That Trans Character in Supergirl

Okay, so I'm way behind. The reason is that I have too much to watch and too little time. (There's a reason I'm not currently subscribed to a single streaming service, people).

But I just saw the episode in which Nia Nal came out to James Olsen.

Greg Berlanti only had two demographic requirements for the actor to be cast:

1. She had to be in her early 20s.
2. She had to be trans.

The actor chosen was Nicole Maines, a young trans activist who's family sued to allow her to use the girls' bathroom in elementary school. She transitioned as a child. This is 21-year-old Maines' first major role.

So, let's unpack this. Berlanti, who is openly gay (or bisexual, his bio isn't clear, but I think gay) and married to Robbie Rogers, insisted on casting a trans actor right out of the bat. He was not going to let this character be played by a cis woman or, worse, a cis man. Openly trans actors are rare. Honestly, most people don't know about any of them except Laverne Cox. Young trans actors, though, are stepping forward and insisting on being recognized.

And Berlanti gave a chance to what I can already tell is a very talented young woman, quite capable of playing both trans and cis roles.

In the most recent episode I watched, her trans-ness was made relevant without being a 'thing' (The way Bill's sexuality was on Doctor Who. I loved the character but Moffatt, stop). It was tied into the storyline as a way of emphasizing the theme of not being able to be yourself, cross referenced to Brainiac 5 having an image inducer malfunction in public and being outed as an alien to somebody he thought was a friend.

The alien question in Supergirl is most often being cross mapped to what conservatives call the "immigrant problem." But having to be in the closet, having to hide key parts of your identity? That's something the LGBT community knows far too well.

I want to see Maines take a lead role in the not too distant future. This is her breakout role.

And I want to see more and more trans actors getting those breakout roles. I've had people make excuses for casting cis men as trans women and cis women as trans men. None of those excuses are valid.

In fact, what I'd say is this:

When trans actors are being routinely cast, to their talents, in cis roles, then cis actors can take trans roles.

And even then, trans roles of the right gender, guys.