Entertainment*
Trans is Beautiful

In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility: bask in the wisdom of trans entertainers

By David Reddish March 31, 2021 at 12:11pm

In celebration of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, we here at Queerty take moment to reflect on the push for transgender equality, trans representation and the evolution of opportunities for trans people on both sides of the camera. The wisdom and truth offered by these amazing talents offer a perspective not just on changing attitudes about transgender people, but on the wisdom life gifts to all LGBTQ folk.

Don't believe us? Read these quotes of shared truth from some of our favorite people and feel your heart swell.

[tps_header] In celebration of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, we here at Queerty take moment to reflect on the push for transgender equality, trans representation and the evolution of opportunities for trans people on both sides of the camera. The wisdom and truth offered by these amazing talents offer a perspective not just on changing attitudes about transgender people, but on the wisdom life gifts to all LGBTQ folk. Don’t believe us? Read these quotes of shared truth from some of our favorite people and feel your heart swell. [/tps_header]

About that time Alexandra Billings made us scream with laughter, then made us cry

On the importance of mentorship among queer people:
So when you ask about the necessity of mentorship, my answer is survival. Our community will not be able to continue if we cannot honor what we were, so we can honor who we are becoming. We cannot do that if we don’t have people around us lifting us up as we travel down the Yellow Brick Road. So the necessity of mentorship is the theme of survival. And let me say this to every single LGBTQ individual 40 years or older: you have a responsibility. This is your job. That’s why you’re here. If you’re over 40 you’ve already lived through a viral plague. This is your second one. And there’s no reason in the world for you to waste time feeling sorry for yourself when there are hundreds and hundreds of LGBTQ youth who need your voice. Get. Up.

Trans actress Shakina Nayfack on curing the pandemic fatigue with ‘Connecting…’

On the power of forgiveness:
I believe behavior transformation comes from heart transformation. So what I tried to present…was a simple exercise to meditate on forgiveness in your own life to build the muscle to give and receive it in relationships. In terms of moving forward, I think we have to close our eyes and imagine forgiving the people we are really angry with, and forgive ourselves for the reasons we haven’t shown up enough to prevent atrocities. We have to learn to draw healthy boundaries around that which we deem to be unforgivable and learn how to live healthy, compassionate lives without that getting in the way. Those are big steps.

Dominique Jackson schools us on celebrity, activism and the importance of great shoes

On the empowerment of working as a transgender actor:
As someone who has faced domestic violence, abuse, when I get into these roles like Electra, or even my role on Chick Fight, it is empowering to know from where I came from—oppression, marginalization—I get to see these characters and be these women who allow me to know it’s OK to say “F*ck you” at times. It’s ok for me to speak up for myself. It’s OK to say “Get the f*ck out of my life. I don’t need you right now.” These women, Electra and Ms. World, give me that power to say it’s ok not to follow a traditional I need you. It shows me power in the feminine aspects of our society. It shows me also that we need to discontinue with this male-female traditional crap. It’s not about if you’re male or female. It’s about getting the job done. So for me, Mr. World is not this misogynistic character that only feels like he has to turn into powerful men. He now realizes that a non-binary state helps. Being a woman is not to be put down or less than. Being a woman is powerful.

Betsy West & Julie Cohen explain why Pauli Murray is the most important queer you’ve never heard of

Cisgender director Jule Cohen on how a wildly influential queer person like Pauli Murray can go unnoticed:
I think there’s a whole variety of reasons. Certainly, prejudice—racism, sexism, some kind of unspoken sense of homophobia or transphobia. Then there’s the fact that a decision on Pauli’s own part, in certain ways, to not be too public for concern about having a private life that wasn’t talked about. Then, there is the interesting fact that in life Pauli did get some attention. Part of this is how do we assess history? There’s been so much talk about people who didn’t get obituaries in The New York Times. Well, Paul’s obituary did appear in The New York Times. Then, decades later, people get a bit lost to history. As a culture, maybe we don’t know what to make of a figure like Pauli that is involved in so many movements. We talk about an idea who’s time has come. That suggests there is such a thing as having an idea too early for people to latch onto. And that’s Pauli’s experience her entire life—having an idea whose time had not come.

