In 2015, 16 percent of Americans knew at least one trans person. The remaining 84 percent learned about the trans community through television and film — and that year, there was one trans character in a major studio movie.
In media studies, there's a concept of the "burden of representation" — that when there's only one character of a particular gender, race, or sexual identity, that they become responsible for speaking for an entire community through a single character portrayal.
In recent years, Hollywood has come a long way in representing communities not usually depicted in TV and film. But for trans actors, there's still a long way to go. A new video from GLAAD and ScreenCrush featuring rising trans actors explains the importance of telling authentic stories about transgender individuals instead of relegating them to a bit part or a punchline — or an award-winning role for a cis white male. Read more...
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