I’m trans masculine but I refuse to stop wearing make-up

Ev Callahan identifies as non-binary and trans masculine but refuses to stop wearing make-up.

Callahan is a non-binary make-up artist challenging the standards of masculinity that heteronormative society often holds trans masculine people to. And they’re the subject of a new short film by queer filmmaker Sid Strickland.

“If I want cis men to feel comfortable and confident in themselves, to be able to wear make-up, or wear long hair, or traditionally feminine presentations, then why shouldn’t I be able to?” they explained.

“I shouldn’t feel held to a higher standard of masculinity because I’m trans.

“I think everyone should be able to wear make-up. So why not me?

“I really love character make-up, theatrical make-up, and drag make-up—being able to transform in this very simple way.”

Callahan was always “very masculine as a child” and struggled with the pressure to be “hyper feminine,” and later realised they are non-binary.

“My mum bleached my moustache in my sleep once and I was very upset as I was really trying to grow that moustache,” they explained.

“Stuff like that, or you have to shave your legs. The amount of times I’ve been physically wrestled into a dress.

“So the message that I was getting steadily throughout these years was you have to be a girl, there’s no other option, and there’s one way to be a girl.

“And make-up initially was part of that—I was using make-up to try and perform appropriate femininity.