Written by Gage Tarlton
Transgender representation in the media, specifically television, is at the highest it has ever been. Shows like Transparent, Sense8, and Orphan Black all contains a transgender character. In Transparent, which won the Golden Globe for Best TV Series-Comedy or Musical, the central character is a trans woman.
New reality shows I Am Jazz and I Am Cait captures the lives of Jazz Jennings, a transgender youth and Caitlyn Jenner, respectively, whose recent transition has gained widespread media attention. But is this sudden spark in transgender representation enough representation?
While transgender representation on Transparent and Sense8 is a huge step forward in the television industry, these still show that are only streamed online which many don’t have access to.
On television, the depiction of transgender people renders shocking statistics. In 2014, there were not any series regular transgender characters on a primetime broadcast television show or cable television show. The year before that, there was only one (Unique on Glee, which aired on FOX). The Fosters, which airs on ABC Family, was the only cable television show to have a recurring transgender character in the 2014-2015 television season.
Although Transparent (which can be streamed on Amazon) is a revolutionary show, it has faced a lot of criticism regarding the creator’s decision to cast a cis male in the role of a transgender woman. This raises the question: How is the public supposed to accept transgender people and their stories if the entertainment industry can’t even cast a transgender person in a transgender role to tell the story? Trans woman of color, Raquel Willis, states, “I must admit that it continues to be disheartening to see certain portrayals of my community’s experiences in the hands of cisgender people.
When I see yet another cis man in a trans woman role, à la Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club, it continues to elucidate how society understands us. Or how — in short — they don’t.” With such a lack of actual transgender representation, transgender people may find it hard to connect and relate with characters on television. In recent years, gay, lesbian, and bisexual characters have seen an increase in their portrayals on television while transgender characters have continued to be relatively nonexistent.
So why exactly is it necessary for transgender people to be represented on television? A lack of representation propels stereotypes to be formed about the trans community. No transgender person is the same as another, just like no straight person is the same as another. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights says of representation and diversity, “A truly diverse media allows for the voices of minorities, women, seniors, people with disabilities, and all Americans to be heard and accurately depicted.” By creating more transgender characters, more transgender people will be represented, hence creating more understanding for the community. A heightened portrayal of trans characters on television would not only educate the public about transgender men and women but also help build tolerance. Not only this but think of the impact more transgender characters would have on struggling transgender youth. We need more transgender voices in this world and change can begin with you, Hollywood. You’ve made many mistakes in the past, but it isn’t too late to get it right this time!
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