Films like Boys Don't Cry (1999) and Transamerica (2006) brought more nuanced exploration, though they often relied on cisgender actors and focused on tragedy or stereotypes.
In recent counts of trans characters on TV, approximately 73% are trans women , 21% are trans men , and 6% are nonbinary . Challenges for Performers GLAAD Releases 20th Annual Where We Are on TV Report
Initial media mentions were often sensationalized or treated as "sex ambiguities". By the mid-20th century, trans characters were frequently portrayed as villains, victims, or objects of ridicule, often through a lens of shame or confusion.