Trans Solidarity Project

Category: Community

Stories, interviews, mutual aid efforts, organizations, and events that bring transgender communities together. This section highlights grassroots activism, community achievements, and opportunities for connection and solidarity.

  • Express Yourself With Transfeminine Halloween Costumes That Feel Like You

    Express Yourself With Transfeminine Halloween Costumes That Feel Like You

    Halloween is unofficially the most beloved holiday amongst LGBTQIA+ people. This post features some of the best and most reliable costume ideas for transfeminine individuals.

    Interested in Halloween costume ideas for transgender men and transmasculine folks instead?

    Table of Contents

    Queer people love Halloween. There are several theories why, but the most popular one theorizes that Halloween gives folks an outlet to transgress cisheterosexual gender norms.

    Individuals have been historically (and currently) prosecuted and arrested for crossdressing. Regardless of sex assigned at birth, Halloween gave everyone an excuse to crossdress without heavy penalties looming overhead. Halloween embodies the spirit of exploration: it’s a costume; you’re entitled to have fun with it.

    Additionally, Halloween may be popular among LGBTQIA+ people due to a higher concentration of paganism within the community. Compared to other religions, paganism, Wicca, and universalism have been inclusive and supportive of LGBTQIA+ identities.

    Author’s Note: On its own, clothing does not have any inherent gender. It is fabric composed of various natural and synthetic fibers. However, it’s possible (and normal) to feel a certain way about clothing because humans have associated gender with certain styles for thousands of years based on time and place.

    These two statements can coexist, and you’re not less authentic or transgender because you like or dislike specific styles.

    Transfeminine Halloween Costume Ideas & Style Guide

    Like other women, transfeminine individuals have a wide range of costumes. Some outfits may embrace sexuality and body positivity, revealing as much skin as possible. Other costumes might lean towards canonical accuracy or the scare factor. Have fun with it!

    Although global temperatures continue to rise with climate change, Halloween is a hallmark of the autumn season and associated with cooler weather. It’s significantly easier to layer outfits or utilize padding to minimize gender dysphoria.

    Always keep comfort in mind while deciding a costume. Physical and emotional comfort matter, so weigh the advantages and disadvantages between artistic creativity, personal safety, and gender dysphoria.

    Bind or tuck regularly? Make sure your body can handle hours of compression or be prepared to take frequent breaks.

    Bring Your Hyperfixations to Life: Media Characters & Icons

    You can dress up as literally anyone or anything. Don’t let this list stop you from having a good time. If you’re struggling to determine a Halloween costume as a transfeminine person, look towards your favorite media characters and icons.

    LGBTQIA+ people make fantastic fanbases. We hyperfixate on media more heavily compared to general audiences, regardless of whether it’s anime, television, comics, books, or another medium. Nearly any costume from this category is ideal since you will feel especially connected to the character.

    The main disadvantage is that these costumes can become niche. Your favorite character and hyperfixation may not be well-recognized at a party – so be prepared to explain it. Over and over.

    Classic Halloween Costumes & Horror Tropes

    Transgender women can benefit from popular costume classics other girls enjoy, including classic tropes and characters from the horror genre. Ideal costumes include:

    • A spooky witch
    • A blood-thirsty vampire
    • A cliché horror movie female protagonist
    • A grim ghost (with a bow, for gender)
    Concise (Best for Accessibility) Woman posing in the woods wearing a classic black witch costume with a wide-brim pointed hat, long-sleeved mini dress, patterned lace tights, and black boots.
    Three people dressed as classic white sheet ghosts styled with hot pink hair bows, heart-shaped sunglasses, and holding pink pumpkin buckets.
    Woman posing in a gothic vampire costume with a high-collared sheer black cape, black and red corset gown, and dark red curly hair.

    A potential advantage and disadvantage of Halloween classics is the Sexy Factor. In the words of Mean Girls, “Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” On one hand, these costumes cater heavily to the male gaze – but on the other, women are entitled to be sexy for themselves.

    Don’t feel compelled to pick revealing outfits if that’s not your style or might induce gender dysphoria. At the same time, don’t feel obligated to forgo sexy outfits, either.

    High-Concept Costumes & Transgender Metaphors

    Prefer high-concept metaphors? Dozens of symbols in the transgender community can become beautiful Halloween costumes.

    Butterflies are frequently associated with transgender identity. After shedding their chrysalis and emerging as their authentic selves, transgender individuals and butterflies both completely transform despite societal expectations and forms assigned at birth. As a result, butterflies make a solid high-concept Halloween costume for transfeminine individuals (and, by extension, moths and Mothman for transmasculine folks).

    Others prefer the phoenix as a transgender metaphor. It is radical rebirth, survival, and the ultimate representation of burning away one’s old identity. The phoenix is considered powerful, overcoming adversity through sheer resilience – which cements its spot as a great Halloween costume.

    The goddess Aphrodite (or Venus) emerged as a metaphor within the transgender community after viewing Hesiod’s Theogony through a trans lens. Instead of traditional biological birth, Aphrodite forms through her own will. Many transgender women resonate with this as self-actualization, coming out, and the egg-cracking process – a painful and necessary step towards personal fulfillment. Additionally, Aphrodite/Venus costumes connect transgender identity as ultimately divine.

    Popular Pop Culture MTF Halloween Costumes

    If you enjoy pop culture references but want your Halloween costume to be relatively mainstream and recognizable, there are a number of outfits great for transfeminine folks. These are some of the most popular ones for 2026:

    • She-Ra (She-Ra and the Princess(es) of Power)
    • Poison Ivy (DC Comics)
    • Barbie (Barbie)
    • Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon)
    • Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
    • Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)
    • Jules Vaughn (Euphoria)
    • Sylveon (Pokémon)
    • Princess Peach (Mario)
    • Spider-Gwen (Marvel Comics)

    Many of these characters are well-known within the transfeminine community. Characters like Daphne Blake, Princess Peach, and Lara Croft are high-femme characters with great recognizability.

    Y2K Style Trends and Early 2000s Transfemme Costume Ideas

    Y2K is back. Early 2000s styles are trending more than ever, which include signature femme looks that can be made into transgender-inclusive Halloween costumes. Some star Y2K trends include:

    • Baby Tees
    • Crop Tops
    • Tube Tops
    • Tracksuits
    • Dress + Denim Pants Combo
    • Corsets
    • Low-Rise Denim Jeans
    • Bootcut Denim Jeans
    • Micro Mini Skirts
    • Pleated Skirts
    • Neckties + Casual Wear
    • Baguette Shoulder Bags
    • Butterfly Clips
    • Rimless Sunglasses
    • Belly Chains
    • Fishnet
    • Platform Boots

    If you’re struggling with inspiration, just look at Yvv2K magazines like Vogue. Britney Spears, Regina George, and the Cheetah Girls all had it down to a science.

    Woman modeling a Y2K street style outfit featuring a cropped blue hoodie, low-rise baggy jeans with a large silver belt buckle, and red sneakers.
    Full-length photo of model Bella Hadid walking outdoors in a Y2K-inspired outfit featuring a white ribbed graphic tank top, dark green leather flared trousers with detailed cutout accents, black pointed-toe heels, a black tote bag, small dark oval sunglasses, and chunky gold jewelry.
    Woman posing in an iridescent metallic corset, white fishnet arm sleeves, black cargo pants, and pastel braided hair with futuristic face gems.
    Woman posing in a pink Y2K outfit featuring a halter crop top with matching detached sleeves, a pleated denim mini skirt, and pink wrap-around sunglasses.

    Reclaiming Girlhood: Disney Princesses and Fairytale Magic

    Disney princesses and other fantasy tropes are incredibly popular Halloween costumes – no matter how old you are. Many transgender women miss out on these peak opportunities of girlhood, but Halloween offers the perfect opportunity to bring that magic to life.

    The most popular princesses and heroines include Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Jasmine, and Elsa. But all of the Disney girls are well-known, so pick whichever story and character you connect to.

    You’re not limited to heroes, either. Powerful women like Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and Ursula are popular with Disney fans wanting something alternative. And films like Maleficent and Cruella make these costumes easy to find.

    And you don’t have to stick with names. More popular Halloween costumes for transgender women include other fantasy characters like fairies, elves, dragons, and mermaids!

    Femininomenon Energy: Dressing Up as Your Favorite Pop Stars

    Your favorite female pop star can be used as inspiration for a head-turning Halloween costume. Not only are these women highly recognizable, but these costumes are likely to spark conversations about your favorite music.

    Popular stars vary each year, but the most common ones predicted for 2026 include:

    • Taylor Swift
    • Chappell Roan
    • Olivia Rodrigo
    • Sabrina Carpenter
    • Billie Eilish
    • Dolly Parton

    Each of these stars has a unique style, making them great choices for Halloween costumes. The right combination of eyeliner, lipstick, and accessories can tie together a look fueled with gender euphoria.

    Decades of Femme: From 1920s Flappers to 1980s Aerobics Stars

    If Y2K isn’t necessarily your vibe, other decades make great Halloween costumes. Women have been using various decades as costume inspiration for years! Some common gender-affirming choices include:

    • The 1920s Flapper
    • The 1930s Femme Fatale
    • The 1940s Pin-Up and Rosie the Riveter
    • The 1950s Poodle Skirt Cheerleader
    • The 1960s Flower Power Hippie
    • The 1970s Disco Diva
    • The 1980s Fitness Aerobics Fanatic

    For better or worse, the majority of Halloween costumes are based on stereotypes. Although stereotypes can be problematic, decade-based ones like these are usually light-hearted and fun to play with!

    Woman modeling a red and black sequined 1920s flapper dress with fringe hem, long black gloves, layered pearls, a jeweled headband, and holding a black fan.
    Smiling woman posing in a 1960s hippie costume with a colorful peace-sign print dress, long brown fringe vest, matching headband, and fringe leg covers while holding up peace signs.
    Smiling woman with curly afro hair posing in a metallic rainbow 1970s disco jumpsuit with flared bell-bottom legs and disco ball earrings.
    Woman in a neon 1980s aerobics workout outfit with a pink leotard over a purple shirt, lime green leggings, yellow leg warmers, and a blonde crimped wig.

    Sexy or Silly: Navigating Animal Costumes on Your Own Terms

    Similar to my earlier suggestion about Halloween costume classics like witches and vampires, many women enjoy dressing up as animals for Halloween. Most of these animal costumes aim to be as sexy as possible, Mean Girls-style, but you can be as sexy or silly as you want.

    Some popular animal costumes are:

    • Leopards
    • Cats
    • Mice (Duh)
    • Bunnies
    • Puppies
    • Deer
    • Bats

    However, in the spirit of Mean Girls, nearly all animal costumes reveal as much skin as possible with skin-tight clothes. This costume genre is traditionally meant to be sexy, which may induce gender dysphoria or require tucking.

    Reclaiming the Narrative: Meta Transgender Costumes

    Self-referential outfits can be exceptionally clever, so play with self-aware meta concepts. Plain T-shirts can be improved with simple text or buttons like:

    • “Transgender Icon”
    • “GOP Nightmare Fuel”
    • “I’m the Scary Transgender Person the Media Warned You About.”
    • “Boo! Transgender!”

    While some folks love clever self-aware remarks, they’re not for everyone. Other people may find these costumes uninspired or lazy, but remember your costume is for YOU.

    Have a costume idea that wasn’t mentioned on this list? That’s okay! You can dress up as literally anyone or anything; these are just suggestions to get you inspired.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How can I dress up comfortably if I experience gender dysphoria?

    You can dress up comfortably despite gender dysphoria by combining padding, breast forms, and structured outerwear to create a feminine silhouette. Autumn is traditionally cooler, which allows for clever layering to make adjustments without sacrificing comfort.

    Prioritize your emotional well-being over strict costume accuracy. If an outfit makes you feel self-conscious, tweak it to fit your comfort zone.

    What are some easy, budget-friendly, or last-minute transfeminine costume options?

