In a seventh season plot line of the Showtime series Shameless, out teen Ian (Cameron Monaghan) starts dating a new guy named Trevor (Faking It’s Elliot Fletcher), but isn’t aware that Trevor is transgender at first. Since this is TV, Ian finds out dramatically and has something of a personal crisis. He hurls all sorts of drunken questions Trevor’s way, then later has a more levelheaded chat with a LGBTQ group over lunch.
This isn’t just good TV.
In taking up the arc, the show works to portray different sides of the relationship. What is it like for Trevor to come out as transgender to a boy he’s interested in? How does Ian, who struggled with his own coming out as gay, process the initial confusion when he, too, feels romantically drawn to Trevor? And how do outsiders like Ian’s family, who have even less exposure to trans issues, become informed?
For the viewer — who may likely not be gay or trans or know someone who is — empathizing with each character’s conflict can give new dimension to a topic that might otherwise be limited to conversations about bathrooms or Caitlyn Jenner.
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“A few years ago, Ian was being confronted with people who were homophobic or weren’t accepting of his choices, and now it has become normalized. Suddenly he’s on the other side of it now, confronted with this new [trans] situation that he has to learn to accept,” executive producer Nancy Pimental tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Like people had to digest and process his sexuality in the beginning of the series, now Ian has to educate himself. As progressive as he can be in many ways, he can be limited in his exposure to people outside of his world.”
Pimental and the show’s team were also excited to be able to offer the role of Trevor to a trans actor, and were instantly charmed by rising star Elliot Fletcher.
In keeping with the Shameless tone, the relationship is rife with comedy and isn’t afraid to “go there.” In the most recent episode, for instance, Trevor and Ian must navigate their sexual chemistry after it’s revealed they’re both tops.
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“We were referred to some people who could help us get it right, and also were supportive of us doing it in a non-earnest, very Shameless kind of way,” Pimental explains. “There are other shows who tackle trans storylines in a more straight-line kind of way, but we needed to have somebody who was really supportive of us to make it messy.”
Check out a scene below, in which Lip (Jeremy Allen White) meets Trevor for the first time – and makes an embarrassing gaffe:
Heywood Jablowme
Thanks for this! I love “Shameless” and was hoping you’d bring it up.
Danny279
This is a heterosexual relationship. Whatever “Trevor” identifies as, the relationship is between a biological male and biological female, i.e., heterosexual. Hollywood has a long history of de-gaying gay characters, and this is just the latest example.
Jonesy21
@Danny279 What you’re saying is pretty transphobic. Trevor transitioned and identifies as male. He is a man who likes men, therefore he is gay. Let’s try not to blame Hollywood since you so obviously just don’t understand.
demetreus
The Gallagher children need Jesus lol
Ogre Magi
@demetreus: No Jesus needs the Gallagher kids, maybe he wouldn’t be such an old tight ass!
demetreus
@Jonesy21: Not to sound transphobic, but I don’t understand how a natural born female can go through transition just to become a gay man? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t that a situation where homosexuality is a choice?
I don’t mean to offend anyone, but I just can’t grasp it.
glennmcbride
@demetreus: Trevor is a man that likes men, therefore he is gay. he did not choose his gender nor his sexual orientation.he may have been assigned a gender at birth based on the appearance of his genitals but that is not his gender identity – that he is gay is also not a choice.
Prax07
Bull, you’re born male or female, no amount of wishing, surgery, or hormone treatments is going to change that, ever.
BartmanLA
What’s really going to be interesting in this story line is that they’re bringing Micky back into the story line at some point I think this season, which will play hell with Ian’s life and potentially his relationship with Trevor.
PrinceofReason
Such a grey area. Guy meets guy, guy likes guy, guy has girl parts. 4 me it’s a guy/girl. As a gay man, I don’t feel compelled to understand it, people are people.
jjose712
@demetreus: You need to educate yourself, because no gay man should mistake gender identity with sexual orientation.
And this is all nice, but i want Mickey back. I know they have a very violent and disfuntional relationship, but i don’t care, i want Mickey back
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
@Jonesy21: You don’t get to tell the world we all have to lie to make a few delusionals happy. We will not lie for them. Nothing they do will ever change the sex they are born and will be all their lives.
miserylovedme24
I’m so ready for Mickey to return. Besides loving him and Ian together, this storyline feels like it’s happening just for the sake of a trans storyline. I’m not into it.
Danny279
Here is an interesting thought experiment for those of you who think that “Trevor” is a legit gay man and that anyone who disagrees is a bigot. Let’s say you met Trevor. “He” tells you that he is a trans man and gay. And since you are totally progressive and not transphobic, you are attracted to him and start a relationship with him. 6 months later, Trevor tells you that he was wrong. He thought he was trans, but he now wants to go back to she/hers pronouns and identify as a woman. She won’t change anything else about herself. She will still dress, act, talk and present the same as before, but now as a woman. Do you stay with her? How are you gay if you stay with her?
jasentylar
I am in shock by the ignorance that is on display here–within our own community. If we can’t support each other, how can we expect outsiders to???
Captain Obvious
Meh worst storyline Ian has had so far. They really know how to make this character boring. His last boyfriend at least was going well till they busted that up for no real reason.
Mickey is really the only character who works with Ian without forcing it. Trevor feels like he belongs on some show other than Shameless. Too innocent, too after school special, and way too preachy/unrealistic.
