Ed Note: This is a guest post by Courtney, a professional piercer at TRX Tattoo and Piercing Studio on South Grand. Meet Buck Angel next week at Washington University’s Trans* Awareness Week! He’ll be speaking on Monday and Tuesday evening.

I am happy to say that, as a society, our awareness of the broad spectrum that is human gender and sexuality, is growing and evolving everyday. While acceptance and equal rights may have a long way to go, the amount of progress we have made is still astounding. On the front line of the sex-positive movement, there are a special few that stand alone as pioneers.

Buck Angel is a f2M transexual. However, his affect on the world’s ideas of sex and gender have been earth shattering. Buck is known in the porn world as “The Man with A Pussy.” For those not familiar with sex change surgical technology, the options for f2m transpeople are considered by many to be lacking. Buck, after transitioning from biologically female to male, made the choice to work with what he had, and embrace his vagina.

That’s right, world: His. Vagina.

Throw away what you thought you knew about humans, because we have the capacity to be far more unique that you ever knew.

Maybe it was the ultimate gesture of self acceptance, maybe it was an testament to the many degrees of gender and sex we have yet to fully narrow down. What matters is that Buck has a body that is very different, and he shows the world what it’s like to love yourself, and your sexuality- A message that transcends all boundaries. With many awards and nominations under his belt for his groundbreaking work in the porn industry, Buck branched out to the world of outreach and public speaking as well.

Speaking at universities, interviewed on talk shows, and being featured in magazines and newspapers, Buck has clearly established his presence as a public figure. He has done everything from public service announcements about f2m reproductive health, to a diet and body building blog. In all these endeavors, the common link has consistently been having a positive self image, and practicing love and tolerance for both yourself and others. It’s hard not to be at least a little inspired by the man!

As a professional in the body modification industry, I think it’s important to remind people that I do NOT think we all need to alter our appearance to be happy. I do, however, think that we shouldn’t be discouraged from doing so. Our bodies are the only thing we can ever truly own, and our right to change and decorate it (or to leave it as is!) is very powerful and significant. Assigning a negative connotation to these acts extends itself, in my opinion, into ideas of sexual repression. The concept of using our bodies to make ourselves happy, or simply changing what we were born with to feel comfortable in your own skin, has been demonized since long before any of us were born.

As you could imagine, my personal love for Buck as an icon in the world of sexuality reaches beyond his f2m status. He holds a special place in my eyes for having found a way to dramatically improve his life through the perfect combination of body modification AND self acceptance, something I myself strive for.

As the saying going, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” The world could learn so much from this profound sentiment, and Buck, to me, embodies this.