    Easy, budget-friendly, and last-minute costumes for transgender women and transfeminine individuals can be created with clothes straight from your closet! Shirts altered with self-aware meta phrases (“Transgender Icon”), mixing everyday Y2K elements, or simply adding a set of animal ears to your favorite dress can all work effortlessly.

    What safety precautions should I take if I plan to tuck while wearing a tight costume?

    If your Halloween costume involves skin-tight garments or bodysuits, practice safe tucking techniques and avoid overly restrictive compression materials for long periods.

    Planning to be out all night? Schedule bathroom breaks to relieve tension, listen to your body’s pain signals, or keep a backup option like a flowy skirt, oversized layer, or additional costume in your bag if you need to relax your tuck.

  • The Best Transmasculine Comics to Add to Your TBR List

    The Best Transmasculine Comics to Add to Your TBR List

    Transgender individuals have seen a decline in media representation in recent years, fueled by ongoing conservative trans panic. Transmasculine identities are especially invisible, but comics have created a unique medium for trans stories to be told. These are some of the best transmasculine comics currently available.

    Interested in transgender-focused films? Check out Trans Solidarity Project’s trans cinema list for recommendations.

    Table of Contents

    Why Transgender Representation in Comics Matters

    Graphic novels have thrived in independent media for decades because they provide a low-barrier medium to tell visual stories. Most people do not have the funds or connections to television studios or film companies. 

    You might not be a trained voice actor or media executive, but any story can be told through comics – even if you’re not particularly good at drawing. Graphic novels also have greater creative freedom, allowing for interesting niches and topics traditionally censored by the Hays Code and MPAA.

    As an independent medium, comics are intertwined with punk and queer communities seeking to avoid corporate ownership. An underground movement flourished with zines and comics despite previous censorship during the 1950s.

    Must-Read Transmasculine Graphic Novels

    Graphic novels are visual stories told in novel-length books, often as physical paperbacks and hardcovers. They encompass every possible genre, like fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and memoirs. These are some of the most notable transmasculine graphic novels today.

    DeadEndia: Transgender Urban Fantasy Graphic Novel

    DeadEndia was originally published by Hamish Steele in 2018, following two young adults at the Dead End amusement park over three books. One of the two main characters, Barney, is a queer transgender man, while Norma is a cisgender bisexual woman.

    DeadEndia was adapted into an original animated series on Netflix in 2022, earning two full seasons before being cancelled before a third season could be produced. Dead End: Paranormal Park has notable differences from DeadEndia, including the ages of Barney and Norma.

    Vibe Check: You might like DeadEndia if you love Gravity Falls, Lumberjanes, The Owl House, or Steven Universe.

    Buy DeadEndia
    Check Out the Creator

    Key Facts About DeadEndia: 4.20 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Fantasy/Horror | Ages 14+ | Content Warnings

    Welcome to St. Hell: Transmasculine Coming-of-Age Memoir

    Lewis Hancox published Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure in 2022, which was followed by Escape From St. Hell in 2024. It’s a comedic memoir about Lewis’s life as an egg in the early 2000s.

    Lewis also has a great TikTok following, acting out many of the moments behind Welcome to St. Hell. Some of Welcome to St. Hell is sad, other parts are funny – but all of it is wonderfully heartfelt.

    Vibe Check: You might like Welcome to St. Hell if you love Heartstopper, Sex Education, or Derry Girls.

    Buy Welcome to St. Hell
    Check Out the Creator

    Key Facts About Welcome to St. Hell: 4.30 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Memoir/Coming of Age | Ages 9+ | Content Warnings

    The Chromatic Fantasy: Surreal T4T Romance

    The Chromatic Fantasy is a fantasy romance, published by H.A. in 2023. The plot follows Jules, a transgender man, as he accepts a deal with the devil to escape nunhood.

    Admittedly, parts of The Chromatic Fantasy’s plot are difficult to follow. The mood and atmosphere resemble Alice in Wonderland, which can be similarly bewildering. As a whole, The Chromatic Fantasy is a beautiful T4T romance to get lost in.

    Vibe Check: You might like The Chromatic Fantasy if you love Hades, Nimona, Adventure Time, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Our Flag Means Death.

    Buy The Chromatic Fantasy
    Check Out the Creator

    Key Facts About The Chromatic Fantasy: 4.30 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Fantasy/Romance | Ages 18+ | Content Warnings Unavailable

    Hell Followed with Us: Dystopian Transgender Horror

    Hell Followed with Us was originally published by Andrew Joseph White in 2022 as a dystopian fantasy horror. Transgender teenager Benji escapes from a cult that infected him with a humanity-destroying virus. Hell Followed with Us is inspired by Andrew’s real-life hyperreligious background, combined with the pains of white supremacy and capitalism.

    After Hell Followed with Us’s commercial success, it was picked up for a full-length animated film in partnership with Lilly Wachowski and Powerhouse Animation Studios in 2024. As of July 2026, no official release date has been announced.

    Vibe Check: You might like Hell Followed with Us if you love The Last of Us, Stranger Things, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Dead Space.

    Buy Hell Followed with Us
    Check Out the Creator

    Key Facts About Hell Followed With Us: 4.07 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Horror/Fantasy | Ages 14+ | Content Warnings

    Homebody: Transmasculine & Nonbinary Memoir

    Theo Parish published their memoir, Homebody: A Graphic Memoir of Gender Identity Exploration, in 2024. Throughout high school, Theo struggles to find their identity as a transmasculine and nonbinary individual.

    Homebody focuses on Theo’s journey to build their body as a welcoming home despite the rigid gender binaries around them. The novel intertwines journal-esque interludes to flow through Theo’s teenage years.

    Vibe Check: You might like Homebody if you love Unpacking, Bee and PuppyCat, Loveless, and Queer Eye.

    Buy Homebody
    Check Out the Creator

    Key Facts About Homebody: 4.33 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Memoir/Coming of Age | Ages 14+ | Content Warnings Unavailable

    More Transmasculine Graphic Novels to Read

    There are way more transmasculine graphic novels than I can cover in a single article – and that’s a good thing! The following are great honorable mentions that feature transmasculine leads. Alternatively, I recommend using the Queer Comics Database for additional transmasculine suggestions.

    Best Transmasculine Webcomics to Read Online

    Webcomics are serialized stories released in ongoing episodes on creator-hosted websites or platforms like WEBTOON and Tapas. Like graphic novels, webcomics are a medium and can incorporate any genre, ranging from autobiographies to horror science fiction. These are the most influential transmasculine webcomics.

    Khaos Komix: Classic British Slice-of-Life Webcomic

    Khaos Komix is a multi-part webcomic originally published by Tab Kimpton in 2006. The series is a coming-of-age slice-of-life type that revolves around eight British young adults. Tom’s Story specifically focuses on Tom Blake, a queer transgender man, and his relationships with the rest of the cast.

    Most of the Khaos Komix series is rated 16+ due to the heavy themes it deals with. It doesn’t shy away from real-life homophobia and transphobia that real transgender people deal with growing up.

    Vibe Check: You might like Khaos Komix if you love Skins, Night in the Woods, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Persona 5.

    Check Out Khaos Komix

    Key Facts About Khaos Komix: Complete | Romance/Coming of Age | Ages 16+

    Rooster Tails: 15 Years of TransMasculine Joy & Activism

    Sam Orchard published Rooster Tails from 2010 to 2025, recording his life as a queer transgender man in New Zealand. Rooster Tails is perhaps one of the longest-running transmasculine webcomics, running for over 15 years before Sam announced stepping away.

    Rooster Tails is only accessible through the Internet Archive Wayback Machine since the website expired at the beginning of 2026. Due to its lifespan and age, it was frequently the victim of conservative anti-SJW hate on the internet. It is visibly transgender and focused greatly on anti-transgender politics like Sophie Labelle’s Assigned Male.

    Vibe Check: You might like Rooster Tails if you love The Big Sick, Steven Universe, A Short Hike, Shrill, and Gender Queer.

    Check Out Rooster Tails

    Key Facts About Rooster Tails: Discontinued in 2025 | Memoir/Slice of Life | All Ages

    LoveBot: Cyberpunk Science-Fiction Thriller

    In 2049, transgender man Xada Tsethilai modifies advanced robots to become real-life human companions. LoveBot was created by Chase Keels and Miranda Mundt in 2020, becoming a WEBTOON Original shortly after.

    LoveBot is a thriller sci-fi, following Xada and Lacey’s relationship and tackling philosophical questions about sentience, affection, and love.

    Vibe Check: You might like LoveBot if you love Cyberpunk 2077, Blade Runner 2049, Cinder, Detroit: Become Human, and Westworld.

    Check Out LoveBot

    Key Facts About LoveBot: Complete | Science Fiction/Romance | Ages 18+

    SUPERPOSE: Retro Quantum T4T Sci-Fi

    Seosmh and Anka began publishing SUPERPOSE in 2016, currently in its fourth arc. Set in 198X, Kasra, Royal, and Rafael attempt to alter the future to escape “a place out of time” set on the mid-Atlantic coast.

    SUPERPOSE is a mature T4T science-fiction series that mixes magical reality with quantum physics that destabilizes the more the three interact with the machine.

    Vibe Check: You might like SUPERPOSE if you love Sense8, Disco Elysium, Euphoria, Donnie Darko, and Mr. Robot.

    Check Out SUPERPOSE

    Key Facts About SUPERPOSE.: Ongoing | Science Fiction/Historical Fiction | Ages 18+

    Second Puberty: Early 2000s Pioneer of Transmasculine Comedy

    Second Puberty is possibly the oldest truly transmasculine webcomic, originally published at the beginning of 2001 by Matthew Nishii. It’s largely a comedy slice-of-life, told through one or two panels.

    Second Puberty was originally known as Trans E Generation and has almost become lost to time. Although some of the comics are dated, it holds a significant place in transmasculine comic history.

    Vibe Check: You might like Second Puberty if you love Sarah’s Scribbles, Pen15, Ranma ½, Persona 4 Golden, and Big Mouth.

    Check Out Second Puberty

    Key Facts About Second Puberty: Discontinued in 2018 | Comedy/Slice of Life | Ages 13+

    More Transmasculine Webcomics to Read Online

    Hundreds of webcomics include transmasculine characters, which means I cannot feasibly include all of them. Here are some honorable mentions for transmasculine-focused webcomics.

    Author’s Note: Osora

    Osora is arguably the most popular transmasculine webcomic currently being published, garnering over 200 million views and nearly 3 million followers on WEBTOON. At the end of the day, you don’t see much mainstream content around queer transmasculine characters.

    However, there are some problematic undertones around Osora’s transmasculine identity. Osora was forcibly socialized from birth as a boy to fulfill his family’s need for a male heir. Although Osora does identify as male, this is an inherently negative representation of transgender identity that resembles the real-life story of David Reimer and fantasies anti-transgender conservatives have about transgender individuals.

    Essential Transmasculine Superhero Comics: DC, Marvel & Indie

    The superhero genre is the most common form of American graphic novel and comic storytelling, originating during the Great Depression and World War II. Today, the superhero genre is dominated by DC and Marvel – although there are plenty of independent creators. These are some of the best transmasculine superhero comics.

    Magical Boy: Reimagining the Magical Girl Genre

    The Kao (creator of Mondo Mango) first began publishing Magical Boy in 2018, which has resulted in two full-length novels. The story follows Max, a transgender guy, who discovers he is the next Magical Girl and next in line to save humanity.

    Magical Boy directly parodies the magical girl genre and stories like Sailor Moon and She-Ra: Princess of Power – similar to earlier entries on this list like New Magical Me and Transformed!

    Vibe Check: You might like Magical Boy if you love Sailor Moon, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Turning Red.

    Check Out Magical Boy

    Key Facts About Magical Boy: 4.30 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Ages 12+ | Content Warnings

    Gentleman’s Club: San Francisco Classic Superhero Action

    Luca Wexler is a bisexual transmasculine teenager ready to take on San Francisco’s next supervillain. After forcing himself into conflict, he has to combat The Gentleman to save the city.

    NT Herrgott’s 2021 Gentleman’s Club is reminiscent of classic Marvel superheroes, filled with witty humor over heavy trauma associated with DC-style stories.

    Vibe Check: You might like Gentleman’s Club if you love Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Kick-Ass, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Tiger & Bunny, and Young Justice.

    Check Out Gentleman’s Club

    Key Facts About Gentleman’s Club: 3.57 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Ages 13+ | Content Warnings Unavailable

    Blood Syndicate: Milestone’s Groundbreaking 90s Classic

    Masquerade became one of the first openly transgender superheroes in 1993’s Blood Syndicate. Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Ivan Velez Jr., and Denys Cowan, Blood Syndicate was published by DC Comics from 1993 to 1996.

    Masquerade is a Black transgender man aligned with Blood Syndicate, a group of superheroes in Dakota. His shapeshifting abilities were formed from tear gas containing a power-inducing chemical called Quantum Juice when Dakota police tried to forcibly break up a massive gang riot.

    Vibe Check: You might like Blood Syndicate if you love Infamous, The Outsiders, AKIRA, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and The Wire.

    Check Out Blood Syndicate

    Key Facts About Blood Syndicate: 4.00 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Ages 15+ | Content Warnings Unavailable

    Circuit Breaker: DC’s Energy-Siphoning Flash Family Hero

    AL Kaplan’s Circuit Breaker first appeared in Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate, although he wouldn’t become a regularly appearing hero until joining the Flash Family in 2024. Known in real life as Julien “Jules” Jourdain, Circuit Breaker is a DC superhero with the power to transfer energy. 

    Julien is a nonbinary transgender man based out of northern Nevada. During a Lazarus Rain storm, Julien absorbed chemicals that would give him the unique power to control Still Force.

    Vibe Check: You might like Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate if you love Umbrella Academy, My Hero Academia, The Flash, Quantum Break, and Shazam!

    Check Out Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate

    Button: Check Out Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate

    Key Facts About Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate: 3.14 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Ages 13+ | Content Warnings Unavailable

    Marvel’s Voices: Pride: Highlighting Trans & Queer Marvel Heroes

    Originally published in 2021, Marvel Voices: Pride is an annual anthology released each year to highlight queer stories within the Marvel Universe. 2026’s edition featured Wiccan and Hulking – two openly gay superheroes.

    Previous editions of Marvel Voices: Pride have focused on transgender stories, including Muzzle, Escapade, Dr. Charlene McGowan, and the Transistors.

    Vibe Check: You might like Marvel Voices: Pride if you love Sense8, Overwatch 2, Love, Death & Robots, and Love, Victor.

    Check Out Marvel Voices: Pride

    Key Facts About Marvel Voices: Pride: 4.13 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Ages 13+ | Content Warnings Unavailable

    More Transmasculine Superhero Stories & Characters

    There aren’t many transmasculine superhero comics. There is a growing number of comics that feature transmasculine background characters, but this list specifically focuses on transmasculine protagonists and stories. Here are some honorable mentions for transmasculine superhero comics.

    Top Transmasculine Manga Series

    Manga is a distinct graphic novel style based out of Japan, popularized after World War II. Like Chinese manhua and Korean manhwa, Japanese manga is a medium that encompasses hundreds of genres. Here are some of the best transmasculine manga.

    Boys Run the Riot: Streetwear & Trans Identity in Japan

    Boys Run the Riot was written in four volumes by Keito Gaku in 2020 as a seinen manga about Ryo Watari, a transgender high school boy who befriends Jin Sato over a shared interest in men’s street fashion.

    Although Boys Run the Riot is a seinen series, it is still a high school coming-of-age story. Unlike shonen and shoujo manga, Boys Run the Riot is a gritty, realistic narrative by a real-life transgender man living in Japan.

    Vibe Check: You might like Boys Run the Riot if you love Sex Education, Blue Period, Dope, Atypical, and The World Ends with You.

    Check Out Boys Run the Riot

    Key Facts About Boys Run the Riot: 4.32 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Seinen/Drama | Ages 16+ | Content Warnings

    Fire Punch: Dark Fantasy & Complex Transgender Identity

    In Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Fire Punch, Earth has completely frozen over in an endless winter caused by the Ice Witch. After losing his sister, Angi swears vengeance and encounters other individuals with remarkable powers. He quickly meets a transgender man named Togata, who becomes a major character throughout the series.

    Although Fire Punch is technically from a shonen publisher, it is a dark fantasy that feels closer to seinen. There’s a lot of mature content and heavy psychological themes, so make sure to read Fire Punch’s content warnings before beginning.

    Vibe Check: You might like Fire Punch if you love Chainsaw Man, Devilman Crybaby, Mad Max, Ex Machina, and Elden Ring.

    Check Out Fire Punch

    Key Facts About Fire Punch: 3.86 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Shonen/Dystopian | Ages 18+ | Content Warnings

    To Strip the Flesh: Body Horror & Familial Duty

    Oto Toda published To Strip the Flesh in 2020 as a seinen anthology. As a collection of short stories, the manga centers on Chiaki Ogawa. Chiaki is a transgender man forced to continue living as a woman until his terminally ill and transphobic father passes.

    Chiaki streams himself skinning and butchering animals that his father hunts on YouTube, conflicted between familial obligation and the desire to become his authentic self.

    Vibe Check: You might like To Strip the Flesh if you love Lock Back, What Remains of Edith Finch, The Fly, Hannibal, and March Comes in Like a Lion.

    Check Out To Strip the Flesh

    Key Facts About To Strip the Flesh: 3.87 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Seinen/Slice of Life | Ages 16+ | Content Warnings

    Requiem of the Rose King: Intersex & Transmasc Identity in Historical Fantasy

    In Requiem of the Rose King, Richard III must deal with numerous spirits haunting him amidst the Kingdom of England’s inner conflict between the House of York and House of Lancaster. Richard’s intersex and masculine identity constantly puts him at odds with his mother, loosely following Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 3 and Richard III.

    Aya Kanno wrote Requiem of the Rose King from 2013 to 2022. As a romantic shoujo manga, it focuses on interpersonal drama and conflict. The series utilizes shoujo pretty-boy aesthetics with little physical conflict common in shonen and seinen genres.

    Vibe Check: You might like Requiem of the Rose King if you love Game of Thrones, Fire Emblem, Berserk, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and The King.

    Check Out Requiem of the Rose King

    Key Facts About Requiem of the Rose King: 3.92 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Shoujo/Fantasy | Ages 16+ | Content Warnings

    Claudine: A Historical Milestone for Transgender Representation

    Claudine is well-known for being one of the world’s first manga with a transgender protagonist. Set in early 20th-century France, Claude is a transgender boy and his romantic relationships with women throughout his life.

    Riyoko Ikeda wrote Claudine in 1978. Although the story is narrated by the psychiatrist who believes Claude is transgender with “no hesitation,” Claude still experiences hardship due to his gender identity. Given its age, Claudine also uses outdated terms and a tragic ending.

    Vibe Check: You might like Claudine if you love Albert Nobbs, Bridgerton, The Rose of Versailles, The Great Ace Attorney, Gentleman Jack, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

    Check Out Claudine

    Key Facts About Claudine: 3.80 / 5.00 on Goodreads | Shoujo/Romance | Ages 13+ | Content Warnings

    More Transmasculine Manga to Read

    Transgender individuals have long appeared in manga and anime as background characters, although they have only recently begun to be positive and accurate reflections of trans identity. Here are honorable mentions for transmasculine manga.

    Author’s Note: Wandering Son

    Wandering Son was a landmark manga and anime when it was originally released in 2002 for its empathetic and non-fetishized portrayal of transgender youth. It focuses on Shuishi Nitori, a transgender girl, and Toshino Takatsuki, a transgender boy, as they grow up.

    However, modern fans typically view Wandering Son’s ending as pessimistic. At the manga’s finale, Yoshino is determined to be a “confused cisgender girl” and frames his gender dysphoria as a phase simply mitigated by having him conform to feminine gender roles.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I read transmasculine webcomics for free?

    You can read transmasculine webcomics for free on platforms like WEBTOON, Tapas, and independent creator websites. WEBTOON has the largest global audience and content, but provides less monetization compared to Tapas and creator-owned sites.

    Other platforms include ComicFury, GlobalComix, Tumblr, and Bluesky.

    Who was the first transmasculine superhero in mainstream comics?

    Masquerade is considered the first openly transmasculine superhero in mainstream American comics. He originally premiered in DC Comics’ Blood Syndicate in 1993 under Milestone Media.

    Are there any transmasculine manga written by real-life trans creators?

    Yes, prominent transmasculine manga written by real-life transgender creators include Boys Run the Riot and Dear Society, although this is limited by the lack of authentic transmasculine manga overall.

    What is the difference between transmasculine superhero comics and transmasculine manga?

    Key differences between Western superhero comics and Japanese manga include reading direction, color, and storytelling structure. Additionally, manga traditionally must originate in Japan to be classified as manga.

    Western superhero comics tend to focus on action, science-fiction powers, and team dynamics, while Japanese manga spans multiple genres like coming-of-age dramas, romantic comedy, horror, and action-adventure.

    What is the historically earliest manga featuring a transmasculine protagonist?

    Claudine’s Claude is recognized as the first transmasculine manga protagonist, originating in Riyoko Ikeda’s 1978 shoujo manga.

  • 5 Cozy Transgender Movies to Watch After Pride Month

    5 Cozy Transgender Movies to Watch After Pride Month

    Pride Month is over, but transgender stories deserve attention throughout the entire year. Here are our recommendations for cozy transgender movies to enjoy while recovering from Pride.

    Looking for a more comprehensive list of the best transgender movies of all time? Check out our trans cinema list.

    Table of Contents

    Movie poster for Boy Meets Girl, a transgender romantic comedy film starring Michelle Hendley and Michael Welch, directed by Eric Schaeffer. The poster features a close-up of Michelle Hendley smiling with Michael Welch in the background, with the tagline, Love Transcends Gender.
    Movie poster for the Netflix documentary Will & Harper, featuring Harper Steele and Will Ferrell sitting in the front seat of a car on a road trip with desert mountains in the background. The poster includes festival laurels for Sundance, TIFF, and Telluride, along with a quote from Daily Beast calling it "An endeavor that could change and even save lives."
    Movie poster for the drama film Cowboys, starring Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell, Ann Dowd, and introducing Sasha Knight. The poster depicts a father played by Steve Zahn and his young trans son played by Sasha Knight riding together on a white horse through a mountainous forest landscape under a cloudy sky.
    Movie poster for the indie comedy-drama film Tangerine, directed by Sean Baker. The poster captures the silhouettes of two trans women characters walking along a Los Angeles street at sunset, set against a vibrant purple and orange sky filled with palm trees and power lines. Features a Sundance Film Festival official selection laurel and prominent review quotes at the top.
    Movie poster for the animated film Nimona on Netflix, based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson. The poster features the shapeshifting character Nimona with red hair, pink wings, and a mischievous grin, perched on the shoulders of Ballister Boldheart, a knight in dark armor who looks startled. They are surrounded by pointed swords and spears aimed at them against a futuristic medieval city skyline under the tagline, "A little anti. A little hero."

    Boy Meets Girl: A Heartwarming Trans Rom-Com

    Boy Meets Girl is a heartwarming romantic comedy directed by Eric Schaeffer in 2014 that avoids sob stories and tragedy common to transgender stories. Michelle Hendley (an actual transgender woman) plays Ricky, a small-town barista with big dreams of becoming a NYC fashion designer.

    It sounds like a cliché Hallmark movie, but Boy Meets Girl is beloved by trans folks because our media lacks cozy clichés.

    Boy Meets Girl features transfeminine representation and is rated R by the Motion Picture Association. As of July 2026, it has an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Tubi, Fandango, Disney+/Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV. We recommend viewers watch Boy Meets Girl on Tubi for free.

    View Content Warnings
    Watch on Tubi

    Will & Harper: An Intimate, Bittersweet Road Trip Documentary

    Will Ferrell and Harper Steele filmed a 17-day road trip from New York City to Los Angeles in 2024, documenting their new friendship now that Harper has medically transitioned. Will & Harper is both bittersweet and heartfelt, praised by critics for being incredibly intimate.

    Will Ferrell is a big name for most Americans, and his role draws in audiences who would be unlikely to watch transgender media. Will and Harper’s back-and-forth comedy and relationship break up harsher realities within the film, like current anti-transgender legislation and hate speech.

    Will & Harper features transfeminine representation and is rated R by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can only be watched on Netflix.

    View Content Warnings

    Cowboys: A Rural Montana Drama with a Happy Ending

    Cowboys is a 2020 drama written and directed by Anna Kerrigan, focusing on the complicated relationship dynamic Joe has with his mother, Sally, and father, Troy. After being released from prison, Troy agrees to accompany Joe and escape to Canada to find a better life.

    The film’s title comes from Joe’s infatuation with Western cowboys and its setting in rural Montana. Some parts of Cowboys hurt, like Joe’s relationship with Sally – but it’s well-received since it features a transgender lead actor as Joe and a happy ending to tie everything together.

    Cowboys features transmasculine representation and is not rated by the MPA, although Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 15 and older. As of July 2026, it has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Tubi, Philo, CW, Amazon Prime, Fandango, YouTube, Google Play Movies, and Apple TV. We recommend that viewers watch Cowboys on Tubi for free.

    View Content Warnings
    Watch on Tubi

    Tangerine: A Vibrant, Fast-Paced Indie Comedy

    When Sin-Dee is released from jail, she discovers that her pimp and boyfriend Chester has been cheating on her – prompting her to take her friend Alexandra and search Los Angeles for him. Tangerine was directed by Sean Baker in 2015 and features transgender actresses Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor.

    Sin-Dee and Alexandra are transgender sex workers, so Tangerine presents a lot of hard moments despite being a comedy. It’s a reality that many transgender women of color are forced to endure. Altogether, Tangerine is a gem amongst 2010s indie films.

    Tangerine features transfeminine representation and is rated R by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Tubi, Philo, Pluto, Fandango, Xumo, Amazon Prime, fuboTV, YouTube, Google Play Movies, and Apple TV. We recommend that viewers watch Tangerine on Tubi for free.

    View Content Warnings
    Watch on Tubi

    Nimona: A Cozy, Animated Anti-Hero Story

    Based on ND Stevenson’s comic, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane directed Nimona in 2023 as an animated full-length film in partnership with Netflix. After its initial release, Nimona became popular in queer spaces for featuring an openly queer lead character.

    The film’s title comes from its co-protagonist, Nimona. After witnessing Ballister kill Queen Valerin, Nimona seeks him out as a kindred spirit. They’re a classic antihero, shapeshifter, and nonbinary. The ultimate story behind Nimona is acceptance and challenging rigid boxes.

    Nimona features nonbinary representation and is rated PG by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can only be watched on Netflix.

    View Content Warnings

    More Cozy Transgender Movies to Stream & Honorable Mentions

    If you want even more recommendations, the following films are fantastic follow-ups while you’re recovering from Pride Month. Check out our full list for more transgender films.

    Barbie: Self-Identification & Gender Roles

    Greta Gerwig’s Barbie isn’t necessarily transgender, but lots of transgender people connect with the movie. Doctor Barbie is played by transgender actress Hari Nef, but she’s a side character. Transgender people relate to Barbie because it centers around self-identification.

    Stereotypical Barbie breaks away from Barbieland to define herself, but she and Ken have to navigate real-life gender roles, the exhaustion of womanhood, and fragile masculinity. A lot of people have written great essays on the intersections of Barbie and transness – like M Canvas, GenderGP, BinaryThis, and Tilly’s Trans Tuesdays.

    Barbie is rated PG-13 by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Amazon Prime, HBO Max, YouTube, Disney+/Hulu, Sling TV, Roku Channel, Fandango, and Apple TV.

    View Content Warnings

    Fanfic: A Gritty Transmasculine Coming-of-Age Story

    Fanfic is a Polish coming-of-age melodrama directed by Marta Karwowska in 2023 based on Natalia Osińska’s novel. After meeting Leon, Tosiek starts a 95-minute-long journey understanding his gender identity as a transgender boy. 

    Fanfic is an honorable mention because it’s not a super cozy watch, but it’s a solid film. Karwowska has to toe the line between telling Tosiek’s story and becoming fuel for anti-transgender Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria fanatics. Given that Fanfic stars actual transgender actor Alin Szewczyk, it’s been well-received within transmasculine communities.

    Fanfic features transmasculine representation and is rated NC-17 by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can only be watched on Netflix.

    View Content Warnings

    Kiki’s Delivery Service: Finding Chosen Family & Your Authentic Self

    Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of Studio Ghibli’s classic films, directed by Hayao Miyazaki in 1989. It’s not written explicitly about transgender or queer identity, but transgender people resonate with Kiki’s Delivery Service’s themes around leaving home to become one’s authentic self.

    Kiki’s magical identity is constantly at odds with the world around her because she’s so fundamentally different. After leaving home, she’s forced to find chosen family with Osono and Ursula as she searches for belonging. As a whole, Kiki’s Delivery Service explores independence, identity, community, and burnout.

    Kiki’s Delivery Service is rated G by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Amazon Prime, Disney+/Hulu, Roku Channel, HBO Max, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Fandango, and Apple TV.

    View Content Warnings

    Venus: A Multi-Layered Immigrant & Transition Story

    In Eisha Marjara’s 2017 comedy-drama, Sid is an Indian-Canadian transgender woman who discovers she has a 14-year-old son just as she’s come out publicly about her gender identity. Venus is built like a soap opera, tying in Sid’s experiences as a woman of color and child of immigrants.

    Although I’m not a fan of cisgender male actor Debargo Sanyal portraying Sid as a transgender woman, director Marjara clearly had genuine intentions when creating Sid’s story. Venus includes many aspects of early transition, but it also shines as an immigrant story through Sid’s relationships with her son and parents.

    Venus features transfeminine representation. Although Venus is not rated by the MPA, it is commonly associated with an R rating due to mature themes. As of July 2026, it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Tubi, Amazon Prime, Fandango, YouTube, Google Play Movies, and Apple TV. We recommend viewers watch Venus on Tubi for free.

    View Content Warnings
    Watch on Tubi

    Everything Everywhere All at Once: Accepting Queerness & Rejecting Binaries

    Everything Everywhere All at Once is a 2022 action sci-fi film directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, centered around Chinese immigrant Evelyn Quan Wang. Although transness isn’t a focal point of the movie, it’s another movie that many transgender people connect with.

    Evelyn’s daughter Joy’s queerness is an internal conflict as Evelyn fights to connect with Joy and traditional nuclear family values. The characters subvert stereotypical gender roles and the overarching theme of Everything Everywhere All at Once is about acceptance, familial love, and rejecting binary thinking. It’s a very surreal movie, but it’s also incredibly heartwarming.

    Everything Everywhere All at Once is rated R by the MPA. As of July 2026, it has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and can be watched on Tubi, Pluto TV, PLEX, YouTube, Disney+/Hulu, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango, and Apple TV. We recommend viewers watch Everything Everywhere All at Once on Tubi for free.

    View Content Warnings
    Watch on Tubi

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I watch highly rated transgender movies for free?

    You don’t need a dozen paid subscriptions to stream incredible transgender films. Many highly acclaimed films, such as Boy Meets Girl, Cowboys, and Tangerine, are available to watch entirely for free on Tubi. Other free streaming platforms include Pluto, Roku Channel, Xumo, and Plex.

    Are there family-friendly transgender movies?

    Yes, although there are not many films that are openly transgender due to anti-transgender moral panic. Some family-friendly transgender movies include Nimona, Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, Tomboy, and Wendell & Wild.

    Why do mainstream films like Kiki’s Delivery Service appeal to transgender audiences?

    Even if transgender identity is not explicitly mentioned in mainstream films like Kiki’s Delivery Service and Barbie, transgender audiences gravitate towards mirrored experiences. 

    Anti-transgender moral panic and the Hays Code restrict openly transgender films and positive depictions of transgender identity. Many people don’t explore independent film, so they resonate with mainstream stories that resemble the transgender experience.

    Why is authentic transgender casting so important in film?

    Authentic transgender casting is critically important because film shapes societal empathy and expectations. Many people assume they do not know any transgender people in real-life while simultaneously absorbing media.

    Most people do not engage with media literacy to think critically about how negative portrayals of transgender people impact how they internally feel about transgender identity. Cisgender writers, directors, and actors are more likely to focus on wrongful deception, voyeuristic fetishization, and anti-transgender punchlines because they cannot meaningfully connect to the transgender experiences they are portraying.

  • Honor the Fallen: Powerful Ways to Take Action This TDOR

    Honor the Fallen: Powerful Ways to Take Action This TDOR

    International Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed across the world since 1999, created after the brutal murders of Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett. Transgender activists Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Nancy Nangeroni, and Jahaira DeAlto created TDOR as an annual reminder to honor individuals who have been lost to anti-transgender hatred in a world completely unkind to transgender lives.

    Technically, there is no singular database detailing the number of transgender people lost each year. It is impossible to have a fully accurate statistic since, even in 2025, many transgender people do not openly identify themselves out of safety concerns. Additionally, it is the sole ethical responsibility of one’s loved ones for their transgender identity to be included in police reports, media releases, and obituaries since the dead cannot advocate for themselves.

    The two most comprehensive databases relevant to Transgender Day of Remembrance are Remembering Our Dead and the Trans Remembrance Project.

    Remembering Our Dead estimates that 276 transgender people died unfairly from January 1st, 2025, to November 20th, 2025. 204 deaths were the direct result of anti-transgender violence, 53 were via suicide, 2 occurred due to medical malpractice, and 4 died in police custody. The remaining 13 are uncategorized due to a lack of public information. 

    44 of the 276 deaths occurred in the United States, accounting for 16% of the global rate, and places the USA as the second most deadly place to be transgender after Brazil. Despite claiming to be the most prosperous country in the world, the United States has a long-standing history of being devastatingly deadly towards transgender individuals throughout the years that Remembering Our Dead has collected data.

    Knowing this information, what is the best way to honor the dead? Hundreds of individuals are unfairly taken each year, regardless of the number of vigils held. How can one take meaningful action?

    If you have not done so yet this year, read through the lives of names and stories lost within the past year. Remember that each person was more than a mere name; they were a three-dimensional person with loved ones, hobbies, and passions.

    • Parker Savarese
    • Elisa Rae Shupe
    • Aubrey Dameron
    • Tahiry Broom
    • Sam Nordquist
    • Ervianna Johnson
    • Amyri Dior
    • Linda Becerra Moran
    • Jordan “JJ” Maye
    • Charlene Cook
    • Katelyn Rinnetta Benoit
    • Kaitoria Le’Cynthia Bankz (“Kai”)
    • Norah Horwitz
    • Kelsey Elem
    • Shy’Parius Dupree
    • Karmin Wells
    • Charlotte Fosgate
    • Jonathan Joss
    • Tessa June
    • Jax Gratton
    • Laura Schueler
    • Hope Lyca Youngblood
    • Emma Slabach
    • JJ Godbey
    • Christina Hayes
    • Gabrielle Nguyen (“Cam”)
    • Lily-Dawn Harkins
    • Kia-Leigh Tabitha Roberts
    • Kamora Woods
    • Arty Cassidy Beowulf Gibson
    • Nathaniel Pabón Cruz (“Nata”)
    • Dream Johnson
    • Blair A. Sawyer
    • Rosa Machuca
    • Kasí Rhea (“Kaeyy Holmes”)
    • Onyx Cornish
    • Aurora Pellegrina (“Alexa”, “Luna”)
    • Robyn James Post
    • Blake Sturm
    • Blaze Aleczander Balle-Mason
    • Scarlett
    • Tiara Love Tori Jackson
    • Lia Smith
    • Marisol Payero

    Reach out to LGBTQIA+ organizations and groups near you to find information on community vigils. Around the world, people organize gatherings for TDOR to emphasize the reality that the dead may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. Even if you do not live in an area hosting a TDOR vigil locally, there are several public events hosted online.

