Trans artists and performers have reshaped music, film, and drag culture. However, Wikipedia’s overview of media portrayals notes that trans characters have historically been relegated to tragic tropes or "unhappy endings".

The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey — Advocates for Trans Equality Transgender History — Wikipedia The Third Gender and Hijras — Harvard Divinity School

Abstract

The term serves as an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. According to the American Psychological Association (APA) , this includes binary trans men and women, as well as nonbinary, genderqueer, and gender-fluid individuals. Unlike sexual orientation, which describes to whom one is attracted, transgender identity is about one's internal sense of self. 2. Historical Foundations and Global Perspectives

Transgender identity is not a modern phenomenon. Indigenous and non-Western cultures have recognized "third genders" for centuries:

Answers to your questions about transgender people — American Psychological Association LGBTQIA+ Glossary — UCSF LGBTQ Resource Center