0 0
Setting the Standard for Transgender Representation in TV – The GW Local
Read Time:5 Minute, 33 Second

By Parisa Akbarpour

Up until recent years, there were few transgender characters in film, let alone films about transgender characters, and these trans characters were almost always played by cisgender* performers.

Boys Don’t Cry (1999) was arguably the first film about a trans person to receive mainstream attention, and it was based on a true story. Even though the film and its cast won several awards including Golden Globes and an Oscar for Best Actress, the role of the transgender main character was played by Hillary Swank, a cisgender woman. The film can also be hard to watch for trans people because it involves a graphic and tragic hate crime and can feel like it’s glorifying that violence.

However, there has been a positive shift recently in film and TV shows that aim to uplift the trans community and tell the powerful stories of those within it.

Of course, I think it’s important to recognize that there’s no one correct portrayal of a trans character. The trans community is extremely diverse in backgrounds and experiences, so there can’t be any set guidelines for how a trans character should be expected to act. The way we manage this though, is by making sure there’s representation both on the screen and behind the scenes. If a show includes a trans character, that character must be played by a trans performer, and there must be other people on the set and involved in the production process who are also trans. It’s the only way to ensure that the representation being fed to a massive audience is one that isn’t insensitive, stigmatizing, or perpetuating stereotypes.

Here are a few shows starting to set the standard for trans representation in television and why it’s important:

Euphoria (streaming on HBO Max)

Source: TeenVogue, 2019

“I think the representation with jules was really well done: mainly because although they make a point to address her being trans, it isn’t everything to her character and she’s well rounded, just a full person,” said Dakota Varney, a 21-year-old trans man studying communications at ASU. “Not just throwing in trans characters for representation.”

The special episode on Jules that was released earlier this month consisted of a lot of discussion about how Jules feels about her own gender identity. Hunter Schaefer, who plays Jules and is trans, helped write the episode with the creator Sam Levison. Schaefer was able to use their own experience with gender identity to understand the struggles Jules would be going through.  

“At least for me, being trans is spiritual. You know, it’s not religious. It’s not, like, for some congregation. It’s for me. It’s mine. It belongs to me,” Jules says. “And I don’t ever wanna stand still. Like, I wanna be alive. I mean, that’s what this has always been about is, like, staying alive”

La Veneno (streaming on HBO Max)

Source: Variety, 2020

This biographical series tells the life story of Cristina “La Veneno” Ortiz, a trans sex worker who rose to fame in the 90s. The role of La Veneno is played by three trans women: Jedet plays her at the beginning of her transition, Daniela Santiago plays her as she gained mainstream attention, and Isabel Torres plays her later in life.

The role of Paca La Piraña, La Veneno’s longtime friend and roommate, is played by herself; which is so special to have the real icon play their own character in a series about a story’s legacy.

Paca met La Veneno in the park where her and a group of girls worked, and they remained close up until right before La Veneno passed away in 2016 from a traumatic brain injury that occurred after a fall. 

The show is in Spanish, but available in an English-dubbed form or with subtitles (in my opinion the subtitles are worth it).

RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 (streaming on VH1)

Source: Insatgram, @gottmik 2021

For the first time in RuPaul’s Drag Race Herstory a trans man is competing. Gottmik is the stage name for Kade Gottlieb, a 24-year-old makeup artist from Los Angeles. 

“Drag has kind of been gatekept by the gay community for a long time, which was especially heightened when RuPaul said something about trans women not being able to do drag because it’s men that’s do it not (trans) women. So to have an openly trans person on the show (even if he’s a man) is a huge step for the community,” said Sam Walls, a 20-year-old college student who identifies as non-binary. 

“There’s a lot more representation in the media for trans women than there are trans men. so having another person for transmasculine people to look up to is really positive,” they said.

Pose (streaming on Netflix or FX)

Source: Harper’s Bazaar, 2020

“Pose has been monumental in giving LGBTQIA+ people of color, specifically black trans women, the platform they deserve to express authentic narratives,” said 20-year-old Kye Mogg, who uses they/them pronouns. “For so long the only queer representation that was palatable enough for mainstream media was cis, male, and white which is completely not representative of [the queer] community.”

Taking place inside the ballroom community of New York City in the 1980s and 90s, Pose illustrates the lives of those who have contributed so much to the queer community but continue to be left behnd. Played by trans performers, these trans women of color are part of a group who defined a large part of queer culture which will be around forever.

________

There are a couple more shows who are providing positive representation for trans and non-binary people: We Are Who We Are is streaming on HBO Max, Are You The One streams on MTV, Disclosure is a great documentary on Netflix.

While progress is being made, we’re still far from normalizing the trans community within the world of Hollywood. Even further, there is very, very, little representation in the media for non-binary people.

