‘Supergirl’ actress Nicole Maines enraged at anti-transgender bills

Nicole Maines Supergirl Transgender

Nicole Maines stars as Dreamer on the TV series “Supergirl.” Maines, who identifies as transgender, plays TV’s first transgender superhero. Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW.

“Supergirl” actress Nicole Maines is enraged at the assault on transgender rights throughout the United States.

The actress, who identifies as transgender, plays television’s first transgender superhero Nia Nal on The CW series. Maines also has been on the front lines of trans rights.

She was the plaintiff in a groundbreaking 2014 Maine Supreme Court ruling that affirming the rights of transgender children to use restrooms that match their gender identity.

As transgender rights are under increasing attack across the country in various state bills that would legalize discrimination against trans youth, Maines, 23, told The Wrap that it’s “enraging” to watch lawmakers propose these pieces of legislation under the guise of helping children because they would actually be harmed by the bills.

“It’s so frustrating and enraging to know that they are citing a concern for children’s safety and they’re citing concerns of child abuse,” Maines said.

‘Supergirl’ transgender superhero is historic TV first

Later in the interview, she said, “The people who have lived through this, and the people who are experts on this, are not being given the same opportunity to fight for ourselves as other people are being given to fight against us.”

Only four months into the year, and already 33 states have introduced more than 100 anti-transgender bills that would restrict or outlaw medical care and participation in youth sports.

The previous record number of anti-trans bills was 66 in 2020.

The majority of the bills would affect transgender youth, a group that researchers and medical professionals warn is already susceptible to high rates of suicide and depression.

Earlier this month, Arkansas passed a law passed  that, if upheld by courts, will make it the first state to ban gender-confirming medical treatments and surgery for transgender youth, or even referring patients under 18 to anyone who provides such care. The law has sparked widespread outrage, including from Maines’ “Supergirl” costars such as Chyler Leigh.

In Texas, where Maines and her family live, three bills aimed at transgender youths have advanced. This week, Senate Bill 1646 will be introduced, which would redefine child abuse to include administering, supplying or consenting to provide puberty suppression drugs, hormone replacement therapy, or gender affirming medical procedures.

About the author

Phillip Zonkel

Award-winning journalist Phillip Zonkel spent 17 years at Long Beach's Press-Telegram, where he was the first reporter in the paper's history to have a beat covering the city's vibrant LGBTQ. He also created and ran the popular and innovative LGBTQ news blog, Out in the 562.

He won two awards and received a nomination for his reporting on the local LGBTQ community, including a two-part investigation that exposed anti-gay bullying of local high school students and the school districts' failure to implement state mandated protections for LGBTQ students.

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