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LGBT entertainers are no uncommon thing in the performance arts, but trans* performers face a particular challenge outside of the realm of drag that is difficult to overcome. This problem hadn't really occurred to me until I was speaking with a genderfluid friend of mine who voice-acts and has performed on stage and in street theater.

For a trans* person to get his or her desired role can be very difficult. Many trans* performers have been known to audition for one role only to be offered another of the opposite gender. Even on stage, where women and men can switch roles with more fluidity, for a trans* person to get an adult role that matches up with their gender identity can be difficult and become a serious obstacle for their career even after physical transition. Of course, voice actors don't face this problem nearly as much, but the obstacle is still there.

However, there are still some seriously awesome trans* entertainers that have gained popularity. There is, of course, the actress Lavern Cox, as well as the musician Ryan Cassata. However, there are other, lesser-known performers that deserve our love and support. What trans* performers do you know that deserve more attention?

To get the ball rolling, I'm going to throw out a favorite band of mine, Steam Powered Giraffe. They are a robotic mime troup that performs their own neo-victorian tunes while accompanying them with improv comedy inspired by the world of steam and mad scientists. One of the members, Isabella Bunny Bennett, came out as transgender a few years ago, and despite an initial hullabaloo, the fandom has remained small but supportive. The things I find most remarkable about Bunny are 1) her amazing vocal rang, which goes from a high tenor to a deep, liquid bass, 2) her costuming skills, which never stop evolving and changing as she experiments with her new image as a female, and 3) her artwork, which can be seen in the Steam Powered Giraffe albums and comic book as well as her original stuff on Tumblr and DeviantArt. Holy hell, is that woman talented.

Now it's your turn!

Really? That's so cool; I didn't know that about the Wachowski duo. I was never a fan of The Matrix, though (Shock! Heresy!) so that may account for my lack of knowledge. Nevertheless, I'm sure she's capable of some really neat stuff. What other work has she done?

Is there a trailer out for Jupiter Ascending? The title sounds very familiar. I've never seen Cloud Atlas, but I'll be sure to check it out.

Sweet. I'll check it out!