Wachowski Sisters
It’s a life-changing moment when one family member transitions, so imagine two! That’s what happened when the Wachowski brothers became the Wachowski sisters. And if you think you’re not familiar with them, think again. These were the brains behind the massively successful film “The Matrix” and the TV series “Sense8.”
The sisters both won the Saturn Award for Best Director. Following the huge success of the film, the Wachowski sisters got the green light to write and direct two more sequels, “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions.” The sisters have also been vocal about trans rights and issues, most notably Lana Wachowski at a recent LGBTQ event.
Chaz Bono
There aren't that many people on this list who can claim to be the offspring of pop royalty. As the son of two music greats (Sonny and Cher), Chaz Bono is bound to have some creative genes. The transgender personality and activist is an author and musician. His works detail his transition process as well as coming out in his pre-transition days.
His life is also the subject of a documentary entitled "Becoming Chaz." Bono's life and the intricacies of his transition have been incredibly public, and he was also featured in a two-part special on Entertainment Tonight in the year 2009. That's what happens if you're Cher's son!
Fallon Fox
As a retired MMA fighter, Fallon Fox is a real trailblazer in the sport, as she is known as the first openly transgender person in MMA history. There is no denying that the athlete has struggled with her identity throughout her life. According to Fox, she discovered the term transgender at 17 years old.
However, she did not transition until later and even married her then-girlfriend at 19 years old. The two share a daughter together. A few years later, Fox got her successful reassignment surgery in Thailand and thankfully forged a career for herself as a successful MMA fighter.
Caitlyn Jenner
Possibly one of the most famous trans people in the world today, Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Olympic gold-winning athlete, Bruce Jenner, is a force to be reckoned with. Jenner gained TV stardom on the hit reality show "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" as Kris's former spouse. However, in 2014, everything changed, and she revealed in a Diane Sawyer interview that she identifies as a woman and wants to be recognized as such.
The next few years consisted of more outings and her very own reality show called "I am Cait," which detailed her transition into a woman. Aside from the entertainment aspect, Jenner has successfully managed several lucrative business investments and has dabbled in acting and even race-car driving.
Laverne Cox
Like "Pose," there has been another show that has given a platform to trans-folks, and that is the hit Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black" Luckily for us, that is exactly where we discovered the great Laverne Cox as the iconic Sophia Burset. Cox's performance got her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.
She made history as the first openly transgender person to be nominated after music composer Angela Morely back in 1990. And if that wasn't enough for you, the OINTB star also was the first transgender to play an actual transgender role in the CBS TV series "Doubt." Talk about progress.