Should Trans People Play Trans Characters? Yes and No

[Natasha]

Should Trans People Play Trans Characters? Yes and No

http://tranifesto.com/2013/06/24/should-trans-people-play-trans-characters-yes-and-no/
6/24/13
Matt Kailey

The idea of trans people playing trans characters on television, in films, and on stage comes up time and time again, and will probably continue to do so as more trans characters are appearing in mainstream story lines and more trans actors are moving into the mainstream entertainment world.

When Boys Don't Cry came out years ago, my first thought was "They couldn't find a trans man to play this part?" The thought came back when Transamerica graced the big screen and I wondered if there really weren't any trans women out there to play this role. But the truth is that if they had found trans actors to play Brandon Teena and Bree, the films would not have taken off the way that they did.

[suzifrommd]

Actually I think the casting of Felicity Huffman is what sunk the movie for me.

For nearly every transwoman I know, a major battle in their transition is trying to get a male body, with all it's bulkiness, hairiness, lumbering, and deep-throated growls to play a female role.

With Huffman, a female bodied person, that struggle just wasn't there. I could see a male-bodied actor playing a trans woman in transition, but that female bodied actress simply didn't bring the story home.

Interesting that I felt that way at the time, even though I had zero knowledge of transgender and had not yet met a transgender person up close. Now that I'm going through a transition myself, I'm all the more convinced.

[BunnyBee]

Yes I do believe they should.  Any interested hollywood producers may pm me with their offers .

[kelly_aus]

I'd love to say yes..

But, so many of us are terrible actors - I tried to play the part of a male for years and thought I was doing it OK.. Turns out I sucked badly at it..

[Severyonna]

I do think that they should have trans characters be played by trans people. Me personally don't like that movie. we need better movies with trans people in them some addressing the issues we have as human beings. And just have trans characters in movies that are not the stereotypically deep voiced sexual deviants. But just played as a normal characters in a film or play. this is coming from an actor/writer/director. I do plan on making and performing art like this.

[V M]

I would have to vote yes, a trans character should be played by a trans person imo

And just have trans characters in movies that are not the stereotypically deep voiced sexual deviants.

Yes, some most of the stereotyping of trans people in various films is rather offensive imo

[emmyiskindacool]

I think that a trans actor should play trans person roles in movies and tv. I think that they would bring the understanding necessary to portray what we go through in transition. Maybe having more trans writers would help too so it's not full of ugly stereotypes.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I don't care, I like when cispeople play trans characters. I also like the rare occassions that a transperson plays a cis character.

[StellaB]

Yes they should.. wherever possible.

However trying to find a trans guy who is an actor is like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack.

[big kim]

I've no doubt some smarty pants will tell me who they are but i can't think of any trans actors/actresses.It would be good if trans parts were played by trans people but until there are more trans actors/actresses I can't see it happening

[Joanna Dark]

I've only seen clips but Chloe Sevigny looked great in Hit or Miss and I think she got being a trans woman sort of. She wore a prosthetic penis everyday and said it made her want to cry. It makes me cry too. And the thought of being free from it also makes me cry...tears of Joy.

On the flip side, I didn't like Transamerica but I don't think it portrayed trans women in a bad light. The Crying game portayed us in good light.

Right now I am watching The Gwen Araujo Story in LMN and just heard the defense say the "panic defense" which luckily was just banned by the American Bar Association. She is played by a he though. That hot guy from Revolution. The young one.

But I'll volunteer to portray us in movies. I was told my mom I wanted to be an actress to which she said actor tro which i replied NO ACTRESS. I'm quite serious.

[emmyiskindacool]

I've no doubt some smarty pants will tell me who they are but i can't think of any trans actors/actresses.It would be good if trans parts were played by trans people but until there are more trans actors/actresses I can't see it happening

The problem might not be that there aren't enough trans actors/actresses out there. It's more than likely that there are plenty of aspiring trans actors, they just can't get parts because Hollywood has not exactly provided possible roles for trans people and in the rare instance where a trans character is needed, they turn to cis  people  instead.