Client Pat Manuel

During my early life and career, I traded authenticity for acceptance by silencing the real me. To live up to idealistic expectations of me, I had no choice but to disconnect from my real identity. Boxing brought me back into my body. It gave me something to live for. Something to focus on. But it still wasn’t enough. The more I suppressed the real me, the greater the struggle became. I had to be me. When I started my gender-affirming treatment, I was told it was impossible to fight against a non-trans man and win. I proved them all wrong. My victory challenged a lot of assumptions. And it allowed me to picture a world where being true to yourself isn’t an act of bravery – it’s a necessity. A Keynote Speaker, Coach, Mentor, Founder and DEI Advocate, I’m taking the fight outside of the ring to fight for those in the same corner. I speak up for a world where we can all be ourselves without fear, regardless of race, class, gender and other differences that set us apart. I share my story to fight against restrictive expectations of identity. I share my story to encourage open minds that accept our differences. I share my story to help create a path that no one has walked before. By sharing my story with news outlets, universities and corporations in the US and across the world, I empower individuals to be authentic and encourage people to find common ground with people of different life experiences. Why? To develop a world where acceptance, understanding and education prevail, allowing people to celebrate who they truly are. I’m Patricio Manuel – the first professional male boxer who is transgender in the US but by no means the last. Available for speaking engagements in 2022 – get in touch for bookings.