On the L Word,
Smith portrayed political strategist Pierce Williams. He broke ground for his
performance on that show, becoming the first out trans male actor in a
recurring network TV role.
As for this
newest accolade from People, Smith took it in stride, stating he was
incredibly honored. He celebrated with an Instagram post, writing, “I’ve been
called many things,” but “this is a first.”
The timing
couldn’t be more perfect as this week marks Trans Awareness Week. The
entertainment industry more commonly celebrates trans female performers,
however trans men don’t often receive that same visibility in media. That is
what makes Smith’s recognition all the more important. Hopefully it
signifies more to come.
Alex
Schmider, GLAAD’s associate
director of Transgender Representation, shared with Yahoolife the significance
of People inclusion of Smith in the iconic issue,
“Trans men
should be recognized alongside other men, and People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue
is sending a powerful and inclusive message by including the very worthy Brian
Michael Smith this year. While trans men still remain largely underrepresented
in media, especially Black trans men, Smith continues to use his personal and
professional platforms to drive visibility and expand representation for other
trans men to see greater possibilities for their lives.”
Instinct
Magazine congratulates Brian Michael Smith on his continued success in
Hollywood and for being a shining example of the power we all can claim when we
live authentically in our truths.
SOURCE: INSTINCT MAG
Well good for him 👍🏻
ReplyDelete