New York Magazine has published its first-ever Men’s Style issue, and one of its covers features transgender actor Elliot Page, who identifies as male but was born female.
The magazine, in an article titled “The Men’s Style Issue,” traced its history of covering men’s fashion, citing a 1971 cover story on men and high heels and a 1996 profile of male supermodels. It said the new issue was meant to spotlight “the power players shaping the business, the new characters shaking up the scene, the old ‘semi-supermodels’ who are still around.”
The issue links to a companion piece headlined “The Boys in the Baths,” which the magazine described as “Shvitzing and kibitzing with some of New York’s most stylish men at the East Village’s Russian & Turkish Baths.” Page was photographed largely unclothed alongside other men featured in the piece and spoke about visiting a bathhouse.
“I went to a bathhouse recently. I’ve only in the past couple of years been like, ‘Yeah, that sounds nice, to like go somewhere and sit around in your body like that.’ I do sing in the shower sometimes,” Page said. “The same songs and lyrics will get stuck in my head, and I don’t know why. Like ‘Do you believe in life after love?’ That’s one I’ll belt out. Or ‘The Sound of Music’: I’ve never seen the movie, which seems crazy, but for some reason I find myself belting out that song in the shower. I can’t explain it.”
Criticism from commentators
Political commentator Link Lauren criticized the magazine’s choice, arguing it undercuts the purpose of a men’s fashion feature.
“There is a shortage of masculinity in mainstream media, and for years masculinity itself has been degraded and dismissed as ‘toxic.’ Now New York Magazine launches its first-ever men’s style issue with Elliot Page shirtless, wearing little more than a flimsy necklace with visible mastectomy scars. It’s supposedly about fashion, yet there are barely any clothes. They knew this cover would generate attention and controversy. I don’t think they actually care about men or style — they care about clicks. If it weren’t for ‘transitioning’ we wouldn’t even be talking about this actor. They hadn’t been relevant in years.”
Tim Graham, executive editor of the media watchdog group NewsBusters, also criticized the decision.
“My first reaction is this: I thought these New York magazine people are the smartest graduates from the best journalism schools, and they can’t figure out who is a man and who is a woman for a ‘Men’s Style’ feature. They want to pretend that this guy is a slightly thinner Channing Tatum who could dance in a Magic Mike sequel. They want to pretend none of [us] remember Ellen Page playing pregnant in ‘Juno.'”
Graham added that he sees the choice as part of a broader trend, pointing to Glamour magazine’s past decision to name a transgender woman one of its “Women of the Year.” He said outlets making similar choices are “striking a woke pose and they expect a round of progressive applause.”
New York Magazine’s issue features multiple covers as part of its first dedicated men’s style publication.
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