FTM Magazine
| Company type | Magazine publisher |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Jason Robert Ballard, Leo Reichstetter |
| Headquarters | Albany, New York , United States |
Key people | Jason Robert Ballard (Founder), Aidan Faiella (CEO) |
| Products | Magazine focused on FTM transgender men community |
| Website | ftmmag |
FTM Magazine originated in Rochester, New York and was subsequently headquartered in Albany, New York, focusing on the FTM (female to male) trans men community. It served as a platform for trans masculine individuals to share their narratives and included articles on fashion, fitness, community issues, interviews, practical advice, and product evaluations.
History
The magazine was co-established by Jason Robert Ballard and Leo Reichstetter. Initial capital was raised via a November 2013 Kickstarter campaign, with the inaugural issue released in 2014. Ballard independently oversaw the publication during its first three years.
In April 2015, the publication attracted significant attention when model Aydian Dowling recreated a well-known mostly-nude photograph of Adam Levine, which appeared in the UK edition of Cosmopolitan to promote awareness of testicular and prostate cancer. This media spotlight led to the creation of the apparel brand This Is What Trans Looks Like.
The October 2017 edition experienced a delay caused by criticism over its binary gender focus and financial difficulties. During that year, FTM Magazine launched Trans Men Magazine, a downloadable monthly issue featuring themed content, horoscopes, and advice columns.
Aidan Faiella assumed the role of CEO in 2018. The magazine discontinued its online publications following March 2020; as of July 2025, its official website remains inactive.
Issues
| Date | Theme | Cover Model |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2014 | Founding Issue | Jason Robert Ballard |
| Summer 2014 | Giovanni Carlo | |
| Fall 2014 | YouTube Issue | Skylar Kergil |
| Winter 2015 | Bodybuilding | Shawn Stinson |
| Spring 2015 | Viral Photo | Aydian Dowling |
| Summer 2016 | Web Series | Seven King, Emmett Jack Lundberg, Jake Graf |
| Fall 2016 | Documentary: Transgender, At War And Love | Logan Ireland |
| Winter 2016 | Laith Ashley | |
| Spring 2017 | Tiq Milan | |
| Summer 2017 | Malcolm Rene Ribot | |
| Summer 2018 | Hanson Gobron | |
| Fall 2018 | Sir Knight |
Articles
Jason Robert Ballard, founder of FTM Magazine, contributed an autobiographical piece detailing his journey as a trans man for The New York Times. He acknowledged the support from his family and friends as fundamental to his path and stressed the importance of increasing representation and acceptance of transgender individuals within media and society.
On June 23, 2014, Mitch Kellaway published an article titled ‘LOOK: Will This Magazine Become the GQ of Trans Men?’ on the Advocate website. In this interview, Ballard revealed that the idea for the magazine was inspired by reading GQ, aiming to establish a comparable outlet specifically for trans men.
Personnel
- Jason Robert Ballard – Founder of FTM Magazine
- Aidan Faiella – CEO of FTM Magazine
- Chris Rhodes – Founder of Flavnt, a clothing brand focused on transgender individuals
- Mason Fitzpatrick – Staff Writer
- Rory Q. Kelling – Staff Writer
- Coach Cody (Transformation Coach Cody) – Staff Writer
- Isaac Volbrecht – Staff Writer and Monthly Horoscope Contributor
- Malcolm R Ribot – Travel Correspondent for FTM
- Dani Farrell – Writer; Founder of Trans In Color and TBuddy initiatives
- Maxwell Hunter
- Dash Hudson
- Guest Writers – The magazine frequently includes guest submissions to diversify its content and increase reader engagement.