TCA: GLAAD – Only 11 Transgender Characters on Television Series

Transgender Pride Flag

According to today’s GLAAD panel at the TCA summer meetings, there are only 11 transgender characters on broadcast, cable, and streaming television series.  These numbers are as of today: August 4, 2017.

These are numbers that need to improve because 11 is a small number when you factor in the 278 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters (71 on broadcast, 142 on cable, 65 on streaming).  Of the 83 bisexual characters, there are 64 women and the 19 men are often characterized as jokes.  How are transgender youth going to feel comfortable coming out if they don’t have see any role models to look up to on television?  Even in the movies, the numbers are low.

GLAAD’s panel on transgender inclusivity included Laverne Cox, Alexandra Billings, Jill Soloway, Shadi Petosky, and Rhys Ernst.  Of the 11 aforementioned transgender characters, three of them are on Transparent.

Cox spoke about how transgender people are being killed because people have misconceptions.  Meanwhile, Shadi Petosky opened up on her thoughts about the early transgender characters.


A few notes on why transgender representation is as bad as it has been on television:


Holbrook tweeted some of the panel’s highlights.   Holbrook points out that GLAAD wants a day where a transgender character is in a leading role but it’s not about their being trans.

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Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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