Aydian Dowling is a transman, originally from New York, but now living in Eugene, OR. Aydian is set to be the first transgender man to grace the cover of Men's Health magazine by winning their Ultimate Guy contest.
While the ultimate decision is made by a panel of judges, Aydian has a substantial lead with 48732 total votes in the Reader's Choice portion of the competition, compared to the second place contestant, who currently has 10070.
The contest advertises, "Our judges are looking for a guy who is fit and fearless, a doer who gives back and leads by example."
The way I enjoy to stay fit and healthy is keeping with a body-building style routine, as well as some light cardio on my normal every day. On days "off" I love to go with my wife, Jenilee, out on hikes around the Pacific North West. Although I also love my day to day routines, smashing through thresholds and sculpting the body, there is nothing quite like the beauty being outside can do to a person. I always have this sense of discovery and drive through my hikes that is unlike anything in the gym or the track.
Dowling was recently interviewed by NPR's Arun Rath.
I'm so happy and thrilled, and it really helped me define where I am in life, and that what I'm doing is good. What I'm doing is what I should be doing," he says. "And that I think everybody is just looking for a little note from the universe saying, 'Yeah, that's good. You're doing all right.
--Aydian Dowling
There are of course, people screaming about Aydian's unfair advantage, what with actually being a woman and all.
Because he's a woman! No amount of surgery or hormone shots change your genetic sexual foundation. It's the same as with botox and plastic surgery, they don't make you any younger, simply the same old person with a veneer. It a reflection of our skin deep superficialism. NO reassigned person is the sex they want they are a simple facsimile of what they hope to be. Transgender surgery is mutilation. It changes a well functioning body and creates a poorly functioning mirage of what it the person wishes it were. Transgenderism is a body dismorphic disorder, physicians should help patients cope with their gender regardless of sexual orientation rather than permanently disfiguring them. Case in point, suicide rates of "reassigned' people are no lower than those that haven't had gender reassignment surgery.
--Edgar Betancourt
I maintain a healthy lifestyle by making sure my life is in a balance. Just like you eat foods in a balance I do my absolute best to keep my mental mind in connection to my body so they can grow healthy together. The battle that can come with the mirror can be completely dark and engulfing. As a Transgender Male, having a healthy body and mind is my ultimate goal to find peace within my soul. Although I may always have some kind of battle with my body, I continue to work everyday for a happy peace within.
I was definitely nervous that there may be some kind of pushback from the magazine. You know, it is a possibility, being transgender, you can walk into a space where you are not welcome, and you are asked to leave for just being exactly who you are. So I have luckily heard from Men's Health, and in a different couple of platforms they've mentioned that the contest is open to all men, and that they are very happy to see the influence that a couple of trans men have been applying. And I think it's sending a really positive message to the transgender people out there from Men's Health. I think it was a great move by them.
Aydian Dowling
To fund his top surgery, Aydian established in 2011
Point 5cc, "a stealth clothing company designed to highlight transgender commonalities and create a sense of pride."
Point 5cc operates the first binder exchange program for transgender men:
The free binder program is intended to help trans folks in need. That means trans youth and adults who can not otherwise obtain a binder, can not afford a binder, etc. Please only request a free binder if you are truly in need of one. We have a limited number of donated binders available.
The Transgender Surgery Fund is an annual fundraiser hosted by Point 5cc (The 2015 fund is currently closed to applications).
The Transgender Surgery Fund has donated $1,000 dollars each year. This year, Point 5cc hopes to raise even more through our own No Shave November fundraiser and a series of auctions.
Giving back is a large part of my life. I started the first YouTube Collaboration BeefHeads Fitness, a channel geared towards Transgender Individuals looking to get fit and healthy. Also, I run multiple groups, Instagram accounts, and other social media platforms encouraging mental and physical health reaching over 45K combined. On a more local platform I did start training other Transgender Males here in my new town of Eugene, OR. They have greatly progressed and I feel very proud to see their self confidence grow. I do nothing but support them and show technique, but drive is contagious!
Measuring success on paper is very difficult. As you change so will your view of the word "accomplishment". I like to measure success in a feeling, it is much more attainable. I feel success when I hit a new PR, when my wife smiles from the heart, when someone tells me I helped in their life someway, or when someone close to me has done something amazing. That is when I feel success. That is when my "achievement" is rewarded. Success is a feeling I hope to have over and over again.