This perspective feels a bit outdated and overlooks some significant changes in how transgender people are represented in adult content. It’s true that early mainstream exposure to transgender individuals often came through “shemale” and “TS” categories in adult films during the early 2000s. For many, including myself, that was their first encounter with a real-life trans person. However, the adult industry has evolved significantly since then.
Today, much of the content featuring transgender people is created by trans- or queer-owned studios or even self-produced through platforms like OnlyFans. This shift has empowered trans creators to tell their own stories and represent themselves authentically, rather than perpetuating stereotypes crafted by cisgender-led studios. As a result, it’s harder to argue that people aren’t getting a more authentic glimpse into the lives of transgender people online at least in spaces where creators have control over their narratives.
The article is right that societal fascination with trans bodies often starts with misconceptions rooted in adult content. But it’s important to acknowledge that trans people's sexuality is as diverse as anyone else’s. For instance, I am a straight trans woman, which represents about 19% of the spectrum. Lesbian-identifying trans women makeup around 23%, and the rest of the community includes a mix of bisexual, polysexual, and pansexual individuals, with about 10% identifying as asexual. Early trans-focused adult media catered predominantly to straight audiences, but today, content exists for nearly every sexual orientation and identity, including content that explores specific kinks or fetishes.
It’s also crucial to address the economic realities many trans people face. As the article mentions, financial struggles and discrimination often push transgender individuals toward sex work or adult content as a means of survival. According to recent data, about 24% of trans women have engaged in sex work or pornography at some point in their lives to avoid homelessness and poverty. While society may stigmatize the adult industry, for many trans individuals, it’s not just a career choice. It’s a lifeline.
Rather than vilifying an industry that so many rely on for survival, it’s more constructive to focus on the systemic issues such as employment discrimination, housing insecurity, and healthcare inequities that force trans people into these positions in the first place. And while adult content may still perpetuate some false ideas about transgender people, it has also provided a platform for visibility, autonomy, and agency that wasn’t available in the past. Change comes from dismantling stigma, not reinforcing it.
