“Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen”
In 2020 a film by the name of Disclosure: Trans Live On Screen, debuted to the world, first being shown at the Sundance Film Festival, then later the same year was put on Netflix for more to see. This film was produced as an attempt to help others understand how transgenders have viewed their representation in Hollywood by examining various clips that show how they have been Othered by the industry. “Othering” can be defined as when certain individuals or groups are made to seem like they do not belong within the majority. They are considered different and inferior to those within the social “social norm”. Disclosure exposes how the entertainment industry has labeled transgender actors/actresses Others by showing the stereotypical roles that they have been placed in and the negative impacts it has on how society views transgenders. The film includes interviews from various popular trans persons in the industry such as Laverne Cox, and Rain Valdez. These interviews gave insight on how struggles in media history have shaped the way they even view themselves. One specific story that stood out in particular was one told by Laverne Cox. Laverne Cox, the first Emmy nominated transgender actress, is widely known for her performance in Orange is the New Black. She mentioned how during her early stages of transitioning, people often laughed at her and viewed her existence as a joke. Laverne Cox deciphers that this is a trained traction that stems from poor trans representation in television and movies. It is no secret that majority of the time transgenders/gender non-conforming roles in television and movies are used for the butt of the joke. This type of portrayal on the screen translates into real life, teaching audiences how to react to transgenders. This is just one example that Disclosure gives that exemplifies how transgender actors/actresses have been Othered by Hollywood. There is plenty of tom for growth and advancement in the form of positive representation. Disclosure did a great job bringing the emotion and the perspective of the transgender community in regards to how the media help others and even the actors/actresses perceive them.
