Actors reveal what it is like to be a trans person in Hollywood; Credits: Page Six
While countless LGBTQ+ actors are still struggling with recognition, identity issues, and more, Hollywood has made considerable progress welcoming many actors identifying as trans into its midst. There has been a lot of active work by trans actors to make the industry a better place for everyone. Here are a few champions of trans actors who managed to make a name for them in the acting world.
Elliot Page
The Umbrella Academy actor revealed last year that he was a trans actor. In his announcement on December 1 last year, in 2020, the actor said, “I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.” He added, “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.” The star added that his pronouns will be he/they.
Elliot Page thanked the industry for its “courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place,” but conceded that he felt “scared” to reveal his trans identity, fearing “invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence.”
Regardless, the star added, “To be clear, I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyous and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture.” “I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer,” finished the star, adding, “And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows, and the more I thrive."
Isis King
Isis King made history when she became the first transgender woman to reach the sets of “America’s Next Top Model” and has been advocating for trans rights since then. She also stars on HBO’s series “Equal.”
Back in November 2020, the model had shared what it was like to star on Equals and said, “It was just so amazing to hear so many stories about trans people from the past. I feel like our voices are just now starting to be heard. So it was very inspiring to hear stories from that far back of these people who didn’t have anybody else like them around and just had their own courage to make it work.”
The episode on Equals talks about the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot. She told Page Six, “I shouldn’t be surprised, but I was so surprised that it was so similar … It was so many of the same things that happened at Stonewall. It was like reading a history book and then discovering there was another chapter you’d never heard about.”
The actress also opened up about her transitioning history, saying, “I will say for visibility, I do see a difference in LA. I feel like it’s so much easier to brush shoulders with game-changers here. I lived in New York for 10 years, I transitioned there, but it was also a comfort zone for me. I knew I needed to shake it up because I felt there was not as much progression happening as I needed.”
The actress continues to be a spokesperson for trans rights, saying, “Everything has happened the way it was supposed to happen, and I can’t try to overthink it. I just know that every time I do get something, I give it 120 percent and hope that I’m leaving a positive impact with everything that I do.”
Laverne Cox
The Orange Is the New Black actress has become a rallying point for trans voices as she received immense fame from the OITNB series. The actress still has to face the pointless hate some people direct towards queer people and also faced a brutal attack by transphobes along with a friend last year in November.
Laverne Cox shared an Instagram video detailing the Griffith Park experience she had to endure in Los Angeles. She revealed that she was “kind of in shock” and “super triggered” coming out of the ordeal.
Apparently, the actress was out for a walk with a friend when a guy approached them. She recalled, “We pass this guy, and the guy very aggressively asks for the time,” and then asked her friend, “Guy or girl?” “My friend says f—k off. I’m walking. I’m hearing … all this is happening like in a split second, and then all of a sudden, the guy is attacking my friend, and I look back, and I’m like, ‘What is happening?'” revealed the actress.
The actress quickly dialed 911 for aid and later added, “I’m safe, my friend is fine. The guy left after my friend deescalated it.” However, she continued, “It’s not safe in the world, and I don’t like to think about that a lot, but it is the truth. It’s the truth, and it’s not safe if you’re a trans person, obviously. I know this well.”
The actress also conceded that she has been "harassed and bullied” for being a trans person her entire life.
