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LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — In the recent past, society never gave trans people much in the way of gifts — we were mocked and ridiculed in real life, in the media and especially, in the entertainment industry. Jerry Springer and RuPaul represented us in pop culture.

That has changed — legislation made most anti-trans biases a crime, education opened doors and awareness put Laverne Cox on the cover of Time. The last three years alone has been nothing short of amazing for trans people.

These positive changes aren’t just on the surface — the trans perspective in popular culture and entertainment has changed — Positive trans characters? Check. Emmy nominations? Check. Beauty pageants? Check. Mixed martial arts? Check. Glamorous fashion models? Check.

Yes, I’ll concede that there are people (trans or otherwise) that find some of these things a bit, well, shallow. But guess what — these things tend to draw in the kind of positive PR on us that we couldn’t possibly buy. Besides, popular culture changes society far quicker than the legislative process. Jerry Springer? Who is that? RuPaul? On his way out.

Those who argue trans people at the ‘shallow end of the pool’ ought not be trans role models or activists are looking at a gift horse in the mouth. Glamor photos of trans people on the cover of glamorous publications do make them trans role models and activists — even if they do nothing else aside from posing for the photo. They inspire many who in turn may become activists themselves. The goodwill they generate is priceless.

We’re not in a position of strength where we can bicker about trans role model qualifications. Let’s leave hair-splitting to lawyers taking depositions and just enjoy this good fortune that could end in 2016. But that’s another article.

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I wrote about how I came around to looking at the ‘shallow end of the pool’ in a different way for The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-odonnell/jenna-talackova_b_1530563.html

Trans beauty contestant Jenna Talackova: https://lexiecannes.com/?s=jenna&x=7&y=9

Model Andreja Pejic: https://lexiecannes.com/?s=Andrej+Pejic&x=5&y=3

Actress Laverne Cox: https://lexiecannes.com/?s=laverne+cox&x=6&y=8

MMA athlete Fallon Fox: https://lexiecannes.com/?s=fallon+fox&x=6&y=5

Watch LEXIE CANNES right now: http://www.amazon.com/Lexie-Cannes-CourtneyODonnell/dp/B00KEYH3LQ Or get the DVD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332

LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/ Read Lexie Cannes in The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-odonnell/

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Categories: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans