Chella Man

Chella Man began paving the way for trans-masculine representation by defying stereotypes and living authentically. Man, who officially identifies as genderqueer, is also deaf and uses cochlear implants to hear. Upon finding little representation for people like him, Chella was inspired to become the role model that he wished he had. 

Hailing from Jewish and Chinese descent, Chella carried his labels with pride, which soon became the stepping stones for his career as an activist, artist and actor. Often seen out on the front lines fighting for causes close to his heart, his political activism fights for the rights of all minorities. In a world of heroes and heroines, Chella is one both in real life and on screen: he became the first deaf transgender individual to play a superhero on television with his portrayal as Jericho in DC’s digital series Titans. Playing a character that spoke almost entirely through sign language, Chella’s casting signified a step in the right direction for authenticity on screen. His visibility as a model for major fashion brands such as Calvin Klein and Gap has further pushed boundaries in the mainstream world. 

Chella is also an established artist, using art to reflect on his own intersectionality. His artwork displays representations of gender dysphoria, and often incorporates reflections of his journey on testosterone.

Chella fearlessly documented his transition for the world to see. From his very first testosterone injection, to a timeline of his first year on hormones, Chella’s YouTube channel has provided a safe space to millions of viewers who are able to learn from his story. His videos are informative, but more importantly, provide hope to many trans-masculine individuals like Chella. His openness and honesty about his transition serves as a valuable resource for many, especially those looking to begin their own transition.