In the meantime, these shows are perfect opportunities to learn about the lives of those who have been strategically pushed out of mainstream media. We must continue to support trans creators and creatives because their impact in the entertainment industry is so strong, but has always been exploited, so it’s important they are given a place inside of it where they’re valued and uplifted.

*Cisgender means a person’s gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %

2,708 responses to “Setting the Standard for Transgender Representation in TV”

  1. frolep rotrem Avatar

    Some really superb info , Gladiola I noticed this. “Three things you can be judged by your voice, your face, and your disposition.” by Ignas Bernstein.

  2. Gregg Ikemoto Avatar

    For small companies, keeping operations in-home is important till the expansion of the company warrants hiring an accountant, or outsourcing the services to an expert service provider.

  3. Shera Torngren Avatar

    Jewish Democrats in Georgia predicted that the GOP attack on Warnock’s Israel file would fall flat, citing his document of friendship with the Jewish community by way of his pulpit at Ebenezer.

  4. Liberty Seguros Telefone (Contato / sac 0800 / Ouvidoria) Avatar

    After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.

  5. How To Clean Zero Vape Pods Avatar

    How To Mix Nicotine Salts In Diy Liquid

  6. storno brzinol Avatar

    I’m curious to find out what blog system you have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest site and I’d like to find something more risk-free. Do you have any solutions?

  7. Lucrezia Avatar

    where can you smoke a cbd vapor pen?

  8. Union County Vapor Avatar

    I look after a vape shop submission site and we have had a posting from a vape shop in the United States that additionally sells CBD items. A Calendar month afterwards, PayPal has contacted use to say that our account has been restricted and have requested us to remove PayPal as a payment method from our vape store directory site. We do not offer for sale CBD goods like CBD oil. We simply provide web marketing professional services to CBD companies. I have checked out Holland & Barrett– the UK’s Leading Wellness Store and if you take a good look, you will see that they sell a relatively considerable stable of CBD items, particularly CBD oil and they also happen to accept PayPal as a payment solution. It appears that PayPal is employing twos sets of rules to different companies. Due to this constraint, I can no longer take PayPal on my CBD-related site. This has limited my payment choices and currently, I am intensely contingent on Cryptocurrency payments and direct bank transfers. I have sought advice from a solicitor from a Magic Circle law practice in The city of london and they stated that what PayPal is undertaking is absolutely against the law and inequitable as it ought to be applying a consistent standard to all firms. I am still to get in touch with yet another lawyer from a US law practice in The city of london to see what PayPal’s legal position is in the USA. For the time being, I would be very appreciative if anybody here at targetdomain could provide me with alternative payment processors/merchants that deal with CBD companies.

  9. Wimberley Valley Vapor Avatar

    Has anyone been to Zikwid? 😉

  10. Nicolasa Avatar

    how many ml of cbd oil should i take

  11. MNP Vape Avatar

    Has anybody ever shopped at River Mist Vapor Ecig Shop in 4821 W Craig Rd?

  12. Eco Vape Avatar

    Has anyone ever vaped Smoothy Man E-Juice Ejuice?

  13. Marley's Smoke Shop Avatar

    Has anyone shopped at Bayou Vape Club Vape Shop in 5339 Macleod Trail SW?

  14. 3chi gummies reviews Avatar

    Does anyone know if I can purchase Just Delta 8 Gummies (justdeltastore.com) at The Vape Kitchen, 1820 E Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, CA, 93010?

  15. is less more true with kratom Avatar

    Does anybody know whether I can buy JUSTKRATOM White Maeng DA Kratom Powder (justkratomstore.com) from Vapor Planet, 319 N Litchfield Rd Suite 101, Goodyear, AZ, 85338?

  16. where to put cbd on a child Avatar

    Hello everyone ! can anyone suggest where I can purchase CBDmd CBD Tincture Broad Specrum Orange 300mg 3000mg?

  17. Louann Avatar

    Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and
    sources back to your website? My blog site is in the exact
    same niche as yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from a lot of the information you present here.

    Please let me know if this alright with you. Cheers!

  18. what are side effects from eating cbd gummies Avatar

    where can i get cbd gummies in little rock

  19. what is better cbd oil or gummies Avatar

    how many cbd gummies do you take

  20. what herbs support cbd absortion Avatar

    Hello everyone ! can anyone recommend where I can buy Fresh Bombs CBD Bath 6 Heart Shaped Bath Bomb Set 35mg?

  21. Castle Vapes Avatar

    Let me know Avail Vapor shop located in 7911 West Hefner Rd Suite 2 sells ejuice manufactured by Vapery Sitty eJuice? I have tried sending them an email at at yourfriends@digitalciggz.com

  22. where can i buy cbd oil for dogs with high anxiety Avatar

    portland oregon vetrinarians who use cbd oild for pets

  23. Cathy Avatar

    There is certainly a lot to know about this topic. I love
    all the points you have made.

