Throughout the last century, Hollywood has grown leaps and bounds in expanding its on-screen diversity, especially in the representation of the LGBTQ community. The entertainment industry has many unfortunate roots in homophobic and transphobic tropes; however, films and television series centering transgender people have helped Hollywood make strides in advancing how it presents this population.
In honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, here are eight movies and TV series you should watch.
Disclosure
Executive produced by transgender actress, activist and icon Laverne Cox, Disclosure documents the history of transgender representation in the media from Hollywood's conception to the present day. Through personal interviews from several trans and non-binary folks in the industry, Disclosure helps audiences understand why many past media depictions of transgender people were extremely harmful. The documentary gives a hopeful message about how representing transgender people on-screen could look going forward.
Pose
An FX series featuring the largest transgender cast in history, Pose portrays the African American and Latinx '80s and '90s ball culture of New York City. The drama depicts the hardships of what it was like to be LGBTQ during this time period, including the devastation of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Pose is a heartfelt and moving show, receiving much critical acclaim and love from audiences.
Boys Don't Cry
Boys Don't Cry is a 1999 film based on the true story of a transgender man named Brandon Teena. Set in Nebraska, Boys Don't Cry follows Brandon as he finds love and strives for acceptance but falls victim to horrible hate crimes. Although it is slightly controversial for casting a cisgender woman, Hilary Swank, as the lead, it is still culturally significant for being the first major motion picture to center a transgender male character. In 2019, the Library of Congress added Boys Don't Cry to the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."
Paris Is Burning
While Pose is a fictional depiction of ball culture, Paris Is Burning is a 1980 documentary exploring the same topic. Directed by Jennie Livingston, the film takes a deep dive into this community, shedding light on gender roles, the HIV/AIDS crisis, sex work, homophobia, etc. Paris Is Burning is considered by critics to be crucial documentation of the "Golden Age" of the ballroom scene. In 2016, the Library of Congress added Paris Is Burning to the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Tangerine
Shot entirely on iPhone 5s smartphones, Tangerine follows Sin-Dee Rella, a transgender sex worker who discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Thus, she and her friend, Alexandra, embark on a mission to get revenge on her cheating boyfriend. Tangerine was met with high critical acclaim and is praised for its portrayal of transgender individuals.
We Are Who We Are
Set in an American military base in Italy, We Are Who We Are follows a group of teenagers as they navigate love, loss, identity and coming-of-age. Directed by Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino, the HBO series features Caitlin Poythress, a young person assigned female at birth who is struggling with her gender identity. With the help of her eccentric friend, Fraser Wilson, Caitlin explores this seemingly forbidden side of her, such as taking on the name Harper and dressing in "masculine" clothes.
Although We Are Who We Are never explicitly states that Caitlin is transgender, the series is a beautiful, moving and honest look at what it's like for a young person struggling with gender identity. It also provides on-screen representation to trans-masculine folks, a group often overlooked in the media.
Euphoria
The hit HBO teen drama Euphoria follows Rue, a seventeen-year-old recently released from rehab, trying to live a sober life. She falls in love with a transgender girl named Jules, played by Hunter Schafer, who is transgender herself. Jules is a notable transgender character because while her identity is important and part of her storyline, it isn't the only aspect of her that the series focuses on. In this way, Euphoria sets an example for how films and television shows should portray their LGBTQ characters -- as fully formed individuals who are significant outside of their queer identity.
Big Mouth (Season 4)
While all seasons of Big Mouth are hilarious and enjoyable, Season 4 stands out for its transgender character, Natalie. Voiced by transgender actress Josie Totah, Big Mouth follows Natalie as she navigates summer camp where her peers knew her before she came out. The show places the audience in Natalie's shoes, depicting the anxieties and reality of gender dysphoria and navigating transition as a young person. Like Euphoria does with Jules, Big Mouth also does an excellent job of balancing Natalie's identity with other aspects of her as a person.