Media portrayals of transgender people

The portrayal of transgender people in the media list includes portrayals of transsexuals and many other non-straight (normal) identities in the mass media.

Terminology

Transgender (trans) is the state of one's gender identity or gender expression not matching one's assigned sex. Transgender men are people assigned female at birth who identify as men. Transgender women are people assigned male at birth who identify as women. Some gender nonconforming people do not identify with either male or female. Cisgender men and women are individuals whose gender experiences conform to the sex assigned to them at birth.

Literature

Fiction

Title Author Trans/cis author Release date Trans characters Gender Notes
Beauty QueensLibba BrayN/A2011PetraWoman
Being EmilyRachel GoldN/A2012EmilyWoman
BloodhoundTamora PierceN/A2009Okha (aka Amber)Woman
Boy Meets BoyDavid LevithanN/A2003DarleneWoman
Breakfast on PlutoPatrick McCabeN/A1998PussyWoman
Eva LunaIsabel AllendeN/A1987MimiWoman
f2m: the boy withinHazel Edwards, Ryan KennedyCis, Trans2010FinnMan
For Today I Am a BoyKim FuCis2014PeterWoman
FreakboyKristin Elizabeth ClarkN/A2013BrendanGenderfluid
FreakboyKristin Elizabeth ClarkN/A2013AngelWoman
Full Fathom FiveMax GladstoneN/A2014Kai PohalaWoman
Gracefully GraysonAmy PolonskyN/A2014Grayson SenderWoman
A Harvest of Ripe FigsShira GlassmanCis2015MicahMan
I am JCris BeamN/A2011JMan
If You Could Be MineSara FarizanCis2013PavreenWoman
Kafka on the ShoreHaruki MurakamiN/A2002OshimaMan
KitchenBanana YoshimotoN/A1988ErikoWoman
The Left Hand of DarknessUrsula K. Le GuinN/A1969Estraven and othersAgender
NevadaImogen BinnieN/A2013Maria and othersWomen and men
ParrotfishEllen WittlingerN/A2010Grady Katz-McNairMan
PantomimeLaura LamCis2013MicahMan
Poison StudyMaria V. SnyderN/A2004Commander AmbroseMan
Rainbow RoadAlex SanchezN/A2005B.J.Woman
A Safe Girl to LoveCasey PlettTrans2014Carla and othersWomen and men
The Secret of Lost ThingsSheridan HayCis2006PearlWoman
Stone Butch BluesLeslie FeinbergTrans1993Jess
Trans-sister RadioChris BohjalianN/A2001Woman
Two Boys KissingDavid LevithanN/A2013AveryMan
The World According to GarpJohn IrvingN/A1978Roberta MuldoonWoman

Non-fiction

Title Author Trans/cis author Release date Trans characters Gender Notes
Becoming a Visible ManJamison GreenTrans2004Jamison Green and othersMen, primarily
ConundrumJan MorrisTrans1974Jan MorrisWoman
Excluded: Making Feminism and Queer Movements More InclusiveJulia SeranoTrans2013Women and men
Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of UsKate BornsteinTrans1994Kate Bornstein
Gender Outlaws: The Next GenerationKate BornsteinTrans2010Kate Bornstein
Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guide to the Transexual ExperienceMatt KaileyTrans2005Matt KaileyMenAutobiography
A Queer and Pleasant DangerKate BornsteinTrans2012Kate BornsteinWomanAutobiography
Redefining RealnessJanet MockTrans2014Janet MockWomanAutobiography
She's Not There: A Life in Two GendersJennifer Finney BoylanTrans2013Women and menAutobiography
Trauma QueenLovemme CorazónTrans2013Lovemme Corazón and othersWomen and menAutobiography
Whipping GirlJulia SeranoTrans2007Women, primarilyManifesto

