7 Trans Content Creators Proving That Representation Matters
By Keely Miyamoto
As a trans person, I’ve found that representation has a mirroring effect. Engaging with those whose identities reflect my own has allowed me to feel affirmed, validated, and seen. Moreover, sharing trans creators’ content with those close to me has proved to be an effective means of articulating aspects of my experience.
Below is a collection of seven content creators whose work centers on gender transition, trans awareness, and LGBTQ+ activism. This list is by no means exhaustive! My hope is to record a few individuals whose channels, posts, and websites provide glimpses into trans lives.
Schuyler Bailar
Instagram: @pinkmantaray
Website: https://www.pinkmantaray.com/
Schuyler Bailar (he/him) is an American advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, particularly in athletics. Bailar’s Instagram posts center on educational content that promotes diversity and inclusion in sports. Bailar’s website provides information on his personal journey as the first openly trans NCAA Division I swimmer. A series of blog posts document his experiences medically transitioning as a collegiate athlete.
Samantha Lux
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@_samanthalux Instagram:@_samanthalux
Samantha Lux (she/her) is an American YouTuber and commentator. She documents her personal experiences with gender transitioning, as well as current events affecting the trans community. Many of Lux’s current videos center on politics or pop culture with an eye toward reducing prejudice and providing positive representation for trans people. Through a combination of candid transition updates, interviews, vlogs, and educational content, Lux hopes to “actively create content to change the narrative of the transgender community.”
Jamie Raines
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jammidodger
Instagram: @jammi.dodger Twitch: twitch.tv/shaabaandjamie Jamie Raines (he/him), known as Jammidodger across social platforms, is an English YouTuber and LGBTQ+ advocate. His videos range from commentary on LGBTQ+ issues, to 1 https://www.cc3entertainment.com/roster/samantha-lux/ personal discussions of gender transitioning, to more general lifestyle content. Many of Raines’ videos discuss physical and medical aspects of his transition, though his channel has shifted to include broader current events, reviews, and reactions.
Maya Henry
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mayavhenry
Maya Henry (she/her) is a Canadian YouTuber whose channel documents her transition. Henry’s sit-down chats detail her medical journey, everyday tips, and fashion advice. She also regularly posts vlogs, Q&As, reaction videos, and story-times.
Cal Calamia
Instagram: @calcalamia
Website: https://calcalamia.com/ Cal Calamia (they/he) is a non-binary, transmasculine LGBTQ+ activist, runner, and poet. Their Instagram posts span snippets of queer joy, calls for trans and non-binary inclusion in major races, and acknowledgements of both strides and setbacks for the trans community. Calamia’s advocacy for trans and gender-expansive runners has contributed to multiple races adding non-binary divisions that recognize the achievements of non-binary competitors.
Mia Mulder
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MiaMulder
Twitter: @Potatopolitics
Mia Mulder (she/her) is a Swedish politician and YouTuber. She focuses on trans advocacy and social and political commentary. Mulder’s channel primarily consists of video essays that provide historical perspectives, often on issues pertaining to trans rights. Beyond content creation, Mulder founded Transförsvaret (Trans Defense) in 2016, an activist group that promotes trans and intersex medical and legal rights in Sweden. In 2022, Mulder was elected to a Swedish city council, representing the Left Party.
Kat Blaque
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/katblaque
Blog: https://blaqueinthecity.com
Kat Blaque (she/her) is an American YouTuber and LGBTQ+ activist. Her YouTube channel, which she began in 2010, emphasizes social issues, especially those pertaining to race and gender. In a 2015, Huffington Post article, Blaque characterized herself by stating, “I’m a woman, I’m black, I’m curvy and I’m trans. There are a lot of things that I deal with. When I talk about those things, I am literally talking about my embodiment of these intersections.”
About the Author
Keely Miyamoto is a second-year at Grinnell College. Keely’s passion for peer support led them to become a founding member of the Be-A-Friend Project’s Teen Kindness Board. They have also volunteered on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as with Grinnell’s student-run SA/DV hotline. Keely identifies as transgender and nonbinary, and, as a collegiate student-athlete, they are especially invested in representation and inclusion in sports
