The Trans Characters That Changed TV and Film

During this Transgender Awareness Week, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation looks back at some of the characters who have helped push the boundaries of acceptance in film and television.

BY Matt Kane of GLAAD

November 19 2012 1:30 PM ET

Dancing With the Stars (2011)
Despite the fact that the show focuses on competitive dancing, Chaz Bono’s appearance on the hit series Dancing With the Stars caused a huge stir when he participated last year. His casting sparked weeks of debate between conservative pundits and those celebrating his appearance as a triumph for transgender visibility. Ultimately however, Bono showed he was a competitor like any other, persevering through grueling routines, performance anxieties, and his own hopes and self-expectations.