No Scarlett Johansson, You Can’t Play Trans

The Queen of celluloid appropriation is at it again, this time blaming Political Correctness for social backlash as a result of being cis/white and taking on roles originated or written as minorities.

“There isn’t room for more trans actors in the industry right now.”

“There just isn’t enough transgender roles to justify representing transgender talent.”

“There is a subset of trans actors and filmmakers making their own mini-hollywood, try getting in there!”

“We already represent one trans actor.”

These are the stories we share with each other- my trans friends and I. These are the things we’re told by agents, casting directors and executives. Once one of us has an opportunity to showcase our talents, that moment is typically fleeting. Unlike our cis counterparts, starring in a critically adored film and thus decorated with a handful of awards doesn’t promise any future in Hollywood. When a cis actor achieves this career momentum, their fee goes up, their demand increases, they’re inundated with scripts and endorsement offers. It happened for Hillary Swank, Eddie Redmayne, Jeffery Tambor, Jared Leto, Felicity Huffman. The list goes on and on.

Not for us actual trans folks, though. Even after that rare chance to show the industry what we can…