The 10 Most Inspiring Transgender Celebrities Right Now

The Wachowski sisters, the renowned directors and writers behind the iconic 'Matrix' saga, underwent gender transition in 2016. "Everybody's accepting of it," Lilly wrote in March 2016. The Wachowskis' courage in sharing their gender identity with the world has been instrumental in increasing the visibility and acceptance of the transgender community not only in the world of cinema but also in society as a whole.

Hunter Schafer is known for her role as "Jules" in the HBO series 'Euphoria', and for her voice work in the English dub of the anime film 'Belle' in 2021. Although her acting career is relatively short, it has had a huge impact. Her character is one of the few trans characters on television who does not struggle with her identity. "There need to be more roles where trans people aren’t just dealing with being trans; they’re being trans while dealing with other issues. We’re so much more complex than just one identity," Schafer told 'Variety'.

Elliot Page rose to stardom in 2007 with the film 'Juno,' for which he earned an Oscar nomination. He has since appeared in 'The Umbrella Academy' and 'Tales of The City.' In 2020, Page came out as transgender and announced that he would continue to play "Vanya" in 'The Umbrella Academy,' but with the character's name changed to "Viktor" in the upcoming third season. This will be the first time an actor's transition has been incorporated into their on-screen work.

Caitlyn Jenner, part of the media empire 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', gained additional notoriety when her transition was confirmed on the cover of 'Vanity Fair' in 2015. However, this has caused some tension with her family, and in particular, the Kardashians distanced themselves from her after the release of her 2017 memoir 'Secrets of My Life'. The book included personal family details and claimed that her ex-wife, Kris Jenner, was aware of her struggle with gender identity.

Laura Jane Grace, the lead vocalist and guitarist for Against Me!, is a pioneer for transgender representation in punk music. Her transition was documented on the band's excellent album 'Transgender Dysphoria Blues.' In a 2014 interview with 'The Post', Grace expressed her desire to have addressed her gender identity earlier so that she could have been further along in her personal journey. "I'm so much happier now that I don't have to deny everything," Grace said. Her bravery and honesty have been inspiring to many in the transgender community and beyond, and her music has been a force for visibility and acceptance.

Laverne Cox's popularity skyrocketed with her leading role in 'Orange Is the New Black'. Despite her success, Cox has continued to face harassment due to her identity, but she has been a fearless advocate for the transgender community. Using her platform, she has raised awareness and promoted acceptance and equality for all, becoming one of the most prominent voices for the transgender community.

Zach Barack made history as the first openly transgender actor to appear in a Marvel film. "The truth is you have to show what people want to see and what they need to see," Barack said. "I was 17 the first time I consciously saw a trans person on tv", he added. Barack spoke about his joy in being part of a fun movie that included a diverse cast of characters. He believes that the inclusion of transgender people in movies and TV shows is essential to increase their visibility and promote acceptance.

Chaz Bono, an American advocate, writer, and musician, was born as Chastity Sun Bono and is the only child of Sonny and Cher. Between 2008 and 2010, he underwent a gender transition from female to male. In an interview, Chaz discussed his transition and mentioned that his mother, Cher, did not pay for the surgeries and that he understood it was a process for her to become fully comfortable with the change. Chaz is also known for his appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars.'

Alex Blue Davis - He is the first transgender actor on 'Grey's Anatomy.' Davis began his career on the series '2 Broke Girls' and 'NCIS', but is best known for his role on 'Grey's Anatomy'. Davis played "Dr. Casey Parker", who is a transgender man. "I am a proud transgender man, Dr. Bailey. I like people to get to know me before they know my medical history." In an interview with 'The Hollywood Reporter' in 2018, Davis said the line was monumental for him. "What's great about the show, the episode, and Krista's vision for this character is that it's so much more than just being transgender," Davis said. "I cried at the script reading, it was very moving for me. I've been waiting for a moment like this on TV my whole life. I'm so honored to have said that line on TV because it was about time."

A beloved model in the fashion world, Andreja Pejic has made a name for herself modeling both womenswear and menswear, but she made her runway debut as a female in 2015. "I figured out who I was very early on—actually, at the age of 13, with the help of the Internet—so I knew that a transition, becoming a woman, was always something I needed to do." she told Style.com.