Growing up in a small town with a deeply religious family, I’m sorry to say that the first gay people I met were actually Will Truman and Jack McFarland.
Ok, I didn’t actually meet them.
But once I became an adult, I invited them into my home on a weekly basis and learned a lot about gay issues in a fun, comedic way.
I can’t say enough about how just one sitcom (Will & Grace) could help open the minds and hearts of people (like myself) who were repeatedly told in church that being gay was a ‘choice’ and also a ‘sin.’
Of course over the next two decades, I’ve had friends and relatives come out as gay. And seeing gay characters portrayed on-screen now feels commonplace – which is amazing!
However, after my son came out as transgender, I realized that there were shockingly low numbers of trans people depicted in shows and movies.
And that’s when I happened upon a little show called Shameless. (If you haven’t seen it, you must!)
Anyway, binge watching the series paid off when they introduced Trevor in season 7 who is played by Elliot Fletcher (a trans man).
The series tackles ACTUAL trans issues like being called a “dude with a vagina,” and being rejected by a possible love interest because you’re not a “real” man.
Shameless also introduces top surgery, sex as a trans man, picking out packers, and plenty of other situations that transgender men have to face on a regular basis.
Seeing this handsome trans man in this wildly popular television show made me feel like I was seeing my son on-screen for the first time and it was thrilling!
I believe that characters like Trevor will soften the hearts and minds of people who will meet their first trans person on a tv screen.
And maybe someday, seeing trans men and trans women portrayed in shows will become mainstream.
I only hope it doesn’t take another two decades.
TransMama 