National Transgender Visibility Day: Meet 10 Trans Characters from TV Shows

“How many transgender people do you work, study, or hang out with?”

For most people, the answer is “none.” The reason behind this is something we should all reflect on, especially today, January 29, Transgender Visibility Day.

While LGBTQ+ representation is steadily growing in social discourse and, consequently, on television, the path ahead remains long. This is especially true for transgender individuals, who are often rendered invisible and silenced even more than gay and lesbian individuals across all sectors of society—sometimes even within movements that claim to champion their rights. Beyond being silenced, they face severe transphobia. Although transphobia is legally classified as a crime in Brazil (under the same legal framework as homophobia), the country tragically remains the deadliest place in the world for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.

In the face of these challenges, various social groups are fighting for transgender rights. Although the topic is still often restricted to specific circles, it has been gaining traction through YouTubers and certain TV shows that aim to portray—even if sometimes superficially—the trans experience. To mark Transgender Visibility Day, we have rounded up some trans characters who have made an impact on TV shows like Orange Is the New Black and Transparent, because this day needs to be remembered—and the conversation must keep going, as we have previously discussed here on Pixel TV.

#### Linda Murkland (All That Glitters)


All That Glitters was the first television production in the United States to feature a transgender character. The 1977 show followed the daily routine of the multinational corporation Globatron, serving as a satire where gender roles were reversed, featuring female dominance and the objectification of men. In the story, Globatron executives need a model for their new campaign, and that model is Linda Murkland, a trans woman.
Linda was portrayed by Linda Gray, a cisgender woman. However, as the first representation of a transgender person on television, it holds significant historical importance for trans visibility.

#### Sophia Burset (Orange Is the New Black)


Sophia (Laverne Cox) is an inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. Throughout the series, the character—the prison's only trans inmate—endures severe transphobia from both fellow inmates and prison staff. The peak of this hostility occurs in the third season when, after an altercation, Aleida (Elizabeth Rodriguez) spreads transphobic rumors about Sophia. This leads to targeted harassment from other inmates, resulting in Sophia being placed in solitary confinement "for her own protection," where she desperately tries to get out through various means.
Sophia is played by Laverne Cox, who, like her character, is a trans woman and became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Laverne also took on the iconic queer role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (originally played by cis male actor Tim Curry) in Fox's TV musical adaptation of *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*.

#### Nomi Marks (Sense8)


More than just exploring the social integration of a trans person in a fictional universe, Sense8 highlighted the importance of real-world representation by casting trans actress Jamie Clayton. As one of the main characters, Jamie plays Nomi, a trans lesbian who faces intersectional prejudice but uses her skills as a hacker and blogger to promote equality and encourage her readers to live authentically. It is worth noting that Nomi's journey mirrors that of the show's creators, Lilly and Lana Wachowski, who both publicly transitioned after achieving fame.

#### Cole (The Fosters)


Airing on ABC Family, the American drama series The Fosters premiered in 2013. The plot centers on a family led by a same-sex couple: police officer Stef (Teri Polo) and vice principal Lena (Sherri Saum). Together, they raise Stef's biological son and four foster children. The transgender character, Cole, is played by trans actor Tom Phelan. He is introduced as a friend of Callie Jacob (Maia Mitchell) when they meet at a group home for girls where Callie is placed after running away (highlighting systemic issues, as Cole is placed in a girls' home due to institutional lack of understanding). He soon becomes Callie's love interest. Throughout his arc, Cole faces prejudice, such as being kicked out of a boys' restroom and enduring offensive remarks. Initially guarded and aggressive, Cole gradually opens up and shares his true story. His arc spanned 10 episodes from 2014 to 2015.

#### Noah (Faking It)


Faking It is a teen series that always approached LGBTQ+ themes with authenticity, as its main characters navigated the complexities of sexual discovery. After exploring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and asexual storylines, the series took a major step forward in its third season by casting Elliot Fletcher, a trans man, to play Noah—a trans character who becomes a love interest for Shane. Kudos to MTV for bringing this representation to a teen audience.

