What Are Transgender Celebrities
We consider transgender celebrities to be trans people who have done things to become widely known. Because we want this list to be positive and affirming, we've also carefully selected members of the trans community who we believe uphold values that are core to Taimi and our members.
This list includes artists and entertainers. There are also activists, politicians, and others. We believe that any public-facing who is openly transgender deserves inclusion.
Who did we leave out? We don't speculate about anyone's gender identity. So, nobody is listed here who has not come out openly as trans or nonbinary. We're also leaving out trans people who don't support other trans and LGBTQIA+ folks.
Transgender Celebrities: Why They Matter
Why is it so important to acknowledge and showcase transgender celebrities? For us, the primary reason is trans visibility. Representation is so important. Imagine never seeing or reading about anyone like yourself. Transgender people deserve to see people like themselves on the screen and read about those who share their identity in a positive light.
Some young transgender people and adults may not encounter other trans folks in their daily lives. Worse, they may receive nothing but negative messaging about trans people in their own lives. For them, seeing a trans actor on tv, for example, sends the message that they can do great things.
Noteworthy Trans Women
It would be difficult to find just one trans woman who has done amazing things. So, let's honor a few of them.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is an actor and trans activist who first caught our attention on the award-winning TV show Orange is The New Black. There she played trans character, Sophia Burset. Interestingly, Laverne's twin brother portrayed her character before her gender-affirming surgeries.
Laverne Cox is the first trans person to appear on the cover of Time magazine. She's also received recognition for work she has done advocating for the transgender community. Cox received a Daytime Emmy award for her documentary film, Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word. Currently, Laverne Cox has several projects in the works including "The Uglies" for Netflix.
Jazz Jennings
Jazz Jennings is the first trans woman to have shared a full lifetime of experience with the world about being a transgender person. She first began openly identifying as a girl as soon as she could express herself. Jennings was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at the age of 4. Fortunately, she received support from her family who sought out gender-affirming treatment for her and ensured she spent time in supportive environments, including a camp for trans kids.
Throughout her childhood, Jazz made appearances on several TV shows to discuss the experiences and struggles that transgender children face. She and her family were also featured in a documentary on the Oprah Winfrey network. She is a clear example of how a public-facing trans person can be well-adjusted if they have a strong support system in place.
Hunter Schafer
Hunter Schafer is an actress and model who is currently playing a trans character on the HBO series Euphoria. However, she has said that in the future she will be avoiding trans roles as she simply wants to be considered a woman. She detailed this in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. According to her, that won't happen until she is exclusively playing non-trans characters.
When she isn't acting, Schafer is a formidable trans advocate. She has been listed as a plaintiff in a lawsuit fighting for the right of trans individuals to use the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity. She also wrote an essay about the lawsuit for Teen Vogue. That activism led to her being interviewed by Hilary Clinton.
In addition to her work for transgender rights, Hunter Schafer supports other human rights causes. She was recently arrested at a Jewish Voice For Protest advocating for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Laura Jayne Grace
Singer-songwriter Laura Jayne Grace is an openly trans woman who is the lead singer of the band Against Me! as well as a solo project Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers. She is one of the first people in the punk genre to be openly transgender.
Grace doesn't just make music. She also takes action in support of queer and transgender people. Her work includes advocating for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and supporting the trans community with representation through projects such as "True Trans" a 10-part documentary where trans people were encouraged to share their stories.
Dominique Jackson
"Throughout the years, many people have had this misconception about being transgender, and they have always come from their comfortability," she told Metro in 2019. "But we also have to realize that having gender-affirming surgeries, it is a personal journey. Every trans person's journey ends in a certain place." - Dominique Jackson
Dominique Jackson is an actor, writer, and model and activist. She appeared as herself on the TV series strut, and as an actor on Pose, American Horror Story, Chick Fight, and more. She has also done work with non-profit organizations in support of the rights of transgender people.
Jamie Clayton
Jamie Clayton is an actress and model with an extensive resume playing a wide range of CIS and trans characters. She has appeared on shows including Sense8 where she played a trans hacker. Her other appearances include:
- The L Word Generation Q
- Hellraiser
- Roswell, New Mexico
- Equal
- Designated Survivor
Her formidable talent and longstanding career make her one of many trans celebrities who serve as proof that someone can be her authentic self and achieve success in the entertainment industry.
