The TV Series Pose Fx features real transgender actors playing real transgender characters, real transgender writers, producers, and directors, and real issues facing the transgender community. Issues such as prostitution, violence, poverty, homelessness, discrimination, and HIV/AIDS. The show is set in New York City and takes place during the 1980’s-90’s AIDS Crisis. The plot revolves around ballroom culture, and creating houses and families that accept transwomen and men of color. The TV series was nominated for 20 Emmys, an one Honor. The show won four Emmy Awards in the categories Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling, Outstanding Contemporary Make-Up, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes, and Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series.

I want to take a minute to point out just how much talent and experience there was on the set of Pose FX. Behind the scenes were Janet Mock and Our Lady J. On screen we saw the main characters played by MJ Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, and Billy Porter.

Emmy Nominee Janet Mock, a transgender woman of color, is the Director, Executive Producer, and one of the Writers of Pose FX. She has also produced the HBO Documentary The Trans List. Mock formerly worked as a Staff Editor for People.com and has been featured in magazines including Entertainment Weekly, OUT, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Advocate. She made the List Of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People and is author of the New York Times Best Sellers Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty. Mock is a transgender advocate who founded the campaigns #girlslikeus #transbookdrive, and contributed to the It Gets Better Project. She also created a podcast called Never Before.

Our Lady J, a transgender woman who works behind the scenes, is Co-Executive Producer and a Writer for the series. She has won two Peabody Awards, an Emmy Nomination, three Writers Guild Awards, and an NAACP Image award. She was the first transgender woman hired as a television writer and producer. Her series Transparent, won both the Golden Globe and an Emmy. In addition writing for television, she is also a songwriter and classically trained pianist.

MJ Rodriguez, the actress that plays House Mother Blanca, is a transgender woman of color. She was nominated for an Emmy For Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama. She is a Golden Globe Winner, a GLAAD Media Award Winner, a Hispanic Heritage Award Winner, an HRC Media Award Winner, a Critic’s Choice Television Award Winner, and an MTV Movie and TV Award Winner. She was nominated for two Gold Derby Awards For Drama Lead Actress and Breakthrough Performer of the Year. She was featured in the films Gema and Saturday Church and the documentaries Visible: Out On Television and Disclosure. In addition, Rodriguez has appeared in many TV shows. She is also a singer and has released music videos. She appeared on the cover of Entertainment Weekly in 2021.

Dominique Jackson is a transgender actress of color that plays House Mother Elektra. In addition to acting, Jackson is also a model and an author. Born in Trinidad, her book is titled The Transexual From Tobago. She was featured on the Reality TV Model and Fashion show Strut, was a guest host on Legendary for HBO Max, and was featured in the film Chick Fight. She appeared in the documentary Visible: The LGBTQ Caribbean Diaspora.

Billy Porter a gender fluid man of color, won the Emmy Award For Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his role as emcee Pray Tell. He was the first openly gay man to win in that category. Porter has won an NAACP Award, two Tony Awards, and a Grammy for Kinky Boots. His theater performances include Miss Saigon, Angels in America, and Grease. Porter was the star of the movie Cinderella. Time Magazine named him one of the Most Influential People of 2020. He directed the movies Anything’s Possible and What If?. He has released six music albums and several music videos. He won an MTV Music Award For Best Video Of The Year, for his appearance in Taylor Swift’s You Need To Calm Down. He is known for being a fashion icon, frequently wearing gender non-conforming attire. He is the author of the book Unprotected A Memoir.

There are many more talented transgender actresses who appear in Pose FX including model Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Leiomi Maldonado, Alexia Garcia, Damaris Lewis, Jiggly Caliente, Patricia Black, Brielle Rheames, and Ashton Grooms, Trudie Styler.

As a transgender man, I was extremely satisfied with this series. It was refreshing to see so much transgender talent in one place. As a community we don’t see many wins. But in this series, we see lots of winners.