Trailblazing transgender pageant contestant Bella Bautista recently withdrew from the Miss Georgia USA competition, saying that the organization’s values no longer aligned with her “personal values” and “mission for inclusivity and a world free from discrimination.” She said she could not share more details due to ongoing legal proceedings, but confirmed in Teen Vogue that her resignation was in part due to the head of the organization’s support for the president. 

Bautista, a 22-year-old former Miss Buckhead USA 2025, had recently made headlines for becoming the first openly trans contestant in the state’s pageant. “I wanted nothing more than to be the representation our community needs,” she said on Instagram, “especially in this moment. But more than that, I know how important it is to stand firm and speak up when something isn’t right. Too often, as transgender women, we walk into spaces and remain silent when we’re treated unfairly—out of fear, out of exhaustion, out of the hope that maybe things will change if we just endure. But I refuse to stay silent.”

Her experience underscores the pervasive misalignment between media platforms and authentic inclusivity. Media serves as both mirror and molder of public perception, so it’s not surprising that the current inclusion of transgender individuals in various forms of media remains fraught with challenges. 

Despite incremental progress, mainstream media often maddeningly oscillates between superficial representation and outright misrepresentation, perpetuating stereotypes that undermine the dignity and complexity of transgender lives.

“The media has immense power in shaping how the public sees trans people,” transgender Minnesota State Representative Leigh Finke told LGBTQ Nation. “When we are reduced to headlines, stereotypes, or political talking points, it strips us of our humanity. Fair and accurate representation isn’t just about visibility — it’s about ensuring that people see us as who we truly are: complex, full human beings deserving of dignity and respect.” 

Figures like Finke embody the transformative power of authentic representation. Elected in 2022 as the state’s first openly transgender lawmaker, Finke has been instrumental in advancing legislation that safeguards transgender rights. 

But Finke’s journey has not been devoid of adversity. She has faced personal attacks, including misgendering and derogatory remarks from colleagues. 

Finke said the media must come to terms with its duty to act responsibly and ethically. The disparity between the media’s portrayal of transgender individuals and the lived realities of people like Bautista and Finke calls for a recalibration of narratives. 

While there have been strides toward visibility, the quality of representation often falls short. Transgender stories are frequently sensationalized, reducing complex human experiences to mere headlines. This superficial engagement not only distorts public understanding but also inflicts tangible harm on the transgender community, reinforcing misconceptions and fueling discrimination. 

Media outlets must move beyond tokenistic representation and engage with transgender stories in a manner that is both respectful and nuanced. This entails providing platforms for transgender voices to narrate their own experiences, challenge harmful stereotypes, and hold institutions accountable for their roles in perpetuating inequality.

Trans people in media are so often reduced to caricatures, punchlines, or villains, to tragic figures who exist only for debate or spectacle. TV shows still trot out harmful tropes like the “deceptive trans woman” or the “mentally unstable trans person,” reinforcing the idea that we are something to be feared or pitied rather than understood. 

Even when news media tries to be “balanced,” it often frames our rights as a debate rather than a fundamental truth. All of this creates a climate where trans people are seen as burdens or problems to be solved rather than as human beings deserving dignity and respect.  

And yet, there are moments where folks get it right. When trans people are shown as whole, complex, joyful, flawed, and fully human, it changes everything. Documentaries that center our voices, rather than just talking about us, help reshape public perception. TV shows and movies that cast trans actors in trans roles give us agency over our own narratives. News outlets that hire trans journalists to report on trans issues ensure that our stories are told with accuracy and nuance. When representation is done right, it not only helps others see us as we truly are but also gives trans people, especially trans youth, the chance to see themselves reflected in a way that says: You exist, you matter, and you belong.

Transgender Day of Visibility serves as a poignant reminder of the strides made and the work yet to be done. It is an opportunity for members of media organizations to reflect on its influence and to commit to practices that not only increase visibility but do so in a way that affirms the humanity and diversity of transgender individuals. Only through such intentional efforts can media fulfill its potential as a catalyst for genuine understanding and societal progress.

“If we want to improve trans visibility in the media, we need to start by putting trans voices at the center of the conversation. That means mentoring, educating, and hiring trans politicians, academics, journalists, consultants, and storytellers,” Finke said. “It means supporting independent trans creators and holding major media outlets accountable for harmful narratives. Representation isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being heard in ways that are truthful and empowering. And for that, we will need all of us.”