A German trans male model, Ben Melzer, is the first transgender man to appear on the cover of Men’s Health in Germany. He is in the April issue, which will hit the stands next week.
The 29-year-old model from a small village near Dusseldorf wants to change how we see transgender people. He wants to bring hope to all people suffering from gender dysphoria.
He got picked to be on the magazine cover after people voted for him online.
“When you are born this way, you have no choice. So many people are hiding who they truly are, so I really wanted to give the trans community visibility. Show that we’re just normal people.”
In addition to being on the cover, Ben is using the opportunity to tell his transition story. He wants to help more trans men break into men’s fitness magazines.
Ben, who was born Ivonne, started his transition at the age of 23. He has always had a passion for fitness, but the transition got in the way of that. Three years later he finished his transition and began working on his health.
Growing up, he was never a “girly” girl. He hated wearing pink. The reason he became public about the transition was because he never had anyone to talk to while he was struggling.
This probably would have seemed unthinkable 20, 10, or even 2 years ago. But, in 2015 we saw Caitlyn Jenner transitioning, and Laverne Cox has a major role in Orange is the New Black. We also saw the Amazon series Transparent become popular and win awards.
Another trans man, Aydian Dowling, a 27-year-old man from Oregon, was the first trans man on the cover of the US Men’s Health magazine. He landed the cover in November of 2015. He says it would be “so affirming” for younger readers to see him and be encouraged if they are struggling with their own transitions.
Featured image via Twitter.