Nicole Maines
Nicole Maines is an advocate for LGBTQ people, writer, and actress. She was a key character on the show Supergirl playing the first trans superhero (canon) portrayed on television. That character Nia Nal/Dreamer
She isn't just talented. Nicole Maines is formidable. She has been open about her trans identity since she was young and has consistently stood up for trans rights issues. Even before becoming known as an actress, she sued her school district to allow her access to the appropriate restroom.
Maines and her family have been featured in books and articles. Many of these explore her family dynamics, particularly the fact that she has an identical twin brother who is cis.
Nicole Maines has also flexed her talent as a writer. She wrote her character's comic book debut for DC Pride. That character has now appeared in other comics.
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
Formerly known as MJ Rodriguez, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez started her acting career on stage. This included an award winning performance in Rent. Her first major TV role was in the show Nurse Jackie. Since then she has been in the Carrie Diaries, Pose, Transformers: Rise of The Beasts, Loot, American Horror Stories, and other productions. She is the first transgender woman to be nominated for an Emmy award in a major acting category.
Wendy Carlos
Many people don't realize it, but the first transgender woman to win a Grammy is Wendy Carlos, and she did it more than 50 years ago. This in no way takes away from the amazing accomplishments of Kim Petras who won the award in 2023 and paid tribute to those who preceded her in her acceptance speech.
Still, Carlos deserves a lot of acknowledgment that she has never received. She was one of the inventors of the Moog synthesizer which was used on albums by ABBA, The Rolling Stones, Donna Summers and others. Her own Grammy-nominated work was for classical recordings using the synthesizer she invented.
Although she may not be a public facing person, Wendy, now in her eighties, is an important example of trans representation at every age.
Tommy Dorfman
"I kept, on Instagram, a diaristic time capsule instead—one that shows a body living in a more fluid space," - Tommy Dorfman
Tommy Dorfman is an actor who appeared on 13 Reasons Why, and came out as trans after the show wrapped. She has a degree in Theater Arts from Fordham University in New York and is originally from Atlanta, GA. In 2024 she launched Club Curran, a digital platform for queer and trans creatives.
Meet Transgender Guys Who Are Talented & Brave
Men are also a part of the trans experience. Here are a few trans guys who have shared their personal journey with the world.
Elliot Page
"I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey. I can't begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self. I've been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community." - Elliot Page
Elliot Page is probably one of the most well-known trans actors with a career spanning nearly 30 years. He has won multiple awards and has starred in both mainstream media and cult film and TV productions including:
- Juno
- X-Men: The Last Stand
- Hard Candy
- Trailer Park Boys
- Tales of The City
- Smart People
- Umbrella Academy
Page's outspokenness on gender identity issues has contributed to trans visibility. Additionally, he identifies as someone who is a feminist and pro-reproductive rights activist. Elliot Page was initially cast as a woman in Umbrella Academy, but her transition was worked into the storyline. Additionally, Netflix showed support for her identity by changing her name and pronouns across its platform and metadata.
Chella Man
Chella Man has a unique experience among trans actors in that he is also Asian, Jewish, and deaf. He is also a performance and visual artist, writer, and activist. His works reflect both depth and talent. Chella Man uses his art pieces to address issues relevant to both the transgender and deaf communities.
Gottmik/Kade Gottlieb
Kade Gottlieb is the first openly transgender man who appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race. His transgender character is Gottmik who uses feminine pronouns. Meanwhile, Kade Gotlieb uses masculine pronouns.
Brian Michael Smith
Brian Michael Smith is a trans man who started his career portraying a police officer in Queen Sugar. He has broken barriers as the first black, trans man to appear on network television. He has appeared on Homeland, The L Word, and other TV shows.
Smith has been fighting gender stereotypes since childhood, seeking to create his own narrative and path. He lived and was perceived as a boy since childhood and actively fought against constraints that would have forced him to live as his assigned gender. This led to his participation in athletics that are commonly associated with males and breaking gender barriers in his performances.
Kye Allums
There are many trans actors on this list, but Kye Allums came to fame as an athlete. He is a trans-masc basketball player who came out while he was playing NCAA basketball at George Washington University.
