Scarlett in the middle of transgender role storm

SCARLETT Johansson faced tremendous backlash this week following news of her casting as a potentially transgender man.

“Actors who are trans never even get to audition for anything other than roles of trans characters. That’s the real issue. We can’t even get in the room. Cast actors who are trans as non-trans characters. I dare you,” Jamie Clayton, a transgender actress who appeared in Netflix’s Sense8, said in a tweet that was liked more than 30 000 times.

“Nowhere in this tweet did I say that S.J. shouldn’t play this character. I’m bringing attention to an issue that doesn’t get acknowledged. Hire actors who happen to be trans for all kinds of roles, and this issue goes away,” Clayton later added.

Johansson is set to portray Dante “Tex” Gill, who ran a massage parlour business and prostitution ring in 1970s and ‘80s Pittsburgh. The movie doesn’t have a release date – but it’s garnered a lot of attention.

“Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all?” trans actress Trace Lysette tweeted last week.

“And not only do you play us and steal our narrative and our opportunities, but you pat yourselves on the back with

trophies and accolades for mimicking what we have lived… so twisted. I’m so done,” Lysette added. Johansson didn’t appear to do herself any favours when, upon being asked for comment, one of her representatives told Bustle: “Tell (critics) that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment.” All three actors have portrayed transgender characters: Tambor in Transparent, Leto in Dallas Buyers Club and Huffman in Transamerica.

Many believe that transgender characters should only be portrayed by those who identify as transgender, particularly because transgender actors often have trouble finding work in Hollywood.

“I hope the Scarlett Johansson controversy doesn’t keep the amazing story of Jean Marie Gill, aka Dante ‘Tex’ Gill from being told. If Johansson was smart, she’d find a new director, take the role of Tex’s girlfriend Cynthia, and give a trans actor a big break,” tweeted YouTube star Grace Randolph.

“Dear Hollywood, here are the rules we the trans decided: Until the world stops erasing/oppressing/ murdering us, trans women play trans women, trans men play trans men, nonbinary people play NB people,” tweeted transgender actress and activist Jen Richards.