GLAAD’s Trans Images on TV report yielded a pretty dismal find: 6 percent of people surveyed found trans characters on television “defamatory.” The survey, taken in 2013, could use an update, but I doubt much would change. It’s seemingly never a good time to cast a trans character in a film unless depravity, deception, and/or a punchline is the basis for their presence.
We can do better.
When you want to effectively capture what’s at the heart of a character, you need someone who can be the living embodiment of the writing, a full representation of the role, a vessel in which a story is believably conveyed to an audience. Would The Color Purple be as effective if, instead of Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg in leading roles, the casting directors chose Geena Davis and Sigourney Weaver to tell the story? Would The Joy Luck Club had half as much impact if the leading ladies were Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan? Or how about 12 Years A Slave, starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix? No thanks — and that’s just a switcheroo of race.
How about gender? If someone were to remake Erin Brockovich, a famous film about a woman taking on the system, and Zachary Quinto were cast in the title role, wouldn’t there be a mountain of criticism to overcome as the producers tried to explain away why a cis male is depicting a woman? Of course there would be; it’s disingenuous. Now tell me why it’s “patently ridiculous” to suggest that shows and movies depicting trans characters be played by trans actors.
We already deal with trans actors having a rough time getting roles that aren’t only positive, but don’t adhere strictly to the trans-specific themes. Would Hollywood let actress Candis Cayne, who is trans, play Erin Brockovich? You know the answer to this already — count how many roles Hollywood has given trans actors (much less leading roles) and see the blackout for yourself.
So if Hollywood’s audience isn’t ready to experience trans leading men and ladies in cis roles, can’t we at least play parts written for and about us? Let’s be frank: American audiences haven’t been so gaga for Eddie Redmayne that his casting was a guarantee of box-office success. Ditto Elle Fanning for About Ray. Why, then, is it so inconceivable that some of us would turn the other cheek when yet another trans character will be depicted by a cisgender actor? The consideration of this notion is all I ask of readers.