Chase Joynt & Amos Mac on discovering–and respecting–trans icon Billy Tipton in ‘No Ordinary Man’

Director Chase Joynt on the dearth of transmasculine stories:
I think it’s important when we talk about the hypervisibility of transfeminine stories in media that there’s this perfect combination of misogyny and homophobia. There’s a kind of hysteria around trans femininity. The same can’t be said for transmasculinity. I think that there’s a kind of history of transmasculine subjects who transition and pass and live lives obscured by various heteronormative structures. I’m not sure we’re in a moment where transmasculine stories are everywhere in culture. I think we’re in a moment where transmasculinity is trying to have a kind of shape and form, and that transmasculinity now signals something in culture. Looking back on this project, nobody would have identified Billy Tipton as a transman in the 50s or really even in the 80s. Transness in historical context does not look the same way. So I think we’re in a moment where transmasculinity has a kind of meaning, and therefore there’s an opportunity for a kind of cultural address.

Kate Bornstein on the beauty of cowboys in love and the power of non-binary gender in ‘Two Eyes’

On the importance of a director’s willingness to listen to LGBTQ cast & crew to ensure authenticity:
There’s no hard and fast guidance for this. It has to be a case by case basis. When you look at the heart of Two Eyes and you see it’s a story of trans blossoming, or more than that, of non-binary trans blossoming over time—if that’s the story in [director Travis Fine’s] heart, part of him knows that story. If he’s willing to make the changes the way people who have lived that story want to make those changes, you go “You’re good with me.” I don’t know if that would have been possible in another film with another script. I hope I get a chance to find out.

‘Disclosure’ director Sam Feder on the complicated history of trans representation

On the simple power of interviewing other transgender people:
Interviewing is so intimate. You stare into each other’s eyes for hours. And I fall in love with everyone I interview. I think what surprised me is how grateful people were to be part of the project, and how it made them feel heard in a way they hadn’t before. They were appreciative of our production model, where if we couldn’t hire a trans person, we hired someone to mentor a trans person. It was a set unlike any other anyone had been on before. And how open and vulnerable everyone was always impressed me.

Bombshell trans actress Trace Lysette spills on how Twitter landed her a part in ‘Hustlers’

On playing characters, regardless of gender history: Whether the character is specifically trans or specifically cis, I am invested in telling all stories that I’m able to tell. I think it’s really cool that they didn’t address it in Hustlers because it allows the audience to form their own opinion. Sometimes we spoon-feed things to audiences. I don’t think that’s necessary. This might even be more effective in terms of opening people’s minds because it’s not too on the nose or hitting them over the head with it. They can come to their own conclusion or Google me later on, maybe fall down a rabbit hole of different articles about being trans. Something that would educate them: I hope that’s what comes of it.

Janet Mock on being a constant trailblazer and directing the ‘Pose’ Season Finale

On the power of finding daily gratitude:
I think for me, the fact that I can live my truth. I’ve been able to live my truth since I was 12 years old. That’s the most gratifying for me. I don’t have to live a lie. I’m anchored in my truth, and by telling my truth as a writer, as a memoirist, as a director, that I am able to offer kids growing up like I did affirmative images of themselves, affirmative stories, things that can make them puff out their chest a bit more. I am all too aware of how it feels to be a young person—or just a person period—aching to be yourself and be met with a shake of a head instead of a nod, to not be affirmed for who you are.

Mitch Harrison brings transmasculine athletics to a new level in ‘The Titan Games’

THE TITAN GAMES — “West Region 2: The True Meaning of a Titan” Episode 206 — Pictured: Mitch Harrison — (Photo by: Steve Dietl/NBC)
On still being associated with his deadname:
To be honest, it used to be something that really was difficult for me. I struggled to talk about it. I struggled to relive it. But I’ve noticed as my life has gone on, and just as opportunities like this present themselves, I’ve been more embracing of who I used to be. I celebrate that person. I celebrate Michelle and what I went through to become Mitch. I’m so grateful for that, especially because towards the beginning of my transition I was like I’m going to erase this person. I never have to think about her again. And I’ve come to realize how sad that is. At the end of the day, it’s still part of me. She’s part of who I am, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of in that. It can be difficult at times, it can be uncomfortable. But at this point, I’m so much more in a place of celebration for who she was and her strength to help realize Mitch. So it’s much less of a tip-toe around thing. I’m very grateful for her, and appreciative of that.

MJ Rodriguez kicks down a new door with her new role in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

On the importance of involving queer people in all productions, regardless of role:

It’s important that we have more representation from those of us in the LGBTQ community. We have to constantly keep on the ball and show that we’re here for the work, not that we’re here to push anything down anyone’s throats. We just want to be seen like other individuals. We’re five-dimensional. We’re human. We don’t fall into the category of one kind of character. We have many facets to us. Anyone behind casting should be well educated in that. Once people start doing that, they’ll see it’s not about transness. It’s not about who’s cis, or who’s gay, or who’s playing the straight role or vice versa. It should be simple: they were there to deliver the talent. We’re just trying to level the playing field a little bit, that’s all.

