: Historical portrayals often involved cisgender men playing trans women, which critics argue reinforced the idea that trans women are "men in disguise" and contributed to real-world prejudice.

: A 10-year study by GLAAD found that trans characters were often cast as victims (40%), villains (21%), or sex workers (20%).

: Early works like the 1953 film Glen or Glenda or the 1963 Flaming Creatures provided rare, if sometimes controversial, glimpses into gender non-conformity. The "Tipping Point" and Beyond