Netflix's new documentary Disclosure highlights the history of trans representation in the media, dating from all the way back at the beginning of Hollywood to the present. It's no secret that representation of transgender men and women in the media has historically been both offensive and inaccurate. The documentary evaluates films and television shows that have both hurt the trans community and spurred progress, while also presenting critiques, and praise, of specific pieces examples of representation.

One of those critiques is in regard to the "man-in-dress" jokes that were once a staple of entertainment. Many of the trans people interviewed in Disclosure spoke of their disdain for that kind of representation. However, when Bugs Bunny and his history of cross-dressing were presented, no one had a negative word to say. That's because that, unlike so many other drag tropes, Bugs Bunny was a positive representation.

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Media portrayals long presented queer and trans people in an inaccurate light, leading to more harm than advancement. However, at times, the rare non-offensive character was included, and Bugs Bunny was one of the few characters that older media got right. The lovable "Wascally Wabbit" is a trickster famous for his blasé, unruffled personality and Brooklyn accent. He became a cultural icon, and was the official mascot of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

The wild popularity of Bugs Bunny had to be due to his lovable personality traits -- and woven within those is queerness. Although viewers may not have caught on to that queerness initially, there was prominent coding within his character, the most obvious being when Bugs "cross-dresses."

Most media of the time that enlisted a cross-dressing male character presented him as the butt of the joke, a sort of "punching down" at gender-nonconformity. However, Bugs is different. When Bugs cross-dresses, he is pretty, confident and in control. In his wig, makeup and dress, he fooled Elmer Fudd time and again, passing effortlessly as female. Bugs' character was a positive representation of drag culture and queer people as a whole. Because of that, many LGBTQ+ people have looked up to him as a role model of sorts -- a rare thing to find in TV and films of the past.

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There were many times when Bugs showed off his gender nonconformity. In the 1946 short Hair-Raising Hare, Bugs assumes the persona of a gay manicurist. In the 1952 short Water, Water Every Hare, he stops a monster in his tracks, appalled by its awful hairstyle. He takes on the persona of a gay hairstylist, exclaiming, "My stars, where did you ever get that hairdo? It doesn't become you at all! Here, for goodness sake, let me fix it up!" It's also worth noting that Bugs was not afraid to plant a big kiss on his male costars: He's smooched    Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam and Porky Pig.

In all of his queer glory, Bugs would always emerge triumphant. He was a character viewers rooted for, despite widespread disdain during that era for the LGBTQ+ community. Bugs is a queer icon.

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