where he speaks at Yale University…yes that Yale.  He likens his work as a means to educate and advocate, which doesn’t seem at all realistic.  “Most porn is not designed to be sex ed, it’s designed to be a fantasy.  Learning about sex from most porn is like learning about the laws of physics from a Michael Bay movie,” says Lux Alptraum  Editor -fleshbot.com.

He exhibited a great deal of confidence allowing pictures of he as a girl to accompany this film.  You can see his pain in those pictures.  When Buck appeared on the Tyra Banks show, he was treated as a curiosity, rather than an individual with something important to share.  In Bucks’s own words, his mission is to “change the world.”  He refers to having his breasts removed as a “sex change operation,” which is a falsification.  That idea is a misrepresentation of what a “gender change” is.  His double mastectomy -which is what he had- is not a “sex change” operation.  He needs to educate himself first.

Transgender individuals, those who would be considered on the fringe of society, have reached out to him through his web site.  These requests are mostly in the form of asking for money to transition.  Buck does not oblige and has a valid philosophy why.  Each person should work and earn her or his transitional surgery.  This is a wholly personal journey and I understand that the surgery is the reward at the end of the mental work.

Why do I care so much what you tell me I have to be.  Why do we all care what other people think about us?

In 2007, Buck received an award for Transsexual Performer of the Year from Adult Video News (AVN).  This documentary was released in 2013, and now 3 years later, he is still an unknown transgender individual.  Outside the adult film industry, at least.

Film ends with Buck at the 2010 Idea City Conference, Toronto.  “You don’t have to conform to the way society tells you to conform.  Tell ‘em, screw you, I am who I am whether you like it or not,” said Buck.

For those interested in learning more about Buck Angel, his web site Buck Angel is for you.  He brands himself a Human Rights advocate, versus a Transgender Rights advocate.  C’est la vie.

Mr. Angel is available to stream on Amazon and Hulu and Netflix


There is a sad coda to this story.  Matthew Tharrett reported in the June 11, 2014 issues of Queerty that Buck and his wife, Elayne Angel have divorced.  This is of note only because Elayne, who championed for Buck as identifying as a male, is claiming that since he does not have a penis, cannot be a male, therefore their marriage technically was not a marriage.

I empathize with Buck.  Another transgender individual who gets screwed just because he identifies as he does.

mir, Irini, peace, amn,

-jahn