Raven’s Home: Disney Channel introduces first live action trans character!
If you were young enough to be watching the Disney Channel in the early 200os, then you know exactly Who Raven-Symone is. Her show, That’s So Raven was wildly popular at the time. Now, the reboot, Raven’s Home, is breaking Disney Channel records by introducing their first-ever live-action transgender character.
Back in the day when That’s So Raven was airing, the show focused on Raven Baxter (Raven-Symone), a psychic teenager who adventured around the city of San Francisco. Now, Raven is older and a mom, and her son Booker (Isaac Ryan Brown) has inherited her quirky psycho talents.
The show is now four seasons deep and did something that many thought they would never see Disney do. In a recently aired episode titled “The Fierce Awakens”, Disney introduced a trans female character played by a trans female actress.
Enter Nikki (Juliana Joel). As soon as the episode aired, Joel took to her social media and presented fans with quite an essay indeed. It’s incredibly heartfelt and quite long but we’re going to share it all with you folks because every single word Joel says is vital right now. Please, bear with us.
The emotional actress took to Instagram and said, “Growing up as a kid in Florida (like many other kids) I dreamt of being on the Disney Channel, specifically on That’s So Raven. It was my favorite show & Raven Baxter was my best friend in my mind. It was my escape from what I was going through internally. Coming from a typical Puerto Rican family, I didn’t think being an actor was possible esp for someone like me, I thought you had to be born into that world.
“Fast forward to becoming an actor I then told myself I wasn’t young enough to be on Disney anymore & even if that wasn’t the case I’m TRANS! I’d never seen an out trans actor or character on the Disney Channel. EVER. Needless to say, I cried in my dressing room after walking onto that set the first time. It was a moment where it hit me that I not only get to live out my childhood dream on a version of my favorite show…I get to do it as my authentic self and with a character that is openly trans.”
The post takes a slightly more political turn at this point with Joel using her status and platform to make a nod to all the discrimination and hate that the trans community is experiencing around the world, particularly in the United States.
“But it was really more than just being on the show. With all of the anti-trans hate and narratives in media and society, it was a win. I claimed a dream and space for myself while so much of the world is trying to erase me & my community. And now I get to be that person I wish I had to watch on TV growing up. So never tell yourself it can’t happen because it can, in ways you never dreamt possible.”
And well, this is happening on the Disney Channel, folks.
Raven-Symone is openly queer herself and is married to social media manager Miranda Maday. The show Raven’s Home also has an openly queer writer on the payroll, Nori Reed.
Reed expressed her utmost joy and congratulation to Joel and said “And I pray in my heart that they hear the very clear message: You belong in this world and are included.”
#TransLivesMatter
Raven’s Home is available to watch on the Disney Channel and is available to stream now on Disney Plus. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!
