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Elliot Page
Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
In December 2020, the Canadian actor revealed on social media that he is trans and goes by he/they pronouns.
Page, who stars in "The Umbrella Academy", expressed "how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self... 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."
He ended with a note "to all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better."
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Kim Petras
Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
At the 2023 Grammys, the German pop star made history as the first openly transgender woman to win the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance thanks to her No. 1 song "Unholy" with Sam Smith. Petras emerged into the music scene in 2017 and has remained a champion for LGBTQ rights. Prior to the 2020 election, the singer joined forces with MTV, LogoTV and Trans Lifeline to provide grant money for trans people to update their IDs.
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Hunter Schafer
Photo: Kayla Oaddams/WireImage
Not only is the actress an important figure for trans representation onscreen in her "Euphoria" role as Jules, but offscreen as well. While her character is very open and confident in her identity, inspiring viewers, Schafer inspires fans in real life too. In 2019, the actress told Variety that "There need[s] to be more roles where trans people aren't just dealing with being trans; they're being trans while dealing with other issues."
"We're so much more complex than just one identity," she added.
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Laverne Cox
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Laverne Cox quickly became one of the most visible trans actresses in mainstream media. Since starring in "Orange is the New Black", which ended in 2019, Cox has remained a huge advocate for the transgender community and went on to land her current hosting gig of E!'s "Live From The Red Carpet".
In 2014, Cox also made history as the first trans woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award as the executive producer for MTV's "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word".
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Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
The "Tick, Tick... Boom!" actress inspires the trans community "to keep going and never stop," as she previously told Deadline in 2021 upon making history when she became the first trans actor to be nominated for an Emmy in a major category for her role as Blanca in FX's "Pose". Rodriguez went on to make history again in 2022 when she took home the Golden Globe for Best Television Actress in a Drama Series for the same role, making her the first openly transgender actress to win the award.
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The Wachowskis
Photo: Tytus Zmijewski/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Sister duo Lana Wachowski (left) and Lilly Wachowski (right), who are Hollywood directors best known for writing and directing "The Matrix" films, both came out as trans women in 2010 and 2016, respectively.
Viewers have pointed out trans storylines in the popular "Matrix" franchise and the duo, who've also helmed films like "Speed Racer" and "Jupiter Ascending", continue to be inclusive in their projects, most notably in their Netflix series "Sense8", which has since ended.
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Laura Jane Grace
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW
Laura Jane Grace, who is the lead singer, guitarist and founding member of the rock band Against Me!, remains one of the industry's few openly transgender punk rock musicians.
After coming out as a trans woman in 2012, the band independently released a concept album titled Transgender Dysphoria Blues in 2014 to reflect on Grace's identity. The project was well-received and Grace continues to use her platform to advocate for trans rights, most recently advocating for one of the largest queer youth marches in history on her Instagram page.
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Isis King
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Human Rights Campaign
The model and fashion designer has become a huge influence in the trans fashion industry after becoming the first transgender woman to compete on “America’s Next Top Model". King uses her social media presence to advocate for a number of issues including the mental health crisis of LGBTQ youth.
King competed on both the eleventh and seventeenth cycle of “America’s Next Top Model".
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Valentina Sampaio
Photo: Pablo Cuadra/WireImage
In 2019, the Brazilian model and actress made headlines for becoming the first openly transgender model for Victoria's Secret. One year later, she broke another barrier as the first trans model to be featured in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue.
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Leyna Bloom
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
In July 2021, model, actress, and activist Leyna Bloom made history as the first trans person of color to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue.
Speaking to the publication for her feature, Bloom said: "I think there are people in this world that are born to do certain things or have certain conversations that need to be had... I knew as a very young child that I had to do something. So this is the lane I've chosen to walk down to make moments that are not just about being beautiful."
Sharing her cover on Instagram, the model further expressed that she hopes her cover "empowers those, who are struggling to be seen, feel valued."
"Let me be a messenger guiding us to a future of respect and appreciation for all women in all forms and from all walks of life."
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Zaya Wade
Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Zaya Wade, the 15-year-old daughter of retired NBA player Dwyane Wade, has inspired many trans youths throughout her public journey to self-acceptance ever since she came out as trans in 2020.
In February 2023, she was granted a legal name and gender change by a Los Angeles Court. Her father has also served as an inspiration to parents of trans youth as he's supported his daughter along the way. Dwayne was the one to petition the court in August 2022 to make the legal change.
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Jazz Jennings
Photo: Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/Shutterstock
Jazz Jennings, a 22-year-old YouTube and TV personality, spokesmodel and LGBTQ rights activist, is one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as transgender.
Jennings has inspired many young people, including actress Josie Totah, to begin their own transition via her honest docuseries, "I Am Jazz".
In 2015, she wrote an essay for Seventeen where she noted that telling the world her story was neither "hard or scary."
"I've always known that I'm a girl and talking about it felt easy—I was just telling my truth," she wrote.
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Janet Mock
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Janet Mock quickly became a New York Times bestseller when she released her debut book and memoir Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, which recounts her experiences growing up young, multiracial, poor and trans in America. By providing "vital insight into the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of a marginalized and misunderstood population", Mock's memoir serves as "a powerful vision of possibility and self-realization, pushing us all toward greater acceptance of one another—and of ourselves."
Mock is a contributing editor for Marie Claire and was a former staff editor of People magazine's website. She is also a TV host, director and producer who helmed the Emmy-nominated series "Pose".
Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Photo: Kayla Oaddams/WireImage
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock
Photo: Tytus Zmijewski/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Human Rights Campaign
Photo: Pablo Cuadra/WireImage
Photo: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Photo: Kristina Bumphrey/StarPix/Shutterstock
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
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