In an important move for transgender representation, the DC comics drama Supergirl is debuting TV’s first ever transgender superhero.
The exciting news was announced on Saturday at Comic-Con that Nicole Maines, a transgender actor turned activist, is joining the cast in the upcoming fourth season of the CW show.
Transgender activist/author/actress @NicoleAMaines is joining Supergirl as Nia Nal/Dreamer. TV is getting its first trans superhero and I can’t deal. #RepresentationMatters
— Cori is tired so tired (@CoriMarie21) July 21, 2018
Maines plays Nia Nal, who follows a similar character arc to Supergirl that eventually leads her to embrace her powers and destiny as the superhero Dreamer.
DC Comics fans no doubt noticed that the newest addition to CatCo’s reporting team shares a last name with Nura Nal, AKA Dream Girl – and it’s been confirmed that the two are related and likely share similar powers.
"It seems only fitting that we have a trans superhero for trans kids to look up to," Maines says. She will play Nia Nal, a new reporter at CatCo who worked with Cat Grant in DC and will be taken under Kara's wing in National City. #Supergirl #SDCC18
— Sydney Bucksbaum (@SydneyBucksbaum) July 21, 2018
“She has this ferocious drive to protect people and to fight against discrimination and hatred,” Maines told the audience during the panel. “She’s the superhero we need right now.”
in this house we love and support nicole maines pic.twitter.com/acAn7H3zPX
— yana (@lenalvthr) July 21, 2018
Nicole Maines made international headlines in 2013 for her landmark Supreme Court victory that was hugely significant in the fight for trans people’s right to use the bathroom of their choice. She was featured in the HBO documentary The Trans List, among a line-up of achievements that make her the perfect real life hero to play Supergirl’s newest superhero.
@NicoleAMaines welcome to the supergirl family we love you so much you beautiful QUEEN
— mols (@beccasgeIbs) July 21, 2018
“I’ve just been doing a lot of auditions lately because a lot of different shows have been really eager to tell the stories of transgender people, especially transgender youth,” Maines told the audience.
“Because it’s such an important issue right now in our society and in the world. And so it seems only fitting that we have a trans superhero for trans kids to look up to. I wish there was a trans superhero when I was little.”
"We've had trans representation on television for a while but it hasn't been the right representation," says Nicole Maines, who will play TV's first trans superhero on #Supergirl https://t.co/xsvh5qAJZ3 pic.twitter.com/P9BVkbUY96
— Variety (@Variety) July 22, 2018
“We can be whoever we want, we can do whatever we want, we can be superheroes, because in many ways we are,” Maines told Variety, “We’ve had trans representation in television for a while but it hasn’t been the right representation.”
appreciate this beautiful angel that it's nicole maines pic.twitter.com/yQsUvSMjsR
— Melissa Benoist Panos LMTD. (@catgront) July 22, 2018
This is doing representation right, and it’s a huge step forward worth a whole lot of excitement. So get pumped for the next season of Supergirl, set to make its return in October.