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Scripted TV

Images of minoritized individuals matter, in terms of both quantity and quality. Historically, trans people were largely invisible in the media, including on television. On the rare occasion that a trans character made it on to the small screen, the representation was one of a pariah or a punchline. Recognizing the power of the media, trans advocates fought for increased visibility and more accurate representations. In the 2000s, the contours of the television landscape have changed dramatically, but most trans advocates maintain that further changes are necessary.

Historic Firsts

The history of depictions of trans people on television includes these firsts.

  • In 1977, All That Glitters featured the first trans regularly occurring character in a television series, played by Linda Gray of Dallas fame. This short-lived series, produced ...
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