After leaving the school's basketball team and graduating with a degree in Fine Arts, Allum began traveling the country to talk about his trans person's journey with youth and others. He focuses much of his activism and action on anti-bullying and on encouraging inclusion for trans people in athletics.
Thomas Beatie
Thomas Beatie first gained notoriety in the early 2000s when he became known as the pregnant man. Beatie was impregnated via artificial insemination becoming the first legal male to give birth. This spurred a lot of conversation and controversy on the topic of medical transition, transgender marriage, and children born to gender non-conforming parents.
Thomas Beatie weathered intense bullying, threats, and scrutiny when he came into the public eye. However, thanks to his bravery more trans people are able to build the families they want to have today.
Elliot Fletcher
Elliot Fletcher is a trans person and actor who has appeared on Shameless, The Fosters, and Faking It. He has worked with other transgender celebrities to advocate for better trans characters and roles for people who are gender non-conforming.
Chaz Bono
Chaz Bono is the only son of Sono Bono and Cher. He is a writer, activist, and musician who went public with his story of coming out as a queer person and later as a trans man. Chaz appeared on Dancing With The Stars in 2011. While he didn't win the competition, he became the first openly transgender man to appear on television for something unrelated to their gender.
Bono has been involved in queer activism for many years. He campaigned against the Defense of Marriage Act, became a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission, and served as GLAAD's entertainment media director. Chaz has also worked as a writer for The Advocate.
Alex Blue Davis
Alex Blue Davis is a transgender actor who is most known for his role as Dr. Parker on Grey's Anatomy. He also served as executive producer of the TV series Alliance. He's also a talented musician and son of the late actor, Brad Davis. He is also a tireless activist for animal rights and world peace.
Nonbinary Celebrities You Should Know
Some celebrities occupy a gender-fluid space. They are not exclusively masculine or feminine. When people see a non binary character on television or learn of a non-binary person who is doing important things, empathy and understanding increases. If you are interested in finding a non-binary person who is worth admiring, here is your list.
Asia Kate Dillon
Asia Kate Dillon is an actor who has appeared in Orange is The New Black, Billions, and John Wick: Chapter 3. They identify as non-binary and use singular they/them pronouns. Dillon was given the choice of submitting themselves to the actor or actress category for an Emmy award, and chose the actor category, because it is gender neutral. In response to this, MTV removed gendering from its own awards categories.
Dillon has stated that they identify as nonbinary because they don't believe people need to accept just one identity in terms of their gender. In addition to acting, Asia Kate Dillon has produced a performance piece exploring racism and has released an album with the profits going to the Marsha P. Johnson foundation.
Lachlan Watson
Lachlan Watson is a non-binary actor who has appeared in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Chucky. They were raised in the research triangle, and began acting in the local theater scene in that region.
As an activist, Watson has taken part in many different advocacy initiatives. One of these is a Trans Justice Funding Project speaking on the importance of self-care and community building as a way to empower transgender folks.
Janelle Monae
Actress, singer, songwriter, and rapper Janelle Monae was a strong advocate for the queer community even before she came out as nonbinary in 2022. She has been an outspoken opponent of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation as well as the erasure of racial history.
Jonathan Van Ness
Jonathan Van Ness is more commonly known by his initials, J.V.N. He is an author, comedian, hairdresser, and podcast host. J.V.N. is based New York, New York and Austin Texas. He came out as nonbinary after realizing that he didn't not feel authentic identifying as only a man or a woman.
Jonathans activism work includes supporting politicians who campaign on queer rights issues, serving as an advocate for people who are HIV positive, and working with The Trevor Project on the issue of suicide among queer youth.
How You Can Support Transgender Representation
Everyone, young people in particular deserve representation. While it's wonderful that transgender folks are receiving more recognition for their accomplishments, we still have a long way to go. Remember that it wasn't too long ago that trans roles were often played by CIS actors.
It's important to stay vigilant to keep things moving in a positive direction. For example, you can support movie and television studios that cast actors who are transgender or nonbinary. You can also follow transgender and other gender non-conforming creators on social media. Finally, remember that there are trans women and men outside of the entertainment sphere including writers, politicians, scientists, and activists who aren't receiving the support, acknowledgment, or protections they need to continue to do the great work they do.
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