  24. How Much Nicotine Is 3.6 In Nic Salts Avatar
  25. white hulu kratom effects Avatar

    Does anyone know if I can buy JUSTKRATOM Green Maeng Da Kratom Capsules (justkratomstore.com) at The Vape Spot, 1988 E Pass Rd, Gulfport, MS, 39507?

  26. Janessa Avatar

    is stainless steel safe to vape

  27. Which Vape Has Cheapest Pods? Avatar

    What Set Up Is Best For Nicotine Salts

  28. white house kratom Avatar

    Does anybody know if I am able to buy JUSTKRATOM Green Malay Kratom Powder (justkratomstore.com) at Fatboy Vapors, 1261 S Seward Meridian Pkwy, Wasilla, AK, 99654?

  29. E-Cig Galleria Avatar

    Has anyone shopped at Hush Vapor Lounge Ecigarette Shop in 2485 S McCall Rd?

  30. Helena Avatar

    can i buy apex cbd hemp oil in nj

  31. Lenard Avatar

    Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve remember your stuff previous to and you are simply too wonderful.
    I really like what you’ve received right here, really like what you’re stating and the best way during which you say it.
    You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
    I can not wait to learn far more from you. This is
    really a great site.

  32. Nutritional Products International Avatar

    By way of introduction, I am Mark Schaefer, and I represent Nutritional Products International. We serve both international and domestic manufacturers who are seeking to gain more distribution within the United States. Your brand recently caught my attention, so I am contacting you today to discuss the possibility of expanding your national distribution reach.We provide expertise in all areas of distribution, and our offerings include the following: Turnkey/One-stop solution, Active accounts with major U.S. distributors and retailers, Our executive team held executive positions with Walmart and Amazon, Our proven sales force has public relations, branding, and marketing all under one roof, We focus on both new and existing product lines, Warehousing and logistics. Our company has a proven history of initiating accounts and placing orders with major distribution outlets. Our history allows us to have intimate and unique relationships with key buyers across the United States, thus giving your brand a fast track to market in a professional manner. Please contact me directly so that we can discuss your brand further. Kind Regards, Mark Schaefer, marks@nutricompany.com, VP of Business Development, Nutritional Products International, 101 Plaza Real S, Ste #224, Boca Raton, FL 33432, Office: 561-544-0719

  33. what models model for coquette lingerie Avatar

    Is anyone here in a position to recommend Dresses and Chemises? Cheers xxx

  34. Michele Avatar

    Fastidious answers in return of this question with real arguments
    and explaining everything concerning that.

  35. Stromectol Avatar

    Zithromax Generic Walmart

  36. hebergementwebs204 Avatar

    We are the worlds fastest temp mail delivery service. Our system will randomly and temporarily assign you a unique email for a period of 365 days (burner after). The last 100 messages received on this email address will be displayed directly on our mailonline web page in chronological order from most recent to oldest. We are a high-quality disposable email service also known as fake email. Our service works on all existing resolutions as well as the following types of mobile devices: Iphone 7 8 X 11 12, Android samsung xiami nokia oppo oneplus, tablets and computers. Our HTML5 programming makes our email service the lightest on the market. A low-speed connection is sufficient to use our temporary email services. We support all available web browsers: Internet Explorer, Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Brave, DuckDuckGo as well as Opera. Easy to use, open your browser and you are ready to go. temp mail

  37. hebergementwebs391 Avatar

    Get a temp mail, temporary email random generator ! mail temp We are a free and secure disposable temporary email service.

  38. tempmail561 Avatar

    Convert your favorite youtube video for free to music mp3 Youtube to mp3 Easy to use, convert any youtube, dailymotion, vimeo, twitch, vevo and metacafe video to mp3 (music converter) audio file. Download the result automatically.

  39. tempmail578 Avatar

    Convert your favorite youtube video for free to music mp3 Youtube to mp3 Easy to use, convert any youtube, dailymotion, vimeo, twitch, vevo and metacafe video to mp3 (music converter) audio file. Download the result automatically.

  40. tempmail326 Avatar

    Convert your favorite youtube video for free to music mp3 Youtube to mp3 Easy to use, convert any youtube, dailymotion, vimeo, twitch, vevo and metacafe video to mp3 (music converter) audio file. Download the result automatically.

  41. passwordgenerator361 Avatar

    Online random highly secure password generator Password Generator Generate complex 🔐 passwords of different lengths containing traditional, special characters, numbers and emoticons 🤟 for free.

  42. Viagra Avatar

    Definicionpatente De Propecia

  43. AffeNcy Avatar
    AffeNcy

    Acheter Cialis Kamagra cialis prescription online

  44. hcq 400 mg Avatar

    Discount Brand Name Viagra