    With each passing year, the list of dead grows exponentially, and it becomes easier to fall into grief or fury that nothing changes. While we live in a time where transgender people are more easily documented and identifiable for data compared to decades ago, we still live in a society that demonizes transgender identity. For each transgender person remembered authentically as who they were, there are others who are misrepresented by their obituaries and media reporters. The TDOR list continues to grow just as hate and bigotry festers, leading others to commit acts of grotesque violence or pass anti-transgender legislation to make our existence illegal.

    How will you make this TDOR different from previous years? How do we keep ourselves alive and fighting against inequality? Troubled times make it easy to give into fear and grief, which is why suicide and mental health crises are at an all-time high amongst transgender people. 

    The political rise of Donald Trump normalized hate in a manner that was completely alien and unprecedented for the time. He invited people to spew as much rage and hatred as possible during rallies to congeal his primary base – which was a similar tactic to previous populist leaders. Yet Republicans are hypocrites: the MAGA movement centers on the dehumanization of the “inferior,” but Republicans are the first to cry foul when they are refused compassion such as when Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19 or Charlie Kirk was murdered at a rally degrading transgender people. 

    We live in a society that incentivizes anger – it gets the most attention and the world has no shortage of things to be outraged over. If you must be angry, be furious over the lives that have been unfairly taken and take action. It is exhausting to witness cisgender allies tear up at vigils and fail to do anything more meaningful than light a candle. Vigils are important and we need to be remembered, but greater action is necessary to curb the ever-growing list; there are thousands of ways to take action if you take the time to look.

    Look up your elected officials. Whether they represent your interests in Congress or sit on a local township board, reach out regarding their support of transgender rights.

    When communicating with federal officials, emphasize phone calls and in-person visits. Emails and written letters are overwhelmingly unread and unanswered. All constituents have the right to call their official’s office and discuss issues. Depending on their schedule, you may not speak to your official directly, but all phone calls are answered by assistants who are required to report high-interest matters to your representative. While this process can be exhausting, it’s a highly effective form of lobbying that anyone can do – which is why conservatives use phone lobbying so readily.

    Organizing a vigil or related event for Transgender Day of Remembrance? Don’t let the event be entirely somber. Use the weight of TDOR to move people to action, remind them that they have a right to be angry in a world where their transgender siblings are no longer alive.

    Advocate for programs that prevent transgender-related violence. Emphasize the importance of funding programs and resources – the current administration has taken numerous steps to eliminate funding that benefits LGBTQIA+ people. Money makes the world move, whether it’s more job opportunities or improved training curricula for professionals.

    Donate towards causes that combat anti-transgender violence. Even if you lack money to put forward, you can always donate time by volunteering with local grassroots projects. Find registered LGBTQIA+ nonprofits near you, or donate to national organizations like A4TE, ACLU, GLAD, and Lambda Legal.

    Learn and practice bystander intervention. The majority of individuals find themselves unable to act in times of crisis because they assume someone else ought to help. It’s difficult to do the right thing, but that’s why it’s worth doing.

    Lastly, remember that resilient survival is its own act of rebellion. In a county that condemns transgender identity, each day you continue to survive is another day you live in spite of their agenda.

    Looking for more educational guides?

    Browse Trans Solidarity Project’s guides, or check out these posts:

  • 10 Awesome Halloween Costumes for Trans Men

    10 Awesome Halloween Costumes for Trans Men

    Halloween is nearly upon us. Compared to any other holiday, Halloween is unofficially the most beloved day of the year for LGBTQIA+ people. This week’s post features some of the best and most reliable costume ideas for transmasculine folks.

    Table of Contents

    Why do queer people love Halloween, anyway?

    There isn’t a single reason, but several key ideas. The most popular theory is that Halloween provides an excellent excuse for LGBTQIA+ people to transgress traditional gender roles and expression.

    For the majority of US history, individuals were criminalized for crossdressing – but Halloween provided a singular day out of the year that anyone could bend the rules. With enough confidence, Halloween afforded people in the past the perfect excuse to crossdress for an assumed laugh.

    Today, we live in a society where we are freer to express our gender identity regardless of sex assigned at birth – although these rights are under attack by religious fundamentalists. Yet, Halloween still provides comfort since it embodies the spirit of exploration. It’s a costume, you’re dressing up; you’re entitled to have fun with it.

    One final reason LGBTQIA+ may gravitate towards Halloween is that queer people are statistically more likely to identify as pagan. Compared to other religions, paganism, Wicca, and universalist beliefs have a stable history of being inclusive towards LGBTQIA+ identities.

    Fundamentalist Christians despise Halloween because it’s the most outwardly pagan holiday still commonly celebrated (and not co-opted by Christianity). Even if you don’t identify with witchy beliefs, there’s something quaint about witchcraft that draws queer folks in.

    Top Halloween Costumes for Transgender Men

    Author’s Note:
    Clothing, on its own, does not have any inherent gender. It’s fabric composed of various natural and synthetic fibers. On the other hand, humans have associated specific styles with gender for thousands of years – but these associations vary based on time and place.

    Clothing has no gender. It is possible to still feel a certain way about clothing due to our gendered notions of clothing, and therefore possible to feel dysphoric because clothing may not affirm our gender identity. These two statements can coexist. Further, you’re not less authentic or transgender because you like or dislike specific styles.

    Pop Culture Icons

    Later in this list, I’ll go over specific trends for 2025 – this section is related to generic characters, actors, and other entities. You can dress up as literally anyone or anything. Don’t let this list (or any list, for that matter) stop you from having a good time.

    Queer people make fantastic fanbases. We hyperfixate and gravitate towards content more heavily than general audiences (Is it autism? Well, correlation isn’t causation.). This category includes characters from any media format, like anime, television, film, comics, and books. These are all fair choices and provide a bonus that you’ll feel especially connected to this costume.

    The only caveat to these costumes is that the more obscure or less-known your content is, there is lower the chance people will recognize or understand your costume. Be prepared to explain it. Over and over. If you’re going for a costume to lend towards passing, obscure costumes won’t add much since there’s no recognizability factor.

    Can’t Go Wrong with the Classics

    Halloween costumes are generally less diverse for men compared to women. In the words of Mean Girls, “Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Feminine costumes range without limits (“A sexy quint from sexy Jaws catching sexy sharks, sexy Eleanor Roosevelt or sexy Rosa Parks, I can be a sexy pirate or a sexy ballet dancer. I can be a sexy doctor and cure some sexy cancer!”).

    The most traditional costumes for men include vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and Frankenstein. All of these costumes have a distinct masculine association that can invoke gender euphoria – so they’re fairly common picks amongst transmasculine folks.

    Frankenstein resonates with the transgender notion of building oneself and body dysphoria. Werewolves remind us of transformation, transition, and the feeling of being at home (or not) in one’s body. Monsters, as a whole, compare similarly to how transgender people feel isolated, misunderstood, and ostracized by society.

    Your Favorite Cryptid <3

    Folktakes fascinate everyone. Likely due to queer people being grouped with sexual deviancy over the centuries, LGBTQIA+ people are more kink positive – which includes the “monster f*cker” category. 

    Cryptids have become popular throughout the past decade, with entities like the Babadook and Mothman gaining significant fans. In a sense, these characters are new-age monsters compared to tired classics from the 1800s, which is part of the allure. Given their current cultural relevance, a decent number of people will recognize your costume.

    Marvel or DC?

    You’ll be hard-pressed to find a costume more “boy” than superheroes. There’s something remarkably masculine about them, and even if there are valid criticisms regarding the superhero film industry, most of these characters are literally made to become costumes.

    However, there is one major aspect to keep in mind here. Most superhero costumes are more boyish rather than inherently masculine. The classics (Superman, Batman, Thor, Iron Man, etc.) are going to be considered childish due to how they’re already marketed. Instead, consider superhero costumes marketed towards adult men – like Deadpool and Wolverine (which are both topical this year due to their 2024 release).

    Howdy, Cowboy!

    The Wild West offers a wealth of costumes to choose from, and cowboys have a unique queer history from those early years on the frontier. The occupation and time allowed individuals to live outside large-scale judgment back home, which lent itself to the lawless atmosphere we most associate with “the wild west.” Even in more modern depictions like Brokeback Mountain, cowboys are afforded enough seclusion to live more authentically while traveling from place to place for work.

    There’s something incredibly boyish about it all, which may be one reason transmasculine people romanticize the Wild West. At its core, cowboys revolve around rugged individualism. It’s also a predominantly male occupation, so cowboy costumes are fairly easy to pass in.

    Mr. Pedro Pascal

    He’s been in the Hollywood spotlight for the past couple of years, which has polarized American audiences into either loving or hating him.

    Most known for his work on The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, Pedro embodies the healthy masculinity that transmasculine people seek. He’s also gone on the record as an unapologetic transgender ally. And, regardless of his role, Pedro is identifiable, which makes all of his characters and persona easy to costume. 

    Into the Wasteland

    With its new live-action television series, Fallout is back in the public eye with a new influx of its fanbase. Fallout, Mad Max, and similar content all fall into a general dystopian sci-fi apocalypse category – which inspires many with gender envy and euphoria. Gender expression in these futures is always less strict than reality and still offers fantasy-based escapism. After all, these realities present dire circumstances where gender identity and roles matter little compared to nuclear war and the apocalypse.

    There’s also some joke about how much transgender people love Fallout: New Vegas, buuuut that’s getting off-topic.

    Are You Kenough?

    The Barbie movie may have come out two years ago, but it still has a strong fanbase. People either loved or hated it – but the film focused on a lot of social justice issues that drew in queer audiences. As the main male character, Ken has a complicated relationship with masculinity while standing in Barbie’s shadow. 

    The entire film is about self-discovery and finding one’s authentic identity in a mass-marketed world. Regardless, Ken offers a wealth of costume ideas that range from complex and fabulous to simple outfits that are easy to throw together.

    Rock Out!

    We’ve returned to an era where male rock stars are becoming looser with gender expression based on current fashion trends. Machine Gun Kelly, Yungblud, and Bad Bunny toy with gender expression and societal expectations similarly to male stars in the 1980s.

    During that time period, gender-bending glam fashion and androgyny were at their peak. David Bowie, Prince, and Freddie Mercury were just a handful of a (then) new music scene that rebelled against the status quo of gender. And given these factors, rock star personas are relatively easy for transgender people to use as costumes since they’re highly recognizable and simpler to pass in.

    Simply Go Meta

    If you’ve got a sense of humor and don’t want to go all out with any of the above costumes, you could go with something self-referential. Wear a button or pin that says “Trans Icon” or “GOP Nightmare Fuel.” Get a shirt with “I’m the scary transgender person the media warned you about” or “Boo! Transgender!” written on it. You’ll get points for cleverness, but these costumes are understandably less interesting than others.

    Remember: You can dress up as literally anyone or anything. These are just suggestions to get you inspired.

    As a final note, make sure you put comfort first when deciding a Halloween costume. Physical and emotional comfort will play a massive role in whether your Halloween will turn out well – so weigh the pros and cons between creativity, safety, and dysphoria. 

    If you regularly bind, make sure your body is able to handle several hours of compression while you’re out. And lastly, Halloween is the hallmark of autumn, which means it’s easier to layer outfits. Many guys mistakenly believe baggy clothes will help them pass better, but the more effective route is layering your outfit to successfully hide curves that may cause gender dysphoria.

    Looking for more educational guides?

    Browse Trans Solidarity Project’s guides, or check out these posts:

  • Trans Cinema: Movies to celebrate and inspire pride

    Trans Cinema: Movies to celebrate and inspire pride

    Movies are an important part of culture – for some, film provides a simple stress release and a means to entertain ourselves; for others, it is another teaching tool that allows us to critique society through art.

    Table of Contents

    Movies also influence us, inspiring us to be creative – and they hold the potential to feed propaganda, too. Despite its relatively short history compared to other art forms, film has become incredibly integrated into daily life: you won’t find a person who doesn’t like movies to some degree, whether they’re action-packed time-wasters or thoughtful stories that reveal new insights through their narratives. Each person who watches a film will take away a different message, which is why movies are a great format when books or traditional art fail.

