Channel 4 is renowned for stretching the envelope and sparking debate with its programs, and Naked Education is no exception.
The six-part series, presented by Yinka Bokinni and former Love Island star Doctor Alex George, seeks to shatter taboos and promote body positivity through candid talks and plenty of nudity.
Finlay Games and Lucian Main, two transgender men who discuss coming out, transitioning, surgery, and managing life as trans people, are one couple we meet in episode three.
The boys bare all in a truly emotional moment, with Lucian displaying his scars from top surgery six months previous.
Top surgery, also known as chest feminisation or, in this instance, chest masculisation surgery, is a process that removes breast or chest tissue (subcutaneous mastectomy) in order to reduce gender dysphoria and match the physical with what a person experiences on the inside.
Meanwhile, Finn has undergone both top and bottom surgery (phalloplasty) to construct a penis and urethra from tissue taken from his wrist.
The aim of their interaction is for Finn to share his journey and provide Lucian with answers he’s been seeking while he contemplates bottom surgery, explaining how everything works, what the surgical process is like, navigating sexual relationships, and debunking misconceptions.
Plus, it alters people’s perceptions of what it means to be trans.
In an interview with Metro.co.uk, the pair discusses their motivations for moving outside of their comfort zones and stripping naked in the name of exposure.
‘There is so much information around being transgender in general, but especially around gender-affirming surgery and what that is, and why we have surgery. It was so important to show that this isn’t just surgery that we choose, it’s life-saving stuff,’ Finn begins.
‘Surgery is more than just the aesthetic changes on the outside, it’s really deep, internal, life-saving changes. I had my surgery quite late in life and I lost all my young years to gender dysphoria and distress, but this surgery has given me a whole new lease of life and I wanted to show that this really does enhance lives.’
Lucian adds: ‘I’m the other end of the scale, I’m the guy out there looking for information. In the community, it’s great and we do all stick together and share things where possible, but that’s not necessarily our job and a lot of the time, not a lot of people will talk about it because it’s so painful in some aspects.
‘So, I had all these unanswered questions and I believe everything starts with a conversation.’
Both stars were understandably concerned about showing off their naked trans bodies on TV, but they contend that the positive effect the images will have far outweighs any negative consequences.
‘I read a lot of terrifying things in the media about trans people, so I knew I’d be putting myself in a position where I’d be vulnerable to negativity. But from an impact perspective, that crushed the anxiety a bit. I knew we had to do this,’ says Lucian defiantly.
Finn agrees, adding that the trans people who came before him and told their experiences enabled him to live openly today, and he wants to “pay it forward.”
However, this does not mean he is immune to critique.
‘This is going to have such a positive effect, but I knew there’d be a huge backlash,’ he admits. ‘I already share my story publicly and I’m used to it, that’s not to say it’s right. But I’m here today and able to go through transition because of people who were brave enough to share their stories and put themselves out there.
‘It’s not up to everyone to do that, but the people who can have made it mostly safe for me to do the same. I’m so grateful for the life I have today and the negative feedback is insignificant to the positive stuff that comes out of this.’
He thinks that such representation would have’saved’ him as a child, as the 49-year-old fought ‘hell’ in the form of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as mental health issues, before beginning to live his truth.
So, what do they want people to remember about them, and how do they want to be perceived? The solution is straightforward.
‘We don’t have an “agenda”, we just want to be happy,’ Finn says proudly.
‘Having our voices heard is so important. The only place to learn about trans people is from trans people. Seeing regular trans bodies on television, that’s what people need to see, trans people being their regular trans selves, going about their regular trans lives.
‘This isn’t about transitioning, this is about being human.’
Even if the unfavourable talks do occur, Lucian is ready.
‘I just want people to talk. Don’t be afraid of looking for the answers or asking questions. I just want it to spark people’s curiosity. We are two normal dudes you could walk past in the street.’
Naked Education airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4.
