It is hypocritical and ideologically inconsistent to criticize a movie for its lack of trans people

For clarity sake, yes I am specifically focusing on transgender representation in cinema as per the heading. You mention trans actors and actresses, which I find to be irrelevant to the topic. This is not about the representation of trans actors, this is about the representation of trans characters. Unless you are of the opinion that only trans actors should be allowed to play trans characters? If so, you are dismissing the majority of films that do in fact represent both gay actors and gay characters. Actors like Sean Penn , Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal all plaid respectable gay roles despite all being heterosexual whereas actors like Ian McKellen and Neil Patrick Harris often play straight characters. Insisting that trans characters only ever be played by trans actors would either be inconsistent or it would force you to invalidate all of the above actors and the roles they played. You insist that characters be OPENLY trans but I fail to see how that is necessary. Does a trans woman have to look like a man in order to be "openly trans"? Does a trans person have to randomly in conversation say "Hi I'm Jessica. By the way I have a penis"? Does this not invalidate all trans people who do not openly advertise the fact that they are trans? Does a trans person have to advertise their trans-ness in order to be a "true trans"? The trans community often likes to create the narrative that genitals do not matter, yet I cannot imagine a scenario where someone can be "openly trans" in a movie WITHOUT their genitals coming into question. Essentially the only way I person can come out as openly trans is to somehow indicate that "I am a woman with a penis". You can't have it both ways. What, to you, would be an appropriate way for a trans person to be "openly trans"? Does it have to be a female character being played by a biological man? But doesn't that imply that sex is in fact biological? If I look at Jude Law playing a woman, I will immediately recognize the fact that it's a man. This goes against the trans narrative that you can look at a person and determine their gender. And how will I know Jude Law is in fact playing a woman? Does wearing a dress and long hair mean you're a woman? Several problems here. First is the fact that gender is a social construct (supposedly) and that "only women can wear dresses" is a gender norm imposed by society. Secondly, this invalidates trans people who don't care to pass as their chosen gender. If a biological man identifies as a woman, does he have to wear a dress to validate that? If you take the trans narrative at face value, you can be a biological man, dressed in a suit, wear a tie, have a beard, and STILL be trans. In your opinion, is it necessary for an openly trans person to do at least one of the following? - say "I am trans" - say "I am a woman with a penis" - look like a biological man - dress like a woman If your answer is "yes", does that not imply that a trans person is not a real trans unless he/she does the above? If your answer is "no", then please give me an example of a hypothetical openly trans character that does not do any of the above. How will we know a trans character is in fact openly trans if he/she does not do any of the above?