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no escaping Bailar’s willingness to be vulnerable,
n September, Penguin Random House published keenly self-aware and responsible for his actions—a
IBailar’s first novel, Obie is Man Enough. The novel, demonstration of leadership at its best.
written for middle-grade readers, follows 13-year- It also reinforces what Bailar told me when I
old Obie as he navigates middle school. Obie Chang asked why he chose to write a novel for middle school
is transgender, a swimmer and a Korean-American, readers rather than a memoir, as many expected.
all of which sound familiar. But Bailar asserts that
although he and Obie share several identities, Obie
is his own (fictional) person.
“I will say that I poured a lot of myself into the
book,” he says. “It is absolutely my heart and soul in
a fictionalized novel.”
The book begins after Obie has come out and
while he does experience some transphobia (Bailar
included a trigger warning at the beginning of the
novel), the story is more about a kid who aspires to
compete in the Junior Olympics, who falls in love
for the first time and who wants to connect with his
heritage through his Korean grandmother.
“I really wanted to write a book about a kid who
happens to be transgender, not about a transgender
kid,” he says. “So there’s lots more to Obie than his
transness. He’s an athlete, he’s a nerd, he’s a loyal
friend. He’s navigating middle school and middle
school sucks and is wonderful at the same time.”

bout a week after we spoke, Bailar caused a stir
Awhen he called out Lil’ Nas X for posing with a
fake pregnant belly on his new album cover. In his
Instagram post, Bailar objected to what he felt was
transphobic, insensitive imagery from the artist.
Fans immediately questioned Bailar about why
he did not post similar objections when YouTube
creator James Charles posed for photos with a fake
pregnancy belly. He explained that he had not seen
the photo of Charles but as the conversation contin-
ued, Bailar was challenged to consider that calling
out Lil’ Nas X was rooted in anti-Blackness.
Over the next few days, Bailar engaged in edu-
cation and dialogue both privately and publicly. He
hosted an IG Live with Kayden Coleman, a Black
transgender man who has given birth to two chil-
dren, and spoke with other members of the Black “Because I’m 25,” he says. “I have a lot more life
transgender community. In a follow-up post, Bailar to live and a lot more lessons to learn, so I don’t
shared what he learned from those conversations, think my story is ready to be written.”
holding himself accountable for his mistakes. It’s Learn more about Schuyler Bailar’s work at
an example of the transparency and accountability pinkmantaray.com and follow him on Instagram @
he wants to see from the rest of the world. There is pinkmantaray. 

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