Historically, trans characters rarely appeared on television. If they did, openly trans actors seldom played them. Frequently, those characters were used as the butt of a joke or a plot twist. On episodes of The Jeffersons (1977) and Love Boat (1982), main characters confronted trans friends (both played by cis actors). In the 1990s, trans characters began to be written with a bit more care as with Anna Madrigal in Tales Of The City.
It was not until the 2010s that viewers begin to see trans/gender-nonconforming actors, like Alex Newell and Laverne Cox, play trans or non-binary characters. Fortunately, as Hollywood increasingly celebrates diversity, trans actors get cast in roles including main characters, and trans characters are being included in great television.
9-1-1: Lone Star
Brian Michael Smith as Paul Strickland
Available to stream on Hulu.
This spin-off of Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1 gathers a diverse firehouse crew together in Austin, Texas including Paul Strickland, a firefighter from Chicago. Strickland joins the 126 which accepts him as an openly trans teammate. More importantly, the crew frequently depends on Paul, an extremely brave and intelligent firefighter.
Brian Michael Smith has been acting for quite some time but began to gain notoriety as Toine Wilkins in Queen Sugar. Smith also appeared on The L Word reboot Generation Q. Paul Strickland's storylines address issues with family and dating, but this character shines most while helping people out in the field.
The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina
Lachlan Watson as Theo Putnam
Available to stream on Netflix.
Supernatural high school horror series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is connected to the Archie comic books and the Riverdale TV series. Sabrina, a teen witch, has a small group of close friends who help her with mysterious capers in their spooky hometown. The show is frequently light-hearted while handling a variety of issues around coming-of-age.
Sabrina's close friend, Theo Putnam, works on figuring out his gender identity. Theo has a mysterious family history and well-developed backstory. Nonbinary actor Lachlan Watson embodies Theo's numerous personal challenges with his progress woven in with his friends'.
Euphoria
Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn
Available to stream on HBO Max.
This Emmy-award-winning high school drama is a remake of an Israeli show by the same name. It revolves around a group of students all working out where they fit in. Euphoria's cinematography is dark and haunting, the acting is masterful, and the storylines dive deep into addiction, social media, and bullying just to name a few.
Rue, the lead, is close friends with Jules who is fairly new to the school. Though Jules is openly trans, the label isn't the only thing about her that is focused on. Trans fashion model Hunter Schager, in her first acting role, embodies Jules fully and finds great depth in the character.
Y: The Last Man
Elliott Fletcher as Sam Jordan
Available to stream on Hulu.
Based on a Vertigo comic book series by the same name, Y: The Last Man starts with all mammals with a Y chromosome dying in an instant - except for Yorick and his monkey, Ampersand. Chaos ensues as the world fights to regain control.
The comics never really addressed the other men who survived beyond Yorick, but the series places Sam Jordan played by Elliott Fletcher (The Fosters, Shameless) firmly in the action as Yorick's sister's close friend. Sam quickly becomes one of the most complex characters who now much justify his survival among large groups of smart, ruthless cis women in Y: The Last Man. Sam is forced to defend himself but his transness is never the central issue.
Genera+ion
Nava Mau as Ana
Available to stream on HBO Max.
This high school drama set in a conservative California city has drawn comparison to Euphoria, however, its tone and style are completely different. Genera+ion's story revolves around a diverse group of kids and their families but its core has a sense of joy, not trauma.
This is Nava Mau's first major role, playing Greta's cool aunt. Ana is the one to go to for advice, fun, and understanding. Her role in no way revolves around transitioning or trauma, which is rare for many trans characters on TV. Instead, Mau's Ana is both intriguing to her niece and a break from Greta's very strict mother.
Work In Progress
Theo Germaine as Chris
Available to stream on Showtime.
This Chicago series stars writer/comedian Abby McEnany as a character named Abby who also struggles with OCD and depression. Lily Wachowski (The Matrix, Sense8), who happens to be trans, writes and produces the show. Plus there is the added treat of SNL alum Julia Sweeney playing herself. This hilarious, awkward, and innovative show is a delightful surprise.
Abby meets a young waiter named Chris. The two are attracted to each other but Abby, who identifies as a lesbian, has never dated a trans man before. Theo Germaine, a trans nonbinary actor, personifies this Gen Z character who is much more put together than poor insecure and uncertain 45-year-old Abby. The two find it difficult to date, but more because of Abby's issues.
Sort Of
Bilal Baig as Sabi Mehboob
Available to stream on HBO Max.
There has never been a series quite like Sort Of - the story of a Muslim, non-binary millennial living in Toronto. The story introduces the viewer to Sabi Mehboob (Baig) and their variety of worlds - the family they nanny for who loves them very much, the staff at the bookstore/bar, their friends and family - all of which feel very much in transition.
This series is quite special in that creator/writer/lead Bilal Baig worked very hard to include trans and genderfluid actors and crew whenever possible, so that even many of the background actors are part of the community. Fortunately, Sabi is working hard to discover who they truly are and what will make them happy.
Star Trek: Discovery
Ian Alexander as Gray Tal
Available to stream on Paramount+.
In this, the seventh television series of the Star Trek franchise, Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her crew boldly go ten years before the Enterprise original series. Discovery began breaking boundaries from the start with the married couple, ship's doctor and chief engineer, played by Wilson Cruz and Anthony Rapp respectively.
The character of Gray Tal has had an amazing journey and trans actor Ian Alexander (The OA) handled his evolution masterfully. Tal, a transgender Trill, is part of engineering Adira. Eventually, Dr. Culber figures out how to incorporate Tal into a synthetic body. The character's transness is neither a plot twist nor a struggle but merely a fact, as it should be by the 32nd century.
We Are Who We Are
Jordan Kristine Seamón as Caitlin/Harper Poythress
Available to stream on HBO Max.
Creator Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Suspiria) transports the viewer to a rarely-seen locale, a U.S. military base located outside a small Italian town where the army brats go to escape. The main characters, two American teens, don't fit into the culture on base and bond while trying to figure out who they are.
Caitlin/Harper begins to trust Fraser, who's recently moved in. They let Fraser help them begin to experiment with their gender. The changes they're making feel riskier in such a conservative community, but they slowly move toward their true self. Genderfluid actor Jordan Kristine Seamón handles the subtlety and internal struggle of this character with great finesse for such a new performer.
Veneno
Lola Rodríguez as Valeria
Available to stream on HBO Max.
This magnificent Spanish series tells the true-life epic tale of a trans sex worker turned television icon in Madrid. This central plot is wrapped in the coming-of-age story of a transitioning journalism student curious about the life of Cristina La Veneno, who's now older and retired. This epic series spans both characters' lives with rich, multifaceted, and often glorious storytelling.
The young actor's first major role as Valeria is powerful. The trans actor must perform each step through the character's evolution in an intimate deconstruction of what it means to transition in modern times versus what Cristina La Veneno had to go through many decades ago. This thoughtful, complex show is held together by a variety of performances, but Lola Rodríguez is the glue.