Actor Josie Totah, formerly of NBC’s Champions and several Disney shows, has come out as transgender.
In an op-ed for Time, the 17-year-old Totah detailed her discomfort with being introduced as “J.J. Totah, gay boy,” and how she would often correct interviewers saying she is LGBTQ. But now she is ready to publicly live her truth, writing, “My pronouns are she, her and hers. I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female. And my name is Josie Totah.”
Totah notes that she’s known she was a girl since she was 5, but her identity crystallized when she watched the TLC show I Am Jazz with her mom. “I looked over at her in the middle of the show and said, ‘This is me. I’m transgender. And I need to go through this.’ My mother, who is immensely supportive and gracious, said, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’”
Totah added that Lea Michele is one of the inspirations who helped her realize her womanhood.
“When I was on the show Glee, I’d stand back and watch Lea Michele. She was fabulous. And it was fun to see her and the other girls wear dresses and put on lavish musical numbers,” Totah wrote. “But it was also hard, because I wanted that to be me. It’s a feeling I’ve experienced in nearly every project I’ve worked on.”
Totah ended her piece by saying that she plans to continue acting after college and is excited to “play someone who shares my identity, rather than having to contort myself to play a boy. I’m going to gun for those roles, be it a transgender female or a cisgender female. Because it’s a clean slate — and a new world.”
https://t.co/Ltz8ttemoB For so long I’ve been trying to hide who I was. And I did it in fear. In fear that I wouldn’t be accepted or loved. I know now more than ever I’m ready to take the step to becoming myself. I am Transgender and this is my story.
Totah’s announcement was met with huge support from her friends in the comedy world, including Mindy Kaling...
I love you, Josie. I’m so glad you’re able to speak your truth and live as your authentic self. You’re also so damn talented - I can’t wait to write for you again! ❤️💕❤️💕❤️ https://t.co/OjIoI9Wpb3
You are awesome Josie! https://t.co/57xeORVjYJ
@jjtotah Love you! ♥️♥️♥️
As well as LGBT organizations like the Trevor Project. . .
"when my friends and family call me Josie, it feels like I’m being seen. It’s something everyone wants, to feel understood" 🌟 Thank you @jjtotah for being an amazing role model and for this beautiful letter of self-love! 💙💗💙 https://t.co/UOsyHJY73u
We are so proud of you Josie (@jjtotah) for living your truth as an openly transgender female. We are honored to call you a member of the HRC family. Your story will encourage other LGBTQ young people everywhere to live as their truest self. 💖💙 https://t.co/qGjP4Q2K7A
We love you @jjtotah! Welcome to the #PFLAG family - we embrace you as you embrace yourself! #TransIsBeautiful Your story will change hearts and minds...and lives. https://t.co/gMyUvcGCMv
And even Jazz Jennings of I Am Jazz showed her support for Totah via a statement to BuzzFeed News, saying "I am so happy for Josie."
