Nickelodeon star Michael D. Cohen reveals he transitioned 20 years ago
Canadian actor Michael D. Cohen is opening up about his "transgender journey."
Cohen, 43, best known for his role in Nickelodeon's "Henry Danger ," revealed to Time that he transitioned 20 years ago.
“I was misgendered at birth,” Cohen said. “I identify as male, and I am proud that I have had a transgender experience — a transgender journey.”
Cohen added that his desire to share his experience stemmed from him growing restlessness during the Trump administration. On Friday, the administration announced plans to remove discrimination protections for transgender patients that were provided under the Affordable Care Act. In April, the Pentagon's new policy for restricting the service of transgender troops took effect.
“This crazy backlash and oppression of rights is happening right in front of me. I can’t stay silent,” Cohen said. “The level of — let’s be polite — misunderstanding around trans issues is so profound and so destructive. When you disempower one population, you disempower everybody.”
He added that many people still don't understand what it means to be trans.
“People don’t understand. They think this has to do with sexuality and it doesn’t. They think this has to do with pushing an agenda on kids and it doesn’t,” he said. “What it does is send a message to kids that whoever they are, however they identify, that’s celebrated and valued and okay.”
He continued, “My chromosomes do not dictate my gender. I’m a man. It’s not that hard.”
More: Nicole Maines joins 'Supergirl' to play TV's first transgender superhero
More: Actor Tyler Blackburn opens up about being bisexual: 'I just want to feel powerful in my own skin'
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nickelodeon star Michael D. Cohen reveals he transitioned 20 years ago