Comic books/manga

Title Trans characters Gender Notes
a + e 4everAsh Non-binary, possiblyGender portrayed as fluid
BatgirlAlysia YeohWomanBatgirl's roommate
Dragon Age: Those Who Speak/Until We SleepMaevaris Tilani Woman
Kuroshitsuji Grell SutcliffWoman A chainsaw-wielding shinigami who identifies as a woman.
Ouran High School Host ClubBisco HatoriWomanManga
Wandering SonTakako ShimuraWomen and menManga
The Wicked + The DivineCassandraWomanOngoing series
The Wicked + The DivineInannaNon-binaryUses he/him pronouns currently, writer Kieron Gillen confirmed that those "feel too small [to Inanna], but will do for now" and "[Inanna]'s thinking about it".[1]
Tokyo Ghoul Tooru Mutsuki Man Manga

Webcomics

Title Trans characters Notes
Khaos KomixCharlie Trueman and Tom BlakeA teenage trans girl and guy, respectively, who are best friends and live in England
O Human StarSulla PinskyTeenage trans girl who is also an android, living in a near-future version of Minneapolis
Questionable ContentClaire AugustusTrans woman in her mid twenties, graduate student and library employee at the fictional Smif College in Northampton, Massachusetts
Rooster TailsSam OrchardAn autobiographical comic about a trans man living in New Zealand
Trans Girl Next DoorKylie SummerAn autobiographical comic about the artist's experiences as a young trans woman
El Goonish ShiveSam, Tedd VerresAn action adventure dramedy webcomic. The main character, Tedd, recently discovered he was genderqueer. Sam, a trans guy, is a recently introduced supporting character.
Venus EnvyZoe Alexis CarterA teenage trans girl who goes to high school while struggling with sexuality and acceptance.
Assigned MaleStephieTells the story of an 11-year-old transgender girl.

Film

Title Release year Trans characters Gender Notes
Anger Management2003Galaxia the prostituteMan
Boy Meets Girl2014RickyWoman Ricky played by trans actress
Breakfast on Pluto2005Kitten Woman Based on the book of the same name.
Nånting Måste Gå Sönder (Something Must Break)2014Ellie/SebastianWoman
Orlando1992OrlandoWoman and Man Orlando changes genders.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show1975Dr. Frank N. Furter Man, transvestite
Romeos2011LukasMan
Transamerica2005BreeWoman
Soldier's Girl2003CalperniaWomanTrans woman played by cis man. Fictionalized account of murder of Barry Winchell.
Tomboy2011MickaelBoy
Dallas Buyers Club2013RayonWoman
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective1994Lt. Lois EinhornWomanTrans woman played by cis woman; referred to in film as a 'man'; villain.
The World According to Garp (film)1982Roberta MuldoonWomanTrans woman played by cis man.
Dog Day Afternoon1975LeonWomanTrans woman played by cis man. Based loosely on a true story.
The Crying Game1992DilWomanTrans woman played by cis man.
Tangerine2015Sin-Dee Rella and AlexandraWomanTrans women played by trans actresses.

