Transgender Representation: Celebrating Trans Characters On The Small Screen
In continuing our celebration of transgender excellence for this year’s Transgender Awareness Week 2023, today we’re shining a light on transgender representation on the small screen. There is a plethora of episodic television shows that have been produced in the last twenty years that feature transgender characters, with that number exponentially increasing in the last ten years.
The quality and diversity of transgender representation is also changing for the better. Our small screens are no longer solely littered with trans stories of rejection, heartbreak, tragedy, and isolation. Emerging now are depictions of joy, love, and happiness as well, and we want to celebrate some of them here.
Undoubtedly, the success of Pose paved the way for many to come after it. Available to stream on Netflix, this incredibly important show looks at trans life in New York City in the 1980’s and 1990’s amidst the raging AIDS epidemic as trans and LGBTQ rights in general began to gain traction. It’s impossible to talk about trans representation in episodic television without mentioning this show, however, due to the profound impact it had on transgender representation and storytelling, we’ve decided to leave it off this list here as it deserves an entire category all of its own!
As we charge on with our celebratory list, we bow down in homage and pay our deepest respects to all the incredibly talented folks involved in the making of Pose.
Here are some of our fave shows depicting transgender characters, as well as some others doing great things for transgender representation globally.
The Fosters
It’s no secret that trans men are far less visible in our society than trans women, and historically this is also true for transgender representation on screens. Aaron (Elliot Fletcher) is introduced in season 4 of The Fosters. This is groundbreaking for so many reasons.
Firstly, The Fosters is a family-friendly show. Before the introduction of Aaron, there had never been a transgender romantic interest for a lead of a television show on network cable in history. For so long, on screens, the desire for trans characters was considered shameful and something that should be kept a secret.
But in The Fosters, Aaron is an out trans man, and the show’s lead, Callie (Maia Mitchell), openly desires Aaron and pursues him. Their relationship evolves and The Fosters goes on to include a sex scene between the two of them that is now considered iconic when it comes to transgender representation.
9-1-1: Lone Star
9-1-1: Lone Star is the first show on network television to include a Black trans man as a series regular. Brian Michael Smith plays Paul Strickland, an out trans firefighter from Texas. He’s been in the show since the beginning, and his presence adds value and richness to the show’s narrative.
Halfway through season 2, Strickland finds himself at the center of 9-1-1: Lone Star’s storytelling and the narrative hones in on his transgender journey. Viewers learn that Strickland grew up in Chicago and was part of a loving, close-knit family. His father passed away from a heart attack when he was just nine years old, and he went on to come out to the rest of his family when he was seventeen.
He was under the impression that his transition was not an issue for any of his family members, but it was revealed during this episode that his sister is harboring some resentful feelings about the whole thing. They work it out though, in a very healthy way, and love and complete acceptance is restored to the Strickland clan once more.
Outside of this, Paul’s family is his coworkers at the firehouse. He is loved and revered by them all, and the fact that he is trans isn’t one iota of an issue.
We love healthy depictions of transgender representations, and we are here for Brian Michael Smith and the character of Paul Strickland.
Tales of the City
Based on the book series by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City premiered on Netflix in 2019. If you haven’t seen this show, stop what you’re doing right now and rectify that! Tales of the City is a must-see queer miniseries with something for everyone in the rainbow family, regardless of your label or your gender.
At the heart of the show is Anna Madrigal (Jen Richards) (Olympia Dukakis) who owns the Barbary Lane housing compound. Her story is quite incredible. She has owned the compound for decades and has rented its small apartments out to misfits and queer folks who need to find a place to call home.
Trans herself, Anna Madrigal is the heart and soul of Tales of the City. Her trans back story is both heartbreaking and enigmatic all at the same time as she lived through an era that paved the way for trans folks to live as they do today.
Queer folks everywhere need to make sure they’ve seen this show. It’s available to stream on Netflix globally.
Supergirl
In 2018, the CW introduced a transgender character into their Supergirl universe. Transgender actress Nicole Maines plays the role of Nia Nal/Dreamer – the first transgender superhero to ever grace television screens. She is introduced into the show as a reporter working for Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoit) but her superpowers and her super identity are not revealed right off the bat.
Nia’s transgender identity is front and center when it comes to the character’s origin story and the CW spotlights her journey well.
Maines says it’s intentional that Nia’s experience as an alien and a trans woman provides her with a unique perspective on the treatment of marginalized communities in the United States.
Nia’s character is active in the Supergirl universe from season 4 – 6.
Dead End: Paranormal Park
This series marks the first animated episodic television series to feature transgender representation at the front and center of its storyline. Dead End: Paranormal Park was created by Hamish Steele for Netflix, and it’s based on the graphic novel series titled DeadEndia by Steele, and Cartoon Hangover’s Too Cool! Cartoons web series Dead End.
It’s the story of Barney Guttman (Zach Barack). He’s gay and transgender, just trying to make his way through the world of adolescence. He’s got some family issues – his grandmother doesn’t accept his transgender identity and his parents don’t stop her from abusing Barney. The kid lands a job as a security guard at Phoenix Parks and soon after, he secretly moves into the haunted house with his pug.
He makes a friend at his new place of employment. Norma (Kody Kavitha) is also seventeen, has panic attacks, and is incredibly socially awkward. She is an autistic Pakastani-American and the two begin a friendship.
There are two seasons of Dead End: Paranormal Park available to watch on Netflix now.
While the industry still has a long way to go, it’s worth acknowledging that it’s come a long way too. Transgender representation is on the rise, and positive depictions of trans folks are popping up more and more. There are plenty of other shows that are inclusive and do represent trans folks well, but these are just some of the shows that often get left out of the conversation when discussing transgender representation.
Did we leave off a fave of yours? Reach out on socials and share it with us.
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Featured Image: Images Courtesy of Netflix, CW, ABC, Freeform/Disney, Fox