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8 Comments*

  • James26

    Why is it “Trans Day of Visibility”? I thought we were “LGBT people.” I thought that it was horrible and exclusionary and wrong to separate the T from LGB. I thought that all of those cliches like “We’re all in this together!” and “None of us is free unless we are all free!” were actually to be believed.

    But it turns out that “LGBT” only exists when it’s time for trans activists to lay hands on some sweet LGB money or real estate or when they require a free slave army to fight one of their many, endless wars. “LGBT” is a device, invented to benefit trans activists at the expense of LGB people. In contexts where it does not serve that purpose, it vanishes like the morning mist.

    That’s why there is a “Trans Day of Visibility” but no “LGB Day of Visibility.”

    • LunaBee

      It’s Trans Day of Visibility because it’s important to have a space for Trans people to be recognized and listened to. The LGBTQIA Community is not a monolith in when it comes to the experiences we have and having days like Trans Day of Visibility existing in the first place acknowledges that.
      Your comment proves why the Day of Visibility is needed in the first place, since it’s so frecking transphobic to imply trans people are only under the LGBT community to benefit themselves and are antagonistic towards LGB people when trans and non-binary people have been a part of the community from day one.

    • Cam

      Sweetie, you went on another thread that had nothing to do with trans people to complain about Trans people.

      It’s cute that you think we don’t all remember this as one of your right wing troll screenames. I get that you hate LGB people, but you seem to REALLY reserve a special hatred for Black people and Trans people.

      You aren’t fooling anybody, and your troll game is old and tired.

  • Cam

    Dominique Jackson is great in Pose and I wouldn’t mind seeing her as a villain in some superhero movie.

  • Kangol2

    It’s great to celebrate Trans people, including all the ones who are out there fighting on behalf of trans people in this country and around the globe. Happy Trans Day of Visiblity!

    • rural queer socialist

      Hopefully, Queerty will also make ‘VISIBLE’ the trans* persons who have been

      ABUSED – emotionally, physically, sexually, and financially – by other trans* persons who claim to be their ‘friends’, ‘trans* parents’, ‘allies’

      COERCED or CAJOLED into unwanted addictions, unsafe uses of hormones, etc by other trans* persons who claim to be their ‘friends’, ‘trans*parents’, ‘allies’

      MADE HOUSELESS or JOBLESS by bad advice from other trans* persons who claim to be their ‘friends’, ‘trans*parents’, ‘allies’

      TRAFFICKED into labor or sex work other trans* persons who claim to be their ‘friends’, ‘trans*parents’, ‘allies’

      LIED TO, CHEATED/CHEATED ON, STOLEN FROM by other trans* persons who claim to be their ‘friends’, ‘trans*parents’, ‘allies’

      When will Queerty spend as much time on those stories? Don’t all those HARMED and ABUSED and TRAFFICKED trans* people need ‘visibility’?

  • rural queer socialist

    Hello, honey doodle dumplings …

    This is nice – the ‘WISDOM of trans* ENTERTAINERS” … but

    Where are the lovely adoring, lavished produced and presented pieces on

    the WISDOM of trans* NURSES
    the WISDOM of trans* ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE GROCERY AND FOOD PRODUCTION INDUSTRIES
    the WISDOM of trans* PEOPLE WHO FIX YOUR BUSTED PLUMBING AT A FAIR PRICE
    the WISDOM of trans* MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY WORKERS
    the WISDOM of trans* COAL MINERS, SOLAR FIELD TECHNICIANS, AND OTHER ENERGY WORKERS (so that you can get onto Queerty, etc)
    the WISDOM of trans* TRUCK DRIVERS, DELIVERY DRIVERS
    the WISDOM of trans* DOCTORS and RESEARCHERS
    the WISDOM of trans* PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIE CHEAT AND STEAL
    the WISDOM of trans* PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD TO MAKE A LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING THEIR ELDERLY IMMIGRANT PARENTS, THEIR SISTER WITH CANCER, THEIR UNCLE WITH DEMENTIA, ETC

    WHERE ARE THOSE pieces? I couldn’t find them in the search function.

    Thank you.

  • tallskin4

    Wow, it escaped me that yesterday was trans day of visibility.

    Is it just me or does this precious day seem to come around quicker each week?

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