Now Presenting: the Second Annual TRANSMASC DAY AT THE BEACH!
Now with twice as many boys, I hope
If you follow myself or Mac (@sharkboystuff) on Instagram, you probably already saw the great news. Thousands of people did!
Transmasc Day at the Beach returns to Asbury Park, NJ for its second annual gathering. It happens on Sunday, August 9th and we will meet at 10 a.m. by the 5th Avenue entrance!
This is a social opportunity for ALL transmasc people of ALL expressions, identities, chests, and body types! Come join our growing and ever-visible community!
Still not sure or need even more information? I posted a preemptive FAQ on Instagram, and below is the plain text version for easier reference. Other things that have come up that I will summarize here: no smoking on the beach or boardwalks but there is a smoking area at Convention Hall (supposedly), and if you must bring an ally as a plus one you may, but please limit it to 1-2 non-transmasc folks and preferably only if you will be relying on them for transportation or assistance. Just be respectful of the fact that this is a space meant for us to mingle with and uplift each other!
Now read on and get excited! The weather is sweltering today and it beckons beach day forward.
What is Transmasc Day at the Beach?
I (Ian) got the idea for TD@TB pretty soon after my top surgery a year and a half ago, knowing that the summer of 2025 would be my first going to the beach with my chest out. It’s foolproof, I thought. Make a flyer and give a specific location—Asbury Park’s historically gay beach—and in theory people will just...show up and be celebrated in a public space where they may feel uncomfortable bearing their full selves otherwise. My good buddy Mac aka Sharkboy Stuff had a bit more clout in the tri-state area trans community than I did and LOVES hosting a gathering, so I was excited to have him on board helping. I just hoped it would work.
On July 19th, 2025, our first convening was held and from it spawned so much more. A Discord server for planning more private events! A mutual aid swap! Fundraisers! Friendships built and rebuilt! A giant hole in the sand just like the ones in all our boyhood dreams!!! Over 90 people were in attendance and if the momentum continues, we are poised to top that this year.
Who are you and why should I trust you?
(This question was more for the 82% of people who interacted with the beach day flyer on Instagram and didn’t follow me! But nonetheless…)
Hi! I’m Ian. I am a North Jersey-based trans creative of some note (seen in the Montclair Art Museum, Gallery Aferro, Smush Gallery, and others), but ever since my schooling days and especially recently, my real passion has been for mutual aid. Things I strive to make accessible to others through my solidarity work are: food and other basic needs, financial security, safety, education, art, and fun. Currently, I volunteer with Food Not Bombs in Jersey City and the New Jersey Queer and Trans Makers Market, and you may see my illustrations on a flyer around your town!
Mac is the founder of his own brand Sharkboy Stuff—which features nerdy queer designs and donates 25% of sales every month—as well as NJQTMM. Since 2024, we have welcomed thousands of people and dozens of vendors from across the state at our traveling craft fairs and pop-up social spaces (~700 at our last event in South Jersey!). He really is one of the most vital organs in the body of New Jersey’s LGBTQIA+ community. I would not have met nearly as many wonderful people as I know here without him.
What makes a person “transmasculine?” Should I show up?
It’s an umbrella term, and the generally agreed-upon definition is “people who were assigned female at birth but identify with a more masculine gender identity.” However, we are NOT asking for proof of transness at the door as that can be more prohibitive than it is safe (and also, like jeez, the government is surveilling us, and I have no interest in being anything like the government). You do not need to be on testosterone or have had gender-affirming surgery to join us.
Can I come if I am under 18?
No, sorry! 🔞 I’m just not comfortable with unsupervised young people socializing with a group of mostly adults!
NOW, if the parents of any trans kids are interested in organizing a satellite meetup, they are more than welcome to reach out! I hate to leave the little ones out when safe spaces for them are harder to come by.
Can I sponsor your event?
Respectfully (but maybe also disrespectfully), NO! This is a community-organized event and we are proud of the solidarity that goes into making social gatherings like this so impactful. Organic connection only zone!
Oh, okay, well, can I help in any way if I am not trans?*
BUY OUR BEACH BADGES!
Beach badges in Asbury Park are $10 for the day on weekends, and any economic barrier we can eliminate we would like to. Venmo me (so I can keep the funds in one place) @ianekingart with THESE TWO EMOJIS 🦈🛡️. Then on the day of, I will reimburse as many people as I am able to! If you express need to either Mac or I in advance, we will try to make sure you receive something.
(Those who are local should also consider looking into the Asbury Park Beach Badge Fund for free badges good for all season!)
*And yes, if you are trans and want to pay it forward for a brother you are encouraged to :)
(As of this posting, we have had 16 beach badges donated to us! Thanks especially to Kerri Sullivan of Jersey Collective and the Delaware Sexuality and Gender Collective for donating multiple.)
I would love to attend! Can I help organize anything?
YES! Thanks to our transmasc community, last year’s Beach Day also transformed into a “stuff swap,” a transition supplies giveaway, and a mutual aid fundraiser for a friend’s top surgery recovery.
Reach out if you have any ideas for activities and initiatives or would be interested in coming out a little earlier to set up our spot! We also made a semi-private Discord server last year (TRANSMASC INTERSTATE INC.) and you can ask to join if you really want to get yourself involved before the day-of (next project: making zines!).
What should I bring?
Sunscreen and a towel, of course. Last year I forgot to put sunscreen on my back and it suckeddddd.
Otherwise, snacks and water for the group? Stickers and zines of yours to share? PPE? Beach games? Whatever you want as long as it abides by posted rules and doesn’t get our group kicked out!
Is the beach ADA accessible?
Compared to some other beaches, not bad! There are ramps and mobile walk pads at every entrance of the Asbury Park beach and accessible bathrooms inside of Convention Hall.
Why aren’t you hosting this on a Saturday?*
I have tickets to see Todd Rundgren at Bergen PAC on August 8th. This is non-negotiable. Can a boy enjoy an evening with his gender icon please???
*If we get rained out on the 9th, we will be meeting on a Saturday! August 15th!
See you down the shore! And stay tuned tomorrow for another update (squeezing in as many as I can before I fly to Portland, OR on Thursday!).