The first time I saw an out queer person on TV was because of the murder of Matthew Shepard. Needless to say, when I was growing up, there wasn’t much representation of gay, trans, or nonbinary people in the media. I came out in the early 2000s and it was difficult for me and other LBTQ+ people to imagine life outside of the gender binary, because we didn’t see it anywhere on our screens. Thankfully, in recent years, we have seen significant cultural changes in the representation of queer and gender expansive people in the media.
Transgender Day of Visibility is on March 31st, and it’s the perfect time to check out some of the best movies and shows on Netflix featuring transgender and nonbinary people. If you’re looking for some fun, feel-good, and/or educational gender expansive* programming this month, here are my favorite finds currently on Netflix.
*For this roundup, I’m taking a very expansive view of gender, so I am including drag-related programming as well.
In their newest comedy special, Hannah Gadsby is bringing together other trans and nonbinary comics from around the world including Jes Tom, Asha Ward, Alok, Chloe Petts, Mx Dahlia Belle, DeAnne Smith, and Krishna Istha. “The last time Netflix brought this many people together was for a protest…Progress!” is how Gadsby opens the comedy special. They address the fact that a protest of Netflix’s feature of a transphobic comedian is what led to this special being produced. Gender Agenda gives a platform to trans comedians to speak for themselves on Netflix.
Perfect for Trans Day of Visibility, this thoughtful documentary dives deep into the ways in which transgender characters have historically been portrayed in Hollywood. The documentary features leading transgender scholars and creatives including Laverne Cox, Chaz Bono, and Susan Stryker to explore the history of how trans people and media. The goal of the documentary is to open conversations between the community and Hollywood to push for better and more authentic representations moving forward.
If you enjoy a tender reality TV show, you won’t want to miss Dancing Queen. Produced by RuPaul, this reality show follows a small-town competition dance studio run by drag queen, Alyssa Edwards. By day, the show follows the kids’ competition dance teams, and by night, professional drag performances organized by Edwards. The show also dives deep into the feelings and dynamics of what it means to be queer in a small town.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
If you’re looking for a fun and whimsical show, nonbinary actor Lachlan Watson plays an out trans man in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Part of his story arc is his gender exploration, building self-awareness and confidence with support and encouragement of his magical community. This is a fun, quirky, and feel-good series.
The Death and Life of Masha P. Johnson
Part of honoring Trans Day of Visibility is not shying away from the reality that transgender people are statistically more likely to experience violence. This powerful documentary film explores the life of Marsha P Johnson, who is often considered a mother of the modern queer and transgender community. The Death and Life of Masha P. Johnson looks at the violence against transgender women, and explores the suspicious circumstances around Johnson’s death in 1992.
Set in a minimum-security women’s prison, this Netflix Original centers around cisgender Piper Chapman, but the standout character, in my opinion, is Sophia Burset, a transgender woman character played by Laverne Cox. I especially appreciate that this is a show features a transgender character whose entire storyline isn’t centered around her being trans. Instead, she gets to be a fully realized character.
If you enjoy drag, gender expansiveness and makeovers, this show is for you. In this feel-good show, drag artists transform aspiring drag queens and kings. Calling themselves the Godmothers, the hosts don’t just give makeovers, they help newbie drag artists gain and build their confidence as performers. This show is full of self-exploration, queer joy, and, of course, a lot of camp.
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