Man began to lose his hearing at four years old. By age 13, he was profoundly deaf, and the next year he received his first
cochlear implant. At 16 he had a second implant placed in his other ear.[5]
In March 2017, he created his
YouTube channel where he posted videos about his personal experiences with gender dysphoria, his identity, his love life, and
American Sign Language translation videos to popular songs.[8][10] Man stated in an interview with Teen Vogue, "There is an extreme lack of representation for young,
Deaf,
queer, Jewish, Asian,
transgender artists...So, I decided to be my own representation."[4] Man also posts videos that attempt to mobilize young voters and discuss the political effects of the
Trump administration, whom he did not support.[4] Man began doing so after president
Donald Trump visited his high school during his presidential campaign.[11]
In May 2018, Man presented his
TedX Talk entitled Becoming Him in which he talks about his transition journey and gender issues for LGBTQ youth and people with disabilities.[12]
In March 2019, it was announced that Man would make his acting debut as
Jericho, a mute crime fighter, for the
DC Universe's digital series Titans in its second season.[3][19][10] Man stated that he connected to the character, who uses
sign language to communicate. He discusses the importance of disabled actors playing disabled characters to support proper representation, stating, "Casting disabled actors/actresses for disabled roles will aid to authentically represent and deconstruct stereotypes built around our identities".[3][2] Man has discussed and worked alongside fellow disabilities activist
Judith Heumann, and queer activist
Jillian Mercado.[20][21]
In March 2021, Man appeared on Tamron Hall,[22] discussing his transition that went viral in 2017.[23]
In June 2021, Man is a recently published author to
Penguin Random House; his book, Continuum was the newest addition to the Pocket Change Collective,[24] a series focused on creating a space to discuss gender, sexuality, activism and
intersectionality within the literary world.
In October 2021, Man became one of the first out trans men to work with a major beauty brand, as a member of the team of young
influencersYves Saint Laurent assembled to promote their Nu Collection, aimed at a
Gen Z audience.[25][26]
Art
Man paints, designs
tattoos, and has interest in fashion design.[4][27] Man described how he finds inspiration as "pulled from anything I stumble upon that I find aesthetically pleasing. This could be a
Picasso in the
MoMA or a
polka-dotted hat on the
NY subway."[28]
Featured on his YouTube channel, Man's art publication is a 3-minute long visual performance, The Beauty of Being Deaf, promoting a jewelry collection that transforms hearing aids into ear jewelry. Man stated he created this jewelry collection as a way to introduce
Deaf people into the fashion industry, as well as removing the stigma for wearing
hearing aids and
cochlear implants. He states, "Yet the appearance of hearing aids and cochlear implants have always created a disconnect. The pieces never felt like me, and I had no control over their designs. I always found myself brainstorming ways to reclaim the machinery that had become a part of me."[29][30]
In March 2023, he released a short film The Device That Turned Me Into A Cyborg Was Born The Same Year I Was, "explor[ing] his complex relationship with the
cochlear implant, and navigating identity between the deaf and hearing worlds".[31]