    Throughout my work, I’ve put together many lists like this. While everyone is capable of theoretically learning about other cultures and perspectives, most are unlikely to. Unless it’s directly in their face, few go out of their way when they could watch the latest release from Marvel or Disney. I’ve spent plenty of time trying to make digestible recommendations to get folks interested in transgender media. To celebrate Pride, here are the most popular movies mentioned when looking for trans-specific films.

    3 Generations (2015)

    Transmasc | 30% RT | Comedy Drama | PG-13 | 1h 34


    Nearly every movie on this list is categorized as “indie” – transgender stories aren’t seen as compelling or profitable enough for big producers yet. 3 Generations centers on a transgender boy as he navigates coming out to his family. Notably, this film has bad reviews, but it always gets suggested when you search the internet for transmasculine films due to the extreme lack of them. If you’re looking for something trans to watch, go for it – but there are better movies on this list. 3 Generations falls short because of it focuses too much on the cisgender family members. It holds a lot of potential for telling a great story but flubs portraying gender identity. Critics generally agree that the film had good intentions but forces too many compromises for the transgender main character to appeal to the cisgender adults around him.

    Content Warning / Available on… Roku Channel, PLEX, The CW, Peacock, YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango

    52 Tuesdays (2013)

    Transmasc | 90% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 49m

    A much better movie about transgender people dealing with family, 52 Tuesdays explores the relationship between a transgender man and his teenage daughter after he comes out. The daughter is limited to only see him on Tuesday evenings for the next year (hence the film title) and the drama that always comes with transition. The main gripe comes from it being released in 2013, right before transgender people were thrown into the media spotlight, so there’s lots of problematic reviews attempting to explain transness.

    Content Warning / Available on… Kanopy, YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Apple TV

    A Fantastic Woman / Una mujer fantástica (2017)

    Transfemme | 94% RT | Drama | R | 1h 44m

    Marina is a Chilean transgender woman who, after her boyfriend dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm, has to deal with his family as they harass her. Death is a complicated process, and she’s strung through the wringer as they take away everything from her. The movie even won an Oscar in 2018 – it’s bittersweet and manages to relate well to real trans issues. Chilean activists credit the film as a major help in advancing a gender identity law in 2018 that finally allowed transgender Chileans to change their legal gender.

    Content Warning / Available on… Peacock, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango, Netflix*

    Adam (2019)

    Transmasc* | 73% RT | Comedy | NR | 1h 35m

    Based on the novel Adam, the movie follows cisgender teenager Adam while he lives with his older sister – who is involved in New York City’s LGBTQIA+ scene. Adam eventually develops a crush on a lesbian girl who assumes Adam is a transgender man. Adam goes with it, lying about his sex assigned at birth and gender identity. The premise is overused, and the lesbian girl comes out as bisexual by the end of the movie after Adam reveals he’s actually cisgender. Adam still tells an interesting story, but it has a lot of potentially problematic issues. Sexuality is fluid and complicated, but the movie normalizes cis men’s fantasies about turning lesbians; lesbians are attracted to women, but Adam fuels lesbian attraction to transgender men; and of course, any movie that associates transgender people with lying should be taken with a grain of salt.

    On the other hand, the movie is directed by a transgender man (Rhys Ernst), who made slight changes to the original book due to criticism. For what it’s worth, Adam does show how folks’ minds can be opened once they engage with other communities.

    Content Warning | Available on… Tubi, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Roku Channel, YouTube, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    Albert Nobbs (2011)

    Transmasc* | 56% RT | Romantic Drama | R | 1h 53m

    Another recommendation due to the lack of actual transmasculine films, Albert Nobbs is interpreted as transgender… ish. Albert is a butler in 1800s Ireland who has lived as a man for thirty years to work despite societal restrictions. It’s difficult to decide whether Albert is a cisgender woman trying to survive in a male society or if Albert is a transgender man existing in the few routes possible to him, like IRL figures like Albert Cashier. While most folks involved in the film likely lean into the former interpretation, I believe the movie is significantly more interesting if you view Albert as a very early transgender man. However, the 1800s is a brutal time to be alive – disease and abuse are rampant, and Albert does eventually die by the end.

    Content Warning | Available on… YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango

    Alice Júnior (2019)

    Transfemme | Comedy Drama | NR | 1h 27m

    This movie is so small that it doesn’t have a Rotten Tomatoes score – but the three critics that have reviewed it have had positive things to say. Alice is a transgender girl who makes YouTube videos, forced to move out to the conservative Brazilian countryside and attend a Catholic school. It’s a coming-of-age story about Alice getting her first kiss despite bullying and harassment.

    Content Warning / Available on… Kanopy, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

    All About My Mother / Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

    Transfemme | 98% RT | Comedy Drama | R | 1h 39m

    Another Oscar-winner, All About My Mother is considered a classic among transgender films. After her son is killed in a car accident, Manuela recouncils with her ex-partner Lola – a transgender woman who never knew she had a son with Manuela. Along the journey, she meets other folks in the trans and sex work community. It’s messy, just like real life, and explores motherhood, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and topics that scare traditional Hollywood away.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    As We Like It / Jie Da Huan Xi (2021)

    Transmasc* | NR | Romantic Drama | 1h 47m

    As a Taiwanese retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the film explores Orlando and Rosalind’s love – but every single role is played by a woman to play on the historical reality that women were banned from the theater during Shakespeare’s time. It’s mild and a good watch if you’re seeking something more interesting than the classic Shakespeare version. It’s up to you to interpret the characters as transgender men in straight relationships or lesbians defying traditional gender roles.

    Content Warning / Currently unavailable to stream in the United States

    Beautiful Boxer (2003)

    Transfemme | 85% RT | Sports Biography | NR | 1h 48m

    This Taiwanese film is based on the real life of Parinya Charoenphol, a self-identified kathoey who participated in professional boxing to help pay for her gender affirmation surgery. Despite its age, the movie manages to be a decent representation – it’s packed full of action, and transgender stories are rare in the sports movie genre.

    Content Warning / Available on… Roku Channel, YouTube, Netflix*

    Boy Meets Girl (2014)

    Transfemme | 89% RT | Romance, Comedy, & Drama | R | 1h 35m

    Honestly, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Boy Meets Girl – and it’s a fantastic alternative to those tired of sob stories, tragic tales, and dramas. Ricky, a transgender woman, works as barista in a small Kentuckian town with big dreams of moving to NYC to become a fashion designer. Unlike most movies, Boy Meets Girl uses an actual transgender woman (Michelle Hendley) to star in the lead role.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu, Roku Channel, Tubi, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango

    Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

    Transmasc | 91% RT | Historical Drama | R | 1h 58m

    There isn’t a more “classic” transmasc film than Boys Don’t Cry – due to the lack of representation and visibility in media, it’s essentially our Brokeback Mountain. It was released in 1999 and portrays the real and tragic murder of Brandon Teena, a victim to an anti-trans hate crime in rural Nebraska.

    If you’re looking for a light-hearted movie to watch, do not watch Boys Don’t Cry. Honestly, don’t watch it unless you’re really ready for it. Among transmasc forums, watching it seen as a rite of passage – but it’s a traumatic and gruesome film that brings gravity to trans hate crimes. Beyond that, it’s important to remember this film takes some pretty large liberties from reality: both of his murderers are alive in prison today, and the negligent sheriff Charles Laux was kept until retirement instead of fired for gross misconduct – although Laux did pass away in 2021 (good riddance). There’s also fair criticism in Hilary Swank’s portrayal of Brandon Teena as a cisgender woman. Lastly, I have a personal gripe that Boys Don’t Cry is the transmasculine community’s centerpiece film, but Brandon Teena was kind of… not a great guy. IRL Brandon should absolutely be alive today, but he had a lot of flaws and adored toxic masculinity, which isn’t something young trans guys should be looking up to. Take him with a grain of salt and hope for better stories in the future.

    Looking for a more accurate telling of Brandon Teena’s story? The Brandon Teena Story was released a year before Boys Don’t Cry as a crime documentary.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango, Hulu*

    Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

    Transfemme | 58% RT | Comedy Thriller | R | 2h 15 m

    Kitten is forced to balance life during one of Ireland’s most dangerous periods in recent history – transgender people don’t stop existing during major events, and she finds herself constantly surrounded by conflict due to The Troubles. Between her troubled youth, joining a punk rock band, and getting involved in sex work, Kitten struggles through external and internal turmoil while searching for her biological mother. Breakfast on Pluto is one of those films that critics hate but audiences love – so it’s got its own cult following.

    Content Warning / Available on… Pluto, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    By Hook or By Crook (2001)

    Transmasc | 67% RT | Crime Romance | PG-13 | 1h 38m

    There are definitely better and worse movies out there, but By Hook or By Crook makes the list due to having a transmasculine main character. Shy is a transgender man who leaves for San Francisco and meets Valentine along the way – the two commit various petty crimes to make ends meet, so my main qualm with the film is similar to Boys Don’t Cry as transmasculine representation. I’m sure Shy is a complex character, but most transmasculine characters focus too heavily on toxic masculinity and fuel anti-trans stereotypes about transgender people being liars and criminals.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    https://youtu.be/rpycnTdv3Z4

    Cowboys (2020)

    Transmasc | 93% RT | Western Drama | MA | 1h 26m

    Troy suddenly takes his transgender son Joe out into the Montana wilderness to make their way to Canada – without telling Joe’s mother, largely due to her not being supportive of their son’s gender identity. Joe has a rough relationship with both of his parents, since his mother actively preaches against his transgender identity, and his father hasn’t been the most present due to prison and drug addiction. As expected, Joe’s mother reports to the police and has a search out for her missing child – and Troy’s drug addiction eventually catches up to him while on the trail. Compared to the last movie, critics love Cowboys but audiences are mixed due to the film having a pretty slow pace at times.


    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, Roku Channel, Philo, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

    Transfemme | 92% RT | Drama | R | 1h 57m

    Ron Woodroof works with transgender woman Rayon after discovering he has AIDS during the 1980s. The health industry is against treating AIDS due to anti-gay politics, and thus Ron is forced to source medication from alternative sources to stay alive. Together, Ron and Rayon distribute treatment to others also failed by the mainstream health establishment.

    Dallas Buyers Club is genuinely a good film, and it’s based on the real events Ron Woodroof experienced when creating the Dallas Buyers Club – a front he used to supply medication and supplements relieving AZT symptoms and AIDS.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Death and Bowling (2021)

    Transmasc | Sport-ish Drama | NR | 1h 4m

    A relatively short movie, Death and Bowling follows a transgender man who is made the captain of his local lesbian bowling league after the former captain passes away. If you’re seeking something sport-adjacent, it might be a good watch – assuming you can find somewhere to stream it.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    Disclosure (2020)

    Any/All | 98% RT | Documentary | MA | 1h 40 m

    Hollywood has never portrayed transgender people fairly – and it likely take decades before we’re accurately and positively represented. Disclosure is a COVID-era documentary that details transgender portrayals in mainstream media and its affects on public opinion on transgender rights. Since it was produced by Netflix, you’ll only be able to stream it via their service.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

    Transfemme | 96% RT | Crime Thriller | R | 2h 10m

    Sonny is a bisexual man married to both a cisgender woman (Angie) and a transgender woman (Liz) who struggles to maintain control of an escalating situation when he attempts a Brooklyn bank robbery. He draws national media attention and the ire of the FBI, and Dog Day Afternoon shows an accurate portrayal of what Sonny and Liz’s relationship would have been like with a lot of heart. The film doesn’t shy away from portraying anti-transgender harassment and discrimination, and there’s a substantial point in that while Sonny is a criminal, he truly loves Liz and his love for her (and his own bisexuality) aren’t what make him bad.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu, Paramount+, fuboTV, Sling, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Drunktown’s Finest

    Transfemme | 67% RT | Comedy Drama | R | 1h 35m

    There are very few full-length Native American transgender films. Drunktown’s Finest was directed and performed by Native American artists and tells three separate stories that collide together – one of which focuses on transgender woman Felixia. Reservations are underfunded hellscapes drained of resources and disconnected from the rest of the country, and the three main characters are all seeking something beyond their Navajo town.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Ed Wood (1994)

    Transfemme* | 92% RT | Comedy Drama | R | 2h 7m

    I wouldn’t actually recommend Ed Wood if you’re wanting a real transgender movie, but it’s still on this list. It portrays the real life of Ed Wood, the American filmmaker behind numerous pulp films between the 1950s to 1970s – including Glen or Glenda, the central film Wood is trying to create in Ed Wood. Glen or Glenda was one of America’s very first movies with transgender representation, which is why Glend(a) is depicted as a transvestite and also why Ed Wood was awarded Worst Director of All Time at the 1980 Golden Turkey Awards. Ed Wood was directed by Tim Burton, who was fascinated by the exploitation culture dominating 1950s Hollywood.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Emilia Pérez (2024)

    Transfemme | 71% RT | Crime Musical | R | 2h 10m

    Emilia, a Mexican cartel boss, transitions as a transgender woman to finally live as herself with the help of doctors, lawyers, and other experts. Even though it’s difficult to leave her past life behind, Emilia manages to and even creates a nonprofit for victims of cartel violence – but it all comes crashing down when Emilia’s ex-wife finds new love and separates her from her children.

