You’ve probably seen Mae Martin’s face everywhere lately. Whether they were charming everyone on Taskmaster, making us cry-laugh in the semi-autobiographical Netflix hit Feel Good, or popping up in their own stand-up specials like SAP, Mae has become a bit of a household name. But with that fame comes a lot of curiosity. Specifically, people are constantly hitting up search engines asking: is Mae Martin trans?
The short answer is yes. But, like most things in life, it’s a bit more nuanced than a simple checkbox. Honestly, Mae’s journey with gender has been pretty public, though they’ve often joked about how much they actually hate talking about it.
The Journey Beyond the Binary
Basically, Mae Martin identifies as non-binary and transmasculine. They use they/them pronouns, although they’ve mentioned in the past that they don’t particularly mind being called "she" in certain contexts, even if it feels less accurate. By 2026, Mae has become a bit of a poster child for what it looks like to live authentically without needing to fit into a tiny, suffocating box.
It wasn't always this clear.
Back in June 2021, Mae officially came out to the public via Instagram. They described themselves as a "queer person" and non-binary. At the time, they mentioned that their gender identity was something they had been privately navigating for a long time. For fans of Feel Good, this wasn’t exactly a shock. The show literally tracks a fictionalized version of Mae (also named Mae) as they struggle with how they’re perceived by the world—and their girlfriend.
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Transitioning in the Public Eye
One thing people often get wrong is thinking that "trans" only means one specific path or one specific surgery. For Mae, transition has been about finding what makes them feel "sane in an insane system," as they once put it.
They’ve been incredibly open about two major steps in their medical transition:
- Top Surgery: In 2021, Mae had top surgery. They’ve described the experience as life-changing, or more specifically, as the "absence of agony."
- Hormone Therapy: Mae has also shared that they are on low-dose testosterone (T). This has helped them align their physical self with their internal sense of identity.
In their 2023 special SAP, Mae spends a few minutes talking about this. They mention how they didn't really want to bring it up because gender discourse can be such a nightmare online, but they felt it was important to be honest. "You just have to take my word for it that I know who I am," they said. It’s a simple line, but it really hits home for anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood.
Why "Wayward" Changed the Conversation
If you’re wondering where Mae is at now, look no further than their 2025 Netflix series, Wayward. This show was a huge turning point. Not only did Mae co-create and showrun the series, but they also starred as Alex Dempsey, a trans man and police officer.
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This was a big deal for a few reasons:
- Direct Representation: It was one of the first times a major thriller series featured a trans lead whose identity was just part of the character, not the whole plot.
- The "Man" Label: Mae mentioned in interviews around the release of Wayward that playing a trans man felt "natural"—even more natural than playing a woman ever did.
- Fluency: Mae noted that because the show is set in the early 2000s (when "they/them" wasn't really a common thing), the character Alex uses "he/him" pronouns. Mae has used this to highlight how gender language has evolved over the decades.
Debunking the Myths
There’s a lot of noise out there, so let’s clear up some common misconceptions.
Some people think Mae "became" trans recently. That’s not really how it works. In the 2024 documentary Fluid: Life Beyond the Binary, Mae explores the science of gender and looks back at their own childhood. They’ve always been this way; they just didn't always have the words for it. Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, "non-binary" wasn't exactly a household term.
Others wonder if Mae is "still" non-binary if they're playing trans men or taking testosterone. The reality is that the trans umbrella is huge. You can be non-binary and transmasculine. You can take hormones and still not identify as a "man" in the traditional sense. Mae is living in that middle ground, and they seem pretty happy there.
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The Science of Fluidity
In 2024, Mae hosted a documentary for the CBC called Fluid: Life Beyond the Binary. It’s actually a great watch if you’re trying to wrap your head around this stuff.
They talk to neuroscientists and biologists to show that nature isn't nearly as "binary" as we were taught in school. They look at sex-changing clownfish and lions with manes who are biologically female. It’s Mae’s way of saying: "Look, I’m not weird; I’m just part of the natural world."
Practical Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to be a better ally or just want to keep up with Mae's work, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Respect the Pronouns: Use they/them. It’s what they’ve asked for. It might take a minute to get used to, but it’s the easiest way to show respect.
- Labels are Tools, Not Cages: Mae uses labels like "trans," "non-binary," and "queer" because they help people understand them, but they’ve also said they resent labels sometimes. Don't get too hung up on the perfect word.
- Watch the Work: If you want to understand Mae’s perspective, watch Feel Good. It’s probably the most honest depiction of gender dysphoria and euphoria ever put on screen.
Mae Martin is trans. They are non-binary. They are a comedian, a writer, and a really talented actor. But mostly, they’re just a person trying to navigate a world that really loves its boxes. By being so open about their transition—from top surgery to playing trans characters on screen—they’ve made it a lot easier for other people to do the same.
The best thing you can do is just take their word for it. They know who they are.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Understanding:
- Watch "Fluid: Life Beyond the Binary" (2024): This documentary provides the scientific backbone to Mae's personal experience and is a great resource for understanding gender beyond the traditional male/female split.
- Stream "Wayward" on Netflix: See how Mae handles a trans-masculine role in a high-stakes thriller, which offers a different perspective than their earlier comedic work.
- Listen to "Handsome" Podcast: If you want to hear Mae just being a person (and being hilarious), this podcast with Tig Notaro and Fortune Feimster shows the "human" side of the celebrity away from the gender discourse.