Ash Perez, a YouTuber and Development Partner for BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, recently took a major step in his life by coming out as a transgender man. As a co-creator of BuzzFeed Violet, BuzzFeed's first scripted character universe, Perez has long been a voice for young, multicultural audiences. One of his early successes, “You Do You,” which debuted in 2015, quickly rose to the top of the iTunes TV store, becoming a fan favorite and going on to a successful second season.

In his series “New Guy Tries,” Perez explores masculinity in his journey as a transgender man, delving into what it means to be a man on his terms. In the series, Perez is joined by friends from all backgrounds—gay, straight, cisgender—who share their own perspectives on masculinity. Together, they navigate and challenge traditional notions of what it means to be a man, encouraging viewers to think more openly about identity and self-discovery.

Ryan Garcia, a cisgender cast member, described his experience on the show: “There was never really time to stop and reflect on where I belong in masculinity. It was just doing the things to fit in and be accepted. Participating in this series with Ash served as a form of therapy, allowing for moments of pause and self-reflection.

Perez's journey has been particularly meaningful, marked by both personal challenges and resilience. The loss of his father to COVID-19, which happened just before he began his gender transition, shaped his path deeply. Without a father figure to look to, Perez took on the challenge of defining manhood for himself. “It's almost impossible to figure out what manhood means without a father figure who has experience or perspective on what being a man entails,” he reflected.

Through his series, Perez has embraced traditional masculine rites of passage with his male friends and colleagues, discovering along the way that many struggle to fit into society’s narrow definitions of masculinity. Perez encourages anyone seeking comfort with their masculinity to begin by looking inward, embracing their unique qualities rather than conforming to societal ideals often centered around stereotypes like physical strength, financial success, or a meat-eating lifestyle.

“You can have conversations with yourself. You can journal. You can begin to examine things yourself, and then start to slowly branch out in a way that feels safe for you,” he shared, urging others to find authenticity and acceptance within themselves. Through his journey, Perez is redefining masculinity and helping others feel empowered to do the same.