Why It's Still A Problem For Cis Actors To Play Trans Roles

screenrant.com:

Transgender characters in film and television have often been portrayed by cisgender actors, which is and always has been a problem. Hollywood's history with trans representation is spotty at best with huge corporations making missteps, such as with Disney's franchise LGBTQ+ mistakes. Even though there are now more trans actors playing trans characters than ever before, many trans actors still have a hard time getting roles. With more trans roles being written, it's especially important to give trans actors the opportunity to draw from their lived experience and bring their talents to screens both big and small.

To address the basics, according to GLAAD, a transgender person is someone «whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth» and a cisgender person is someone «whose gender identity is aligned with the sex they were assigned at birth.» Hollywood has a complex and regularly problematic history with transgender characters, with them often presented as the targets of fear or ridicule. Trans characters have habitually been portrayed by cis actors. As society has shifted away from demonization and into understanding, the media has reflected and helped to encourage this change. A big part of this cyclical system is tied to the growing examples of trans characters who are authentically portrayed by trans actors.

Related: Why LGBTQ+ Representation Is So Important In Media

Though cisgender actors have been taking trans roles as recently as the 2010s, there is a growing understanding within the industry that it's preferable for trans actors to portray trans characters. Some people feel that acting is acting and that actors, whether cis or trans, should be allowed to take on any role they are suited