#### Unique Adams (Glee)


From its inception, the musical series Glee was known for celebrating diversity and focusing on those who faced bullying for being different. However, it wasn't until Unique (Alex Newell) joined in Season 4 that the show truly began to explore the transgender experience. Unique is the alter ego of Wade Adams, who only feels like her true self when presenting as female and using "she/her" pronouns. This journey comes with significant challenges—such as being harassed when trying to use both the girls' and boys' restrooms—but it also highlights how crucial allyship and peer support are for self-acceptance.

#### Buck Vu (The OA)


“I have a really hard time at school because I wanted to act, but it's not like high school plays have roles that describe someone like me. You can't imagine what it was like to go online and see a Netflix casting call that described me” — those were the words sent by Ian Alexander, recorded on a phone in his bathroom. Ian's audition felt incredibly genuine, leading to his casting in The OA. Months later, the 14-year-old would become one of the breakout stars of Netflix's sci-fi drama. Ian plays Buck Vu, a transgender Asian-American teen who, like the other teens recruited by Prairie (Brit Marling), is trying to find his place in the world. Marling shared in an interview with Vulture that casting Ian was no accident; Buck had been written as a trans Asian teen from the start. For her, finding the right actor was just a matter of time and effort. Since trans actors are often underrepresented in traditional casting agencies, she turned to the internet. It worked: Ian Alexander landed his first role, reinforcing the idea that authentic representation is vital. This is one of the show's strongest points. Buck is written as just another misfit in the group (alongside Alfonso, BBA, Steve, and OA herself), avoiding typical Hollywood tropes—he isn't shown being bullied at school, he sings in the choir, and he is articulate, sensitive, and strong. At home, his transition is a slow process, as his father struggles to fully accept his identity. Because of this, Buck has to buy his hormones illicitly, highlighting a very real issue regarding medical access for trans youth. Overall, Buck's journey is portrayed with a natural, slow-paced realism, which the actor noted was the most authentic way to build the character.

#### Alexis Meade (Ugly Betty)


Back in 2007, a time when gender and sexual diversity were rarely discussed on primetime TV, Ugly Betty took a bold step by introducing a character transitioning from male (Alex) to female (Alexis). Before her transition, the character was rarely seen but heavily mentioned, driving much of the plot. Her official debut occurred in the 13th episode of the first season (played by Rebecca Romijn), initially keeping her identity a secret—everyone believed Alex had died, and Alexis was a stranger. The truth was later revealed in a dramatic twist.

#### Max Sweeney (The L Word)


The Showtime series The L Word centers on a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles, California. While the show primarily focused on cisgender women, it introduced Moira (Daniela Sea), who transitions during the series and adopts the name Max Sweeney. The show depicted the raw realities of his transition, including Max's initial struggles with body dysphoria and using binders. Off-screen, the show, which ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009, was groundbreaking for its time, even as it faced later critiques regarding how it handled trans storylines.

#### Maura Pfefferman (Transparent)


If there is one show where the transgender experience is the central focus, it is Transparent. The Amazon comedy-drama follows Maura—formerly Mort—who decides to come out as a trans woman later in life, with three adult children. The series explores not only Maura's personal journey but also the ripple effect on her family. Jeffrey Tambor won two Emmys and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Maura. Despite the acclaim, the casting of a cisgender male actor in a trans role drew significant criticism. However, the show also provided prominent roles for trans actresses, such as Alexandra Billings and Trace Lysette.

While trans characters are still relatively rare on American television, they are virtually non-existent in Brazilian media. To date, very few trans characters have appeared on Brazilian TV. Recently, the only trans representation in Brazilian teledrama was Janette in the series Supermax (Rede Globo), played by trans actress Maria Clara Spinelli. Additionally, a primetime telenovela by Glória Perez is set to air in Brazil focusing on gender diversity, featuring a trans character—though played by a cisgender actress, a decision that has already sparked criticism. While television still has a long way to go in breaking the silence and invisibility surrounding trans lives, continuing to demand authentic representation is crucial so that transgender individuals can see themselves reflected, face less prejudice, and feel truly accepted in society.