Television

Title Trans characters or personalities Gender Notes
Becoming Us Carly Lehwald Woman Reality show focusing on a family whose father has come out as a trans woman.
The Bold and the Beautiful Maya Avant Woman The first U.S. daytime soap opera to feature a trans woman character as a series regular.
Brave New Girls Jenna Talackova Woman Reality show focusing on aspiring model Jenna Talackova.
Coronation Street Hayley Cropper Woman Played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, a cis woman.
Degrassi: The Next GenerationAdam Torres Man Teen trans man, played by cis female
Doctor Who Cassandra Woman Tells Rose that she was "a little boy" in The End of the World
Glee Unique Adams Woman Teen trans woman, played by cis man
Glee Sheldon Beiste Man Adult trans man, played by cis woman
The FostersColeManPlayed by Tom Phelan, a non-binary trans person
Hit & Miss Mia Woman
Hunter x HunterAlluka ZoldyckWomanConstantly they referred to her as "it" and "he". Her brother, Killua, constantly reminds people that she is a girl. Strong, not afraid to stick up for herself, but still a cute and lovable character portrayed right by most of the fandom.
Hunter x HunterKite (Hunter x Hunter)GenderfluidA man in their past life, Kite was reincarnated as a little girl later in the series and is struggling with their gender identity. It is still unknown whether they consider themselves to be a male or female, or genderfluid.
Hunter x HunterNeferpitouGenderless
I Am Cait Caitlyn Jenner Woman Reality show focusing on the gender transition of Caitlyn Jenner.
I Am Jazz Jazz Jennings Woman Reality show on transgender teen Jazz Jennings and her family.
The L WordMax SweeneyManTrans man played by a cis woman.
My Transsexual Summer Maxwell Zachs, Sarah Savage, Drew Ashlyn Cunningham, Lewis Hancox, Rapheal Fox, Donna Whitbread, Karen Gale Woman A 2011 British documentary series.
Orange Is the New BlackSophia BursetWomanTrans woman, played by trans woman.
Orphan BlackTony SawickiManA clone of a cis woman.
RuPaul's Drag Race Various Drag QueensA reality show about drag queens, features two trans women as contestants.
Science Ninja Team GatchamanBerg KatseGenderfluidKatse is an intersex mutant created from the synthesis of male and female twins in utero, they were created by the alien leader of evil organisation Galactor.
Sense8Nomi MarksWomanTrans woman, played by trans woman.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Jadzia Dax, Ezri Dax Woman Dax has changed genders throughout their lives.
Soul EaterCronaUnconfirmed
The Switch Sü Phan and others Women and men All transgender characters are played by transgender actors.
TransGeneration Various Women and menA documentary series.
Transparent Maura Pfefferman Woman A trans woman played by a cis man.
Ugly Betty Alexis Meade Woman A trans woman played by a cis woman. Regularly misrepresented by her father and brother, though her brother eventually adjusts his behavior. Often referred to as a "tranny" by several characters.
Twin Peaks Denise Bryson Woman A trans woman DEA agent played by a cis man

Web series

Title Character Gender Notes
CarmillaLaFontainegenderqueer character who uses they/them pronouns[2] nonbinary character played by a nonbinary actor; unconfirmed for a while in-series
Like As It Is Ross Grant Agender character who uses they/them pronouns
The Grey Tarmac Road Leone Jinjur Genderfluid character who uses they/them, she/her and he/him pronouns played by a trans actor
ParanaturalR.J.Non-binary character who uses they/them/their pronouns
The Adventures of Jaime Watson (And Sherlock Holmes)Stanley HopkinsMan trans man played by a trans man, introduced in season 2

Theatre

Title Character Gender Notes
Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig Woman A trans woman, played by both men and women on the stage.
Rent Angel Woman
The Vagina Monologues"They beat the girl out of my boy...or so they tried" Woman

Video games

Title Character Gender Notes
Assassin's Creed: Syndicate Ned Wynert Man
Catherine Erica Anderson Woman
Dragon Age: Inquisition Cremisius 'Krem' Aclassi Man
Guilty Gear Bridget Man Born with a penis but assigned female at birth. He becomes a bounty hunter to prove his virility and to be accepted as a male.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Vivian Woman
Shin Megami Tensei / Persona 4 Naoto Shirogane Prefers to be treated without reference to gender.
Super Mario Bros 2 Birdo Woman Prefers to be called Catherine (JP) or Birdetta (US)
Street Fighter Poison Woman

Music

Title Artist Gender Notes
"Transgender Dysphoria Blues"Against Me! Woman From the album Transgender Dysphoria Blues
"True Trans Soul Rebel"Against Me! Woman From the album Transgender Dysphoria Blues

Music videos

Title Artist Gender Notes
"Sexy Dreams"Spoonboy Genderfluid Spoonboy plays a trans Batman.[3]

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.