Happy Pride Month, everyone! Pride is about living your truth, celebrating who you are, and ultimately, joy, which we can all use right now. We’re kicking off our Pride celebration with this list of some of our favorite shows with trans and nonbinary characters:
1. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Theo, a trans character played by non-binary actor Lachlan Watson, is one of Sabrina’s best friends, and we watch him blossom as he discovers his gender identity and begins to embrace it. His friends do a good, but not perfect, job of supporting him throughout his journey, which makes the storyline more realistic and relatable.
2. Euphoria
If you haven’t watched it yet Euphoria, all we can say is congratulations on having your mental health intact. As annoying as the show is at times, Jules, played by trans actor Hunter Schafer, is definitely a highlight in contrast to main character Rue’s darkness. Jules is a character that you will never forget, with his striking sense of style (The makeup! The clothes! The hair!) and undeniable presence. Jules’ backstory fills in over time, and it’s troubled, as are her relationships with the boys. But in many ways, the show is a love story between him and Rue, and the fact that he’s trans is almost incidental to that relationship.
3. Orange is the New Black
The legendary Laverne Cox needs no introduction. His character in OITNBSophia, is complex and fascinating, and the show’s portrayal of her transition and her struggles within her marriage are just as much.
4. The Politician
James, who is a trans man, is played by nonbinary actor Theo Germaine. The best thing about the way James is written is that his trans identity isn’t all that central to the show or even his own storyline. It’s just him, and it’s normal.
5. Sex Education
Cal and Layla, two non-binary characters in the Sex Education, are somewhat secondary to the main storyline, but they leave a big impression. Cal, played by non-binary actor Dua Saleh, is at the forefront of the fight against the school’s new-but-too-gendered dress code and other policies. Layla, played by non-binary actor Robyn Holdaway, is shown binding Ace’s chest with bandages and later asks Cal for help in getting a more comfortable binder. The visibility these scenes brought to chest binding created a powerful cultural moment for trans and nonbinary people.
6. Pose
There are 5 amazingly talented trans actors in Pose—Indya Moore, MJ Rodriguez, Hailie Sahar, Dominique Jackson, and Angelica Ross. This show will make you laugh, cry, dance, and wonder why your wardrobe is so boring.
