Some in the industry are beginning to take note. In addition to Richards, the actress Hari Nef recently played a supporting role as a pretentious grad student on the first season of “You,” the Lifetime thriller that became a cultural phenomenon after it hit Netflix. Although Nef is trans, Blythe’s gender identity isn’t mentioned in the show, nor is it discussed in the Caroline Kepnes book series on which “You” is based. (Nef, who was unavailable for comment, has clarified on Twitter that “the character isn’t trans.”)

Elliot Fletcher, who played a trans teenager on “The Fosters,” is set to appear in six episodes of the upcoming TNT drama “Tell Me Your Secrets.” Fletcher describes his character, Jake, as the “puppy dog” role he’s used to playing: “loyal,” “sensitive” and “smart.” Notably, that description doesn’t include the word “transgender.” While he is grateful for the chance to allow trans youth the ability to see their lives and experiences reflected on screen, Fletcher wants to also be able to show the full range of his talent.

“I don’t want to just be seen as a trans actor,” he said. “There are a lot of trans performers who I know that feel that way. Oftentimes we’re looking for auditions where [the character is not] specified or assumed to be cisgender because we want to break out of whatever box we’ve been put in.”

Tearing open those boxes in which trans actors are often placed doesn’t just create greater opportunities in the television industry; it can also encourage others to live more openly.

Brian Michael Smith had appeared in small roles on shows like “Girls” and “Person of Interest” for several years before coming out for the first time in 2017 while playing a trans character on “Queen Sugar.” What kept him in the closet until then, Smith said, was the fear that being honest about who he is would limit future career opportunities — if there’s still little space on TV for trans people, there’s even less elbow room for black trans men.