Trans men hit the presses

A new zine for trans men is set to hit queer newsstands this month.

Launched last Friday at Hares & Hyenas, DUDE is understood to be the only current publication written by, and for, trans men in Australia.

Publisher Jez Pez told the Star Observer the zine will seek to reach a broader audience to educate about trans men’s issues and culture.

“It’s certainly [written] from my perspective but I’ve tried to be as broad as possible … so that it is diverse in terms of trans masculine identity because not everyone is the same,” Pez said.

“How people feel about their body is different and how people feel about sexual experiences is different as well.

“Sometimes the content might be targeted towards a wider audience, sometimes it might be targeted a little bit smaller towards a trans-specific audience, or trans lovers and people who have relationships with trans people.”

The not-for-profit zine will feature personal stories, erotic tales, photos and artworks, and hopes to feature work from trans men across Australia.

It will be the first publication Pez — a filmmaker, stage performer and former male stripper — has produced, but he hopes DUDE might change attitudes towards trans men on the ‘gay scene’.

“I have had sex with plenty of guys who are cool with it, but I still have to inform them every time,” he said. “I want to achieve something where I go into a bar and say I’m a trans guy and not have to have a conversation about it.”

Pez said there can be misinformation and prejudice directed at trans men in Australia.

“I’ve travelled overseas quite extensively and I can say in other cities and other countries, trans culture and language and awareness is so much higher.

“That might also be due to population size … but I can go into a Bear bar in San Francisco and easily integrate as a trans guy without a problem.

“Here, when I go to the Laird or Sircuit or Club80, I’m anonymous but I feel like I have to hide that I’m trans.”

Pez said sometimes the constant questions can be tedious.

“It’s a huge amount of energy to out myself and to have a conversation about it, because it opens up all these questions.

“I thought this sort of magazine might start to provide some information for people.”

DUDE will be available at Hares & Hyenas and will be published two to three times a year.
info: For distribution enquiries, contact [email protected]