{"id":50317,"date":"2017-02-16T04:00:35","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T09:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/why-everyones-talking-about-last-nights-trans-representation-on-tv\/"},"modified":"2017-02-16T04:00:35","modified_gmt":"2017-02-16T09:00:35","slug":"why-everyones-talking-about-last-nights-trans-representation-on-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/why-everyones-talking-about-last-nights-trans-representation-on-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"Why everyone's talking about last night's trans representation on TV"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why everyone's talking about last night's trans<\/a> representation on TV<\/b><\/p>\n

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People are expressing their enthusiasm on social media for Doubt\u00a0<\/em>on CBS–which trended on Twitter–and Star <\/em>on FOX, both of which featured Black trans<\/a> women<\/a> playing transgender characters in significant storylines last night.<\/p>\n

On Doubt<\/em>,\u00a0Laverne Cox stars<\/a> as\u00a0Cameron Wirth, an Ivy League-educated lawyer who fights injustice in the courtroom. It’s clear in the pilot that Cameron’s co-workers know and accept her as a trans<\/a> woman<\/a>, and their interactions are all about her legal strategies and whether or not she can win her case — not about her trans<\/a> identity. The show premiered last\u00a0night on CBS and airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

In Star<\/em>, Amiyah Scott stars<\/a> as Cotton, the trans<\/a> daughter of matriarch beauty salon owner Carlotta Brown. Their mother-daughter relationship took\u00a0center stage in the last night’s powerful episode when Pastor Harris, the man<\/a> Carlotta has been dating, tried to “cure” Cotton by forcing her to renounce her identity as a woman<\/a>. (It didn’t work.) The show airs Wednesday nights on FOX at 9 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

It’s rare to see the real, lived experiences of transgender people, embodied by trans<\/a> actors, on network television — let alone two in primetime on the same night. In both shows, the characters are exceptionally well cast, and their storylines transcend transition narratives\u00a0where the sole focus\u00a0is on the character’s physical transition. Transgender people, like everyone else, navigate careers, dating, relationships, religion, community,\u00a0and family. Showing these type of stories is the type of casual, matter-of-fact inclusion that GLAAD hopes becomes the standard for trans<\/a> media representation.<\/p>\n

It’s no wonder everyone is talking. There is a great need and demand for trans<\/a> people to see themselves represented and reflected in diverse story arcs with multi-dimensional characters, from lawyers to beauty salon receptionists. And essential\u00a0for people who are not familiar with trans<\/a> people to see that we are part of and participating\u00a0in everyday life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both Scott and Cox celebrated each other’s roles, while many more shared in on the significance.<\/p>\n

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Now, I gotta support my girl<\/a> @Lavernecox<\/a> in her new show @DoubtCBS<\/a> Starting NOW!!!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Amiyah Scott (@KingAmiyahScott) February 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Having a viewing party with the girls<\/a> to celebrate 2 black trans<\/a> women<\/a> on prime time television at the same time. @STAR<\/a> and @doubtcbs<\/a> t.co\/EFA1cqmGyr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) February 14, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Tonight, I’m switching channels between two black trans<\/a> women<\/a> @Lavernecox<\/a> @KingAmiyahScott<\/a> in primetime TV. #girlslikeus<\/a> #BlackHistoryMonth<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Janet Mock (@janetmock) February 15, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Tonight begins a prime time network show with a trans<\/a> lead, a trans<\/a> writer, and at least three other trans<\/a> women<\/a> in guest spots. @DoubtCBS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) February 15, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Read\u00a0Richards’ full tweet thread commentary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Read her full tweet thread:\u00a0twitter.com\/SmartAssJen\/status\/831912924994113536<\/a><\/p>\n

Tonight I get to turn on my TV and see 2 trans<\/a> characters played by trans<\/a> actors during primetime @Lavernecox<\/a> @KingAmiyahScott<\/a> #Doubt<\/a> #STAR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) February 15, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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20 min in and no mention of @Lavernecox<\/a> character’s trans<\/a> identity. So refreshing. She’s a Lawyer, everything else is secondary #doubt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) February 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A historic moment for Black trans<\/a> folks tonight in two shows @STAR<\/a> @DoubtCBS<\/a> with major Black trans<\/a> characters played by Black trans<\/a> women<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Monica Roberts (@TransGriot) February 15, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Shout out to @KingAmiyahScott<\/a> for her vulnerability and realness in portraying Cotton on #STAR<\/a>. She is on the rise and doing the damn thing. pic.twitter.com\/MbYSgW7AQi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) February 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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I couldn’t even tweet during #star<\/a> ….the episode hit so close to home I was just glued…… Such an amazing show and cast! Amiyah..<\/p>\n

\u2014 Isis King (@MsIsisKing) February 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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I keep wondering which bars are playing @DoubtCBS<\/a> because in my head it is as big as the Superbowl (and i’m a HUGE football fan).<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) February 15, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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As a trans<\/a> law student, it means the absolute world to me to see @Lavernecox<\/a> play a trans<\/a> lawyer. #Doubt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Miles Walser (@KilometersW) February 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The first time I learned the word “transgender” it was in a punchline in a comedy. Tonight, @Lavernecox<\/a> shatters stereotypes on CBS.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) February 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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February 16, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n