Steph Kyriacou, a trans man, has told PinkNews that his appearance on Channel 4’s First Dates was “one of the best dates I’ve ever had in my life.”
Before appearing on the Channel 4 show, Steph pursued the world of online dating, and his experiences were “quite good.” And he believes it “help[ed] a little bit” to include his trans identity in his dating bio.
“It means I don’t have that risk of matching with someone, then they find out and have a meltdown,” he explains.
He’s dated other trans people which allows “comfortability” and “communication”, the video producer adds.
“It’s genuinely one of the most beautiful parts that I found of being trans, having these interactions with people I think cis-het people wouldn’t ever quite understand.”
However, he has also encountered barriers when it comes to dating. “It’s not even people who are transphobic,” he says. “Obviously, some people are, but a lot of people are just ignorant or misinformed.
“I think people forget that we are just people. Even if you get on really well with someone, you date them, you then have to meet their family and they might not be cool with it.”
All in all, Steph is using his experiences on First Dates to increase trans visibility. “Ever since I could dress myself, I’ve been a little boy,” he reveals. “I want us to be heroes and villains, doctors and astronauts. Sometimes it can be about our identity but sometimes we’re just a person who happens to be trans.”