    Critics enjoy Emilia Pérez, and it’s based on an opera libretto. It even features an actual transgender actress in the lead role – but audiences have absolutely trashed its ratings. Most of the hate reviews relate to it being a musical, since the public is seemingly exhausted of live-action musical movies, BUT Emilia Pérez has also been criticized for being poor representation of the transgender community as well as Latin America. There’s a heavy focus on the necessity of gender-affirming surgery, and of course – the movie centers on a transgender woman being a high-profile criminal, aggressive, and ultimately a liar despite it being released in 2024.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Finlandia (2021)

    Two-Spirit / Transfemme | Dramatic Fantasy | R | 1h 37m

    After a devasting earthquake hits Oaxaca, Mexico, a fashion designer joins a community muxes for research. The earthquake has a profound emotional impact on the community, and the film follows them process these emotions while fighting for legal recognition as a third gender in Mexico.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)

    Transfemme | 100% RT | Crime Drama | NR | 1h 47m

    This is an artsy movie, born out of Japan’s New Wave era and combines arthouse and experimental cinema with the documentary genre. Funeral Parade of Roses follows Eddie, a transgender woman, as she navigates the queer scene in Tokyo. It takes direct inspiration from the Greek classic Oedipus, where Eddie eventually murders her mother and unknowingly sleeps with her father.

    Content Warning / Available on… Kanopy, Amazon Prime

    Gun Hill Road (2011)

    Transfemme | 65% RT | Drama | R | 1h 28m

    After his release from prison, Enrique returns home to find his wife having an affair and a new daughter – Vanessa has come out as a transgender woman and is transitioning despite Enrique’s lack of acceptance. The film focuses heavily on Enrique and Vanessa’s relationship as he struggles coming to terms with cisnormative ideas and toxic masculinity. It’s based on the Bronx neighborhood of the same name, and Gun Hill Road is notable for being one of the first films to have a transgender actor portray a transgender role.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango

    Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

    Transfemme* | 92% RT | Musical Comedy | R | 1h 33m

    I included Hedwig and the Angry Inch on this list, but Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!, and similar films get an honorary spot here. Hedwig isn’t actually trans, and honestly, the premise is pretty problematic – but the film is based on the campy rock musical released in 1998. Hedwig is a gay man born in East Germany, persuaded to have a sex reassignment surgery to travel to the United States as her boyfriend Luther’s wife. Her surgery is botched, Luther leaves her for a man, and the Berlin Wall falls to combine East Germany with West Germany. Driven by the allure of stardom, Hedwig goes on a journey to become a musical sensation despite trials, copyright infringement, and general misery.

    Is Hedwig transgender? I’d argue possibly more so than the lead characters in Priscilla and To Wong Foo, but these films barely pass by as queer camp classics. It’s important to remember that Hedwig all hinges on the premise that Hedwig was forcibly given a botched sex reassignment surgery – she eventually accepts her identity as a woman, but that’s a pretty harmful trope to perpetuate since anti-transgender activists foam at the idea of transgender people being persuaded into bodily mutilation.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango

    Holy Trinity (2019)

    Nonbinary | 82% RT | Comedic Horror | NR | 1h 31m

    After huffing a magic can of aerosol, Trinity discovers she can speak with the dead – and Holy Trinity is an hour and half comedic fever dream as she grapples with this power. Alongside her, Trinity is joined by nonbinary lead character Baby, who follows her alternative sexuality and spirituality journey.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    L’immensità (2022)

    Transmasc | 85% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 37m

    Andrea is the eldest child of a dysfunctional Italian family during the 1970s who bonds with a Romani girl and his mother Clara eventually after coming out as transgender. Things have to break before they get better, which includes Andrea’s family. Andrea, Clara, and Sara all feel like outsiders to the rest of the world – whether they’re trapped in a body they don’t identify with, a loveless marriage, or a hostile world.

    Content Warning… Tubi, Freevee, YouTube, PLEX, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Google Movies

    Lingua Franca (2019)

    Transfemme | 87% RT | Romantic Drama | NR | 1h 35m

    Olivia is pursuing a marriage-based green card to avoid ICE deportation while taking care of Olga, a Russian-Jewish woman living in Brooklyn in the early stages of dementia. Lingua Franca is Isabel Sandoval’s third feature film, and she stars as the lead character in addition to directing, writing, and producing the movie. It’s pretty well-liked, and it’s a solid choice if you’re wanting to support a transgender creative.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi*, Netflix*, Amazon Prime

    Major! (2015)

    Transfemme | Documentary | NR | 1h 35m

    While most people are aware of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, less know about Miss Major Griffin-Gracy – a formerly incarcerated transgender woman of color who has fighting for transgender rights for over 40 years, including during Stonewall. Major! is a documentary film giving insight to her life thus far and the campaigns she has been a part of. Miss Major survived Attica State Prison, sex work, and a lifetime of anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination, and her story is one of the few from the frontlines of Stonewall.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    Mutt (2023)

    Transmasc | 89% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 27m

    Nonbinary actor Lío Mehiel plays Feña, a young transgender man attempting to rekindle former relationships with his father, estranged half-sister, and straight ex-boyfriend. After coming out and transitioning, Feña has lost a lot of people in his life – within 24 short hours, he’s sept through the extremes of human emotion as people finally re-enter his life.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Netflix*, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    My Life in Pink / Ma vie en rose (1997)

    Transfemme | 93% RT | Comedic Drama | R | 1h 28m

    Ludovic is unapologetically herself, and My Life in Pink is her journey in getting her family and community to accept her identity as a transgender girl. She might just be seven years old, but she knows she’s a girl – her parents struggle adjusting to this new knowledge as they try to impress their new neighbors. The film has a lot of funny moments as well as tough ones: Ludo attempts suicide during the film after being assaulted and she’s ostracized by her community, but her parents accept her gender identity by the end of the movie despite her age and it being the 1990s.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, fubo, Google Movies, Apple TV

    https://youtu.be/gyRURX2h7G4

    Nimona (2023)

    Nonbinary | 92% RT | Animated Adventure | PG | 1h 38m

    After being framed for the queen’s murder, Ballister Boldheart goes into hiding and meets Nimona who takes interest to Ballister for his “villainous” deed. The two have to find evidence to clear Ballister’s name, but he’s led to believe that Nimona is an ancient monster from historical legends. The film is about friendship and acceptance of one’s self – Nimona has lived their entire life feeling like they can’t fit in anywhere due to their magical shapeshifting powers. Nimona is implied to be nonbinary and genderfluid, even though the film uses predominantly feminine pronouns to refer to them.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Normal (2003)

    Transfemme | 100% RT | Drama | R | 1h 49m

    Ruth Applewood shocks her wife after celebrating their 25th marriage anniversary with her plans to transition into a woman in the rural Midwest. Her transition drives the family apart, but they eventually find their way back to each other after months of conflict and harassment.

    I want to write an additional note that while the film has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and pretty good audience reviews, the inspiration behind Normal is problematic. In an HBO interview, writer and director Jane Anderson said she hadn’t sourced any actual transgender people when creating the book or movie, and based the premise of the film by viewing transition the “ultimate betrayal” of love. The film wouldn’t hold up well if created today, especially with that mindset.

    Content Warning / Currently unavailable for streaming

    Orlando (1992)

    Nonbinary* | 84% RT | Romantic Fantasy | PG-13 | 1h 34m

    Based off Virginia Woolf’s novel, Orlando follows an androgynous nobleman who transforms into a woman. The story begins in the early 1600s until the present day (1992) due to Queen Elizabeth I’s magical wish for her to not fade, wither, or grow old. Virginia Woolf was queer herself, and Orlando has inspired many others with different takes on the story – including the 2023 documentary Orlando, My Political Biography, which has gotten even better reviews than the original as it combines Woolf’s story with a modern understanding of transgender identity.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Apple TV

    Paris Is Burning (1990)

    Transfemme* | 98% RT | Documentary | R | 1h 18m

    Paris Is Burning is one of the LGBTQIA+ community’s most classic films, giving an inside look at NYC’s ballroom culture during the late 1980s. It was the Golden Age of New York’s underground scene for queer and transgender people of color – and without ballroom culture, we wouldn’t have modern drag today. There’s a touch of how many transgender people identified more safely as just gay drag performers, but it also capitalizes on how social these events were in a time LGBTQIA+ people were forced underground due to the AIDS epidemic.

    Of course, I feel inclined to note Paris Is Burning has its own controversies: while the film is integral to queer history, it can also have flaws. The Black and Brown performers in the film were generally exploited and the profit made wasn’t distributed well – which is why multiple performers in the movie later took director Jennie Livingston to court. Others have pointed out that Livingston, at the end of the day, was a cisgender white woman. Without her, Paris Is Burning may have never existed, but she still took advantage of a vulnerable community for her own gain.

    Enjoy Paris Is Burning but want something more contemporary? Kiki was released in 2016 and is regarded by critics as a sequel to the original documentary – although there are notable differences, such as Kiki‘s focus on youth, activism, and the realities of living in NYC’s underground scene.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, Hulu, Roku Channel, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Apple TV

    Romeos (2011)

    Transmasc | 66% RT | Romantic Drama | NR | 1h 36m

    I’ve tried to watch Romeos a few times, but I can never make it very far into the film before switching to something more enjoyable – it’s a German romantic comedy drama from the early 2010s, and there’s just something about it that I can’t fall in love with. Despite that, I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for something pretty cheesy or if you’re looking for a gay romance featuring a transgender man – Romeos is remarkable in the fact it’s one of the very few movies out there that is both transmasc and MLM.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Rūrangi (2020)

    Transmasc | 100% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 36m

    After leaving his rural hometown to move to Auckland, Caz starts anew as he transitions as a transgender man. Years later, he returns to Rūrangi and has to face all of the people he abandoned when he left for the big city – include his father, childhood best friend, and ex-boyfriend.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu

    Soldier’s Girl (2003)

    Transfemme | 89% RT | Biographical Drama | R | 1h 52m

    Based on the real relationship between Barry Winchell and Calpernia Addams, Soldier’s Girl is a drama about Barry’s murder – he was murdered in 1999 by his fellow soldiers for dating a transgender woman (Addams), and his death played a big role in Don’t Ask Don’t Tell discussions. Calpernia is a showgirl in Nashville where Barry is stationed, and Barry becomes subject to harassment and violence when his jealous roommate Justin Fisher spreads rumors about Barry and Calpernia’s relationship.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, Crackle, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime

    Something You Said Last Night (2022)

    Transfemme | 93% RT | Comedic Drama | MA | 1h 36m

    Ren is an aspiring writer who accompanies her parents and younger sister to a beach resort and Something You Said Last Night follows her trying to navigate the resort, relationship with her loving but overbearing parents, and desire to be independent.

