A24; HBO MAX; IFC Films
In the last decade, there's been a lot more trans representation in media than we have ever had before, but not all of it rings true or is, quite frankly, good representation.
Sometimes a trans character shows up, announces they are trans, and does little else. Other times, a trans character is so stiff and trying to be as perfect as possible that they just fall flat. Still others are just so offensive they shouldn't even count as representation.
But then, other times, magic can happen. Sometimes there are movies and TV shows that really hit the nail on the head when it comes to trans representation, and this is where we'd like to celebrate those. Here are seven examples of trans representation that ring especially true!
1. Stat in 'Q Force'
This unfairly-hated animated series only lasted one season, but it gave us one of the most accurate trans women characters ever on TV in the hacker and computer expert Stat. She dyed her hair, dressed goth, knew everything about coding and technology, and acted exactly like every trans woman in tech.
2. Jim in 'Our Flag Means Death'
Our Flag was a hilarious, heartwarming, and deeply queer comedy series about a crew of pirates, and while the majority of the crew was queer in some way, Jim (played by Vico Ortiz) really caught our eye. Jim really is perfect representation for trans people who just want to be able to be themselves.
When they reveal that they were wearing a fake nose and beard for the first few episodes of the show, they say, "Look everyone, I'm gonna keep this very simple. You all know me as Jim, sí? So just keep calling me Jim, nothing's changed. Except I don't have the beard, my nose is different, and I can speak now. Anyone have a problem with that?"
3. Monica in 'Monica'
Trace Lysette brought so much gravity, force, and heart to this role that it's almost impossible to not relate to her. In Monica, she plays the title character, a trans woman returning to her hometown to take care of her ailing mother who had disowned her decades ago.
Familial relationships and responsibilities are often fraught issues for trans people, and in Monica, the mother-daughter relationship is handled with love, care, and attention.
Streaming on Hulu.4. Micah in 'The L Word: Generation Q'
The L Word has a turbulent history with trans representation, but one thing it got very right was the character Micah on The L Word: Generation Q, played by Leo Sheng. Micah is a trans man who almost exclusively hangs out with queer women. If that sounds strange, you've probably never been in queer women's spaces.
In real life, queer women and trans men go together like fresh air and sunshine, and it was great to see those relationships represented on screen in such a genuine way. We'll always love Micah, and we'll always ship him with Maribel.
Available to rent or buy on Amazon.5. Owen in 'I Saw the TV Glow'
No film has better representation of what it's like to be a closeted trans person, or "egg," as they're often called in trans circles, than this psychological horror film from Jane Schoenbrun. The movie stars Justice Smith as Owen, a teen who bonds with a girl at school over a Buffy-like teen show called The Pink Opaque.
As the two friends grow up, the line between reality and the show starts to blur, and Owen is forced to live a life of dissociation, putting on a fake happy face and not knowing for sure what is real. It's exactly what growing up as a closeted trans girl is like.
Streaming on Max.6. Chi-Chi Rodriguez in 'To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar'
As a young, closeted trans Latina, the first time I saw Miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez walk onto the screen in To Wong Foo, I knew I was seeing myself. All three stars – Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo as Chi-Chi — were perfect as drag queens, but it was Leguizamo's performance as an inexperienced "drag princess" who just wants to be treated like a girl that really spoke to me.
In the film she never explicitly says she's trans, but to the many trans women in the world who started out in drag, she's very familiar.
Streaming on Tubi.7. Emilia Pérez in 'Emilia Pérez'
Trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón stars in this stunning musical about a Mexican cartel head who transitions and tries to live a better life. As a trans lesbian who is getting closer to my forties every day, seeing a beautiful love story between a fully-grown adult trans lesbian and her cis lesbian lover was a revelation for me.
In one scene, Emilia sings about feeling like she's trapped between worlds and between genders as she's about to sleep with her new girlfriend for the first time. It's a feeling most trans lesbians can deeply relate to, and one that's rarely shown on screen.
Streaming on Netflix.