Shameless is an adult dramady this is better suited for a teen soap.
Prax07
What exactly is there to be supportive about? Delusions and mental illness? Just saying you’re something doesn’t make it so, just believing you’re a different gender doesn’t make it so, it makes that person delusional.
amitco
@Prax07: Just saying you’re something (gay) doesn’t make it so, just believing you’re a different sexual orientation doesn’t make it so, it makes that person delusional…. Sounds familiar?
Just because you don’t understand transgenderism doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or that it a fantasy. In the same way that your christian neighbor doesn’t think that you are gay but just confused/sexually abused etc… doesn’t cancel the reality of you being gay
amitco
@demetreus: the only choice was to transition overtly to his real gender. His sex chromosome or his genitals doesn’t decides his gender. The same way that you being a male doesn’t mean you are heterosexual. Nature has variations to the norm.
amitco
@Prax07: b@PrinceofReason: “You don’t have to understand something for it to be actual and true. The average homophobe doesn’t understand you gay orientation. It doesn’t make it a gray are. Yes, people are people and they come in many varieties. You don’t have to have sex or fall in love with trans dudes. But don’t be an ignorant douche. As a gay man you should know better
stranded
I’m tired of Mickey. I hope he doesn’t come back. For Ian and Sletvanas sake too. Kevin is a better dad to his kid. Anyway, I like Ian and Trevor’s relationship story. To be honest I don’t think Elliot is a great actor. I liked him on the Fosters and I thought Callie was going to get with him, still could I guess if she doesn’t get killed. But he’s monotone and I didnt buy his anger in a scene with Ian. He is pretty hot though, kind of upset their sex scene was so tame. Since Shameless is on showtime it can be politically incorrect and deal with trans issues. It’s sad to see so much transphobia here
Prax07
@amitco So let’s see, you’re born gay right, it’s genetics? You’re born male or female right? Well trans-whatever is a mental illness, same as in people “believing” they’re actually an animal trapped in a human body, and having surgery to correct their appearance. That doesn’t make them an actual feline, or canine, or reptile. Believing they’re a girl/boy trapped in a boy/girl body is no different. Bruce Jenner is still a man, Chastity Bono is still a woman. No amount of plastic surgery, name changes, clothes, or hormone therapy ever changes anything other than how they look. If you find that offensive I really don’t care. A gay man dating a trans man is a hetero relationship since the trans man is, and always will be, an actual female.
Audran
@Danny279: 1.Mmmh being in a relationship is a matter of pronouns now ? If someone is attracted to him for 6 months and things were ok it doesn’t change if now the person identifies as he/she. If like you said he/she doesn’t change anything about her/him but the pronoun.
2. They are trans man that sexually identify as straight what does that make them? Lesbians?
Gender identity is not to confused with sexual orientation. The sexual orientation is determined from the gender identity. Therefore a trans man can be a gay man or a straight man o a bi/pan/omni sexual man. End of the story.
Audran
@Danny279: ] There are trans men
kille310
@Audran: The sexual orientation is determined from the gender identity.
I cant agree with you. Sexual orientation is determined from the sex of the person not what you choose to present or dress to the world. Gender identity matters but it just one part of it.
Also,
“Trevor and Ian must navigate their sexual chemistry after it’s revealed they’re both tops.”
Isn’t that like physically impossible?
Heywood Jablowme
@kille310: Yeah that was a bit confusing. I assume you haven’t seen the show in question (?) – they discovered they are both tops but now they stick dildos up each other and have agreed in theory (or something) to eventually, maybe, possibly fuck each other. Maybe!
I think in real life, most “regular” or “average” or “real” (gasp) gay guys who are attracted to each other, and then find out they are both tops, just agree to be good friends and not bother trying with sex.
notcisjustmale
Gender means something in language classes and that’s about it. Gender are the sex based stereotypes and sex role expectations imposed upon females by males to enforce their sense of superiority. The rest of it is just postmodernist claptrap. A human born with a vagina is a female – she can cut her hair, wear butch clothes, and smoke cigars all she wants, but she’s still female.
If Ian likes/loves/has the hots for Trevor, fine. I wish them the best. They are not in a gay relationship or having gay sex. Maybe Ian is bi. But with Trevor they are having straight sex.
2rainsong2
For me, the trans part is not the issue at all. If Trevor was a more interesting character, I’d be fine with it, but this relationship is as dull as drying paint. After Ian and Mickey’s SL, to go to Calab, which was a snore fest as it was, but then to get even more boring?? The chemistry with Mickey and Ian, total passion, love/hate, how much Mickey loved him, came out for him, did everything for him, and then these other two who treat him like he’s basically just there to fill in the time that their careers, friends and projects don’t take up. Sure, Ian may have wanted a more normal relationship, but there is no substitute for that kind of fire.
Was glad when Mickey came back and again gave him that, but for him to go back to Trevor in Season 8 will make me scream. Maybe Mickey and him are not meant to be, but why are the writers insisting on making him have the dullest relationships on the show now? Normal relationships don’t always equate to this, where there is no passion or conflict. The only conflicts here seem to be one guy isn’t gay but bi and the other is too damn goody goody. Trevor is boring. Give Ian someone he can enjoy life with, and not just a preachy do-gooder who has to school him all the time.