Last week, FSU’s premiere event programming organization, Club Downunder, announced “An Evening with Chella Man.” Chella’s popularity largely comes from fellow LGBTQ+ folk, but even though his online presence is growing exponentially, many people still don’t know his story.
Chella Man is a 20-year-old deaf, genderqueer, transitioning (on testosterone), Chinese and Jewish artist and model who currently resides in New York City with his girlfriend, MaryV Benoit. He and MaryV have been together for three years, experiencing huge life milestones and events side-by-side. For instance, Chella underwent top surgery, which removed his breasts to help eliminate gender dysmorphia and make him feel more connected to his true self. In a social media post, he states, “So now, maybe you can understand why I am quite possibly unconscious at this very moment. I am in surgery to allow myself a more masculine-presenting future. One where I can pass my reflection and connect with the body I see in the mirror. This is one of the happiest days of my life.” Chella identifies as genderqueer, meaning he has both masculine and feminine characteristics, but mainly presents as masculine.
In March, Chella announced that he was cast for the recurring role of Joseph Wilson, also known as Jericho, in the second season of the live-action D.C Universe show, Titans. This role gives Chella the opportunity to put the spotlight on characters who use sign language, as Jericho is a mute and Chella is deaf. Chella writes, “As a Deaf individual who uses sign language on a daily basis, his primary mode of communication hits close to home. I RARELY saw sign language authentically represented on screen growing up, so this incredible opportunity has made my heart soar.”
Chella uses his platform to express the need for accessibility for all, in the world in general but also in the LGBTQ+ community. His Instagram account is full of posts used for activism and calls to action. One of his more recent posts is a video of him explaining via sign language and captions how he felt there was a lack of deaf representation in the queer community. Chella signs in his video, “Sign language is important for the queer community because it allows deaf or hard of hearing people to have access to queer terminology.” This furthers Chella’s main goal to make pride more accessible to everyone, as he writes in his caption under the video that he believed there was no community for him as a deaf, queer, person of color.
Club Downunder’s lecture with Chella Man will take place on Nov. 7 at 8:30 p.m in the Union Ballrooms. At this lecture, Chella Man is going to talk about being a newly-signed model and actor and how his identity has shaped these opportunities and being a role model for the under-represented. Since beginning the documentation of his transition with voice-change and testosterone videos, he has become a representation for so many communities, with allies and members of his communities alike praising him and following his journey. For this reason, Club Downunder and FSU have stated they are proud to have such a strong voice coming to speak to the students and the public in Tallahassee. With a lecture from Chella earlier in the evening, there will also be a Q&A session for those who want to talk to Chella one-on-one and get more personal.
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