    Content Warning / Available on… Pluto, Tubi, Sling, Xumo, Roku Channel, Plex, Fandango, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Southern Comfort (2001)

    Transfemme & Transmasc | 96% RT | Dramatic Documentary | 1h 30m

    Robert Eads was a real transgender man who died of ovarian cancer due to doctors wrongly believing his life wasn’t worth potential harm to their reputations. The film’s title comes from the Southern Comfort Conference, a real major transgender conference that was considered the largest in the United States from 1991 to 2019 – Robert’s ultimate goal was to live long enough to attend. He transitioned later in life, so the movie touches on many of the tough relationships older transgender people have with their parents, children, and even grandchildren – but Robert has always been content living with his chosen family, including his transgender girlfriend Lola.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi

    Stress Positions (2024)

    Transfemme | 72% RT | Comedic Drama | PG | 1h 35m

    During the early months of the COVID pandemic in Brooklyn, Bahlul joins his uncle Terry as he recovers from a broken leg. Stress Positions is narrated by Karla, a bisexual/lesbian transgender woman living in the same building. Critics are generally impressed by the film, but it has a lower score by audiences – likely due in part to America’s exhaustion of thinking of the pandemic.

    Content Warning / Available… Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Summer Solstice (2023)

    Transmasc | 100% RT | Comedic Drama | MA | 1h 21m

    Leo, a transgender man, goes on an unplanned weekend trip with his best friend Eleanor. It’s their first time spending time together since Leo has transitioned, and Leo has been looking for a break from all of his auditions, acting classes, jobs, and situationships. Spending time with Eleanor begs the question: can bad sex and good friends mix?

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    Tangerine (2015)

    Tranfemme | 96% RT | Crime Comedy | R | 1h 28m

    I often group Tangerine with Gun Hill Road – both are great films, but they have hard moments due to how well they portray reality for transgender women in tough situations. Sin-Dee and Alexandra are transgender sex workers who find out their pimp has been cheating with a cisgender woman. They eventually get the attention of Razmik, an Armenian cab driver and chaser who leaves his family on Christmas Eve to meet them across town. Between the two films, I enjoy Tangerine more – but both have their moments.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, YouTube, fubo, Sling, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango, Redbox, Apple TV

    The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future (2023)

    Transfemme | 88% RT | Drama | R | 1h 38m

    Magdalena emerges from the Cruces River after being left for dead many years ago. She returns to her family’s dairy farm to find her husband Enrique (who understandably has a heart attack upon seeing his dead wife), daughter Cecilia, and grandchildren. Due to pollution, fish are dying at an astronomical rate and the environment is collapsing in The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future‘s arthouse style.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    The Crying Game (1992)

    Transfemme | 95% RT | Tragic Romance | R | 1h 52m

    Fergus is a member of the Irish Republican Army during the later years of the Troubles who kidnaps a Black British soldier as collateral for an imprisoned IRA member they want released. He eventually finds himself in London and meets meets Dil, a transgender woman he falls in love with. Unlike Breakfast on Pluto, Fergus plays an active role in the Troubles – he’s expected to assassinate a prominent British judge, and the Troubles were messy.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    The Danish Girl (2015)

    Transfemme | 65% RT | Historical Drama | R | 2h

    Based on the real life of Lili Elbe, one of the earliest individuals to ever receive bottom surgery, as she sheds the masculine gender roles she’s been forced to endure throughout her life. After years of being unable to be “cured” of being transgender through psychotherapy and other pseudo-conversion tools, she’s recommended a new but controversial surgery. Lili is the first person Dr. Kurt Warnekros has performed the surgery on, and like, real life, Lili dies after complications from the second round of surgery.

    The Danish Girl was one of the first big movies to feature a transgender lead character in mainstream media – the film won multiple accolades, including an Oscar. However, it was also criticized for having a cisgender man play Lili’s role: Redmayne’s portrayal of Lili was one of the first big discussions on the importance of having transgender people play transgender stories.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Netflix*, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    The Kings of Summer (2013)

    Nonbinary | 77% RT | Comedic Adventure | R | 1h 35m

    Frustrated by his father controlling his life, Joe escapes to the woods with his best friend Patrick and a new companion named Biaggio, who just happened to tag along for their adventure. They build a house out in the woods while the rest of the world fears Patrick and Joe have gone missing, and things go awry when Joe invites Patrick’s crush out to their hidden home. Biaggio is implied to be agender, and while they don’t use the term outright, Biaggio is confident in their nonbinary identity.

    Content Warning / Available on… Paramount, Roku Channel, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

    Transfemme | 97% RT | Crime Documentary | MA | 1h 45m

    Following How to Survive a Plague, David France produced The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson to chronicle the suspicious death of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries co-founder Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most prominent figures in the Stonewall Riots and gay liberation movement along with Sylvia Rivera. When Marsha died in 1992, police ruled it as a suicide despite evidence suggesting foul play – the film re-examines the events leading up to police finding Marsha’s body floating in the Hudson River.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    The Matrix (1999)

    Any/All* | 83% RT | Action Sci-Fi | R | 2h 16m

    Decades after its initial release, the Wachowski sisters who wrote and directed The Matrix franchise have stated the films are an allegory for transgender identity – which makes sense if you take in account the Wachowskis came out as transgender women in 2012 and 2016. Like Fight Club, The Matrix is adored by cisgender straight men for a lot of the wrong reasons, but the film has a lot of heart that made into a classic. The red pill has been likened to real red estrogen pills, and the Matrix’s sense of disconnect is meant to portray gender dysphoria. In the Wachowski’s original script, Switch was meant to be a woman in the Matrix and a man in the real world – but the idea was scrapped since “the corporate world wasn’t ready.”

    If you’re looking for a transgender story, I would recommend other movies on this list before The Matrix – but it should stay on your radar if you’re up for critiquing a sci-fi classic with a modern transgender lens.

    Content Warning / Available on… Peacock, Sling, YouTube, Google Movies, Fandango, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

    The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

    Transfemme-ish* | 95% RT | Crime Horror | R | 1h 58m

    While on this list, The Silence of the Lambs is NOT a movie to celebrate or inspire pride – but it’s important when discussing transgender history and visibility in film. Even though Buffalo Bill explicitly states he is not transgender, transgender identity is central to the film and the movie plays a major role in how transgender people were portrayed as psychopaths in mainstream media until recently. Bill is a serial killer who purposely targets women to assemble a flesh suit for himself – since he is routinely kills women to be a woman, it’s hard to separate Buffalo Bill from transness. The Silence of the Lambs did fantastically well both critically and commercially by using these references of Buffalo Bill as transgender, but LGBTQIA+ activism being a minor issue during the time period meant there wasn’t enough backlash to really force the question. The film’s success encouraged a new era of mocking transgender people – and it incited fear that transgender people are deranged and violent freaks.

    Even if the public wasn’t ready to really separate Buffalo Bill from transness, The Silence of the Lambs did create a minor turning point in transgender cinema: unlike previous films that use “transgender psychopaths” like Psycho and Dressed to Kill, The Silence of the Lambs did go to incredible efforts to state Buffalo Bill is not transgender – but of course, that doesn’t matter too much if they’re still profiting off the public’s belief that he is.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, Hulu, YouTube, Sling, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, Google Movies

    The Stroll (2023)

    Transfemme | 95% RT | Documentary | R | 1h 24m

    Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker follow Black and Latina transgender women who work as sex workers in NYC’s Meatpacking District during the 1980s and 1990s in an area referred to as “The Stroll” prior to its gentrification. It provides another viewpoint of what transgender people were experiencing in NYC to other films like Paris Is Burning.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, Hulu, YouTube, Sling, Roku Channel

    They (2017)

    Nonbinary | 67% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 20m

    J is thirteen years old and lives in Chicago and has been recently told they have to “pick” a gender due to the effects of long-term puberty blockers decreasing bone density. There’s some truth to this – puberty blockers do decrease bone density and can become a clinical concern for those on them for a long period of time, which is why they’re used for transgender youth prior to moving to traditional HRT. However, this isn’t really something J would be concerned about at thirteen – transgender youth are generally expected to be on puberty blockers until sixteen, and bone density concerns are easily addressed with the medical care that accompanies puberty blockers being prescribed.

    Disregarding this technicality, They is… okay. There aren’t many films that feature nonbinary stories, which is why it didn’t get forgotten about completely.

    Content Warning / Available on… Crackle, Google Movies, Fandango, fubo, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

    They / Them (2022)

    Nonbinary | 33% RT | Horror Slasher | NR | 1h 44m

    Again: there are not many nonbinary films out there. This will change in the next decade or so; I remember ten years ago when there were about one or two transmasculine films out there but a wealth of short films. Nonbinary media is currently in a similar boat, so I feel confident in predicting there’ll be a good variety to pick from in time.

    They / Them is a slasher set at a conversion camp for LGBTQIA+ youth, focusing on nonbinary Jordan who is constantly harassed by camp staff like the other campers, and the new camp nurse Molly who disagrees with the camp’s mission. It has a good premise, since it hinges on the disgust and rage LGBTQIA+ people have for despicable “conversion camps” like the one in the film – but it bombed due to its clumsy formatting and predictable ending.

    Content Warning / Available on… Peacock

    Tomboy (2011)

    Nonbinary* | 96% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 24m

    Filmmakers have always been clumsy when portraying transgender people, and they were definitely clumsy in Laure/Mickaël’s character as a transgender kid. It’s unclear whether Laure/Mickaël is meant to be nonbinary, transmascline, or a lesbian girl, since the film ends with them presenting with their female birth name after being harassed for the entire movie for presenting as a boy. It reminds me a transmasculine version of My Life in Pink if it had a worse ending that left the main character “fixed” as cisgender. It’s considered a noteworthy film when discussing trans media, but it wouldn’t stand if released today.

    Content Warning / Current unavailable for streaming

    Transamerica (2005)

    Transfemme | 77% RT | Comedic Adventure | R | 1h 43m

    One week before her bottom surgery, Bree receives a call from seventeen-year-old Toby from a NYC jail claiming to be her son. Bree’s therapist forces her to make contact with Toby in order to proceed with her surgery. Thus, she flies out to find Toby, who ran away from his stepfather’s home, and finds out his mother died years ago via suicide. She convinces Toby she is a Christian missionary and plans to bring him back to his stepfather while on a country-wide road trip – and the two inevitably bond along the way.

    Content Warning / Available on… Starz, YouTube, Hulu, fubo, Sling, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Philo, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    Transmitzvah (2024)

    Transfemme | Comedy | R | 1h 42m

    Rubén (aka Mumy Singer) embraces her female identity and rejects her planned Bar Mitzvah. Years later, she returns home after tragedy strikes the family as a famous Yiddish singing sensation, and Transmitzvah is their family coming to terms with who they are, together.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Two 4 One (2014)

    Transmasc | Comedic Drama | PG-13 | 1h 17m

    There aren’t many films that feature transgender people pursuing parenthood after transition – and Two 4 One is one of them. Adam is a transgender man who has a one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend to help artificially inseminate her with an at-home pregnancy kit. An accident causes them both to become pregnant, and the film follows Adam grapple with being pregnant and his sense of being a man.

    Content Warning Unavailable / Available on… Tubi, Amazon Prime, Fandango, YouTube, Google Movies

    Wildhood (2021)

    Two-Spirit | 100% RT | Romantic Drama | PG-13 | 1h 48m

    Link impulsively runs away with his younger brother Travis from his abusive home in a run-down Canadian trailer park to find his mother, who he recently discovered was alive after believing for years she was dead. They meet Pasmay, a Mi’kmaq pow wow dancer who becomes interested in Link when they meet at a grocery store. The three of them go on a journey to find Link and Travis’ mother, and the boys rediscover their Indigenous heritage along with way.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu

    Looking for more recommendations?

    Browse Trans Solidarity Project’s guides, or check out these posts: