’13 Reasons Why’ star Tommy Dorfman announces she’s a trans woman

13 Reasons Why star Tommy Dorfman has reintroduced herself as a trans woman in an Instagram post on Thursday, July 22.

“Thrilled to reintroduce myself as the woman I am today. My pronouns are she/her,” Tommy said.

Tommy, 29, made the announcement alongside a set of glamorous shots of her posing in red, black, and green dresses.

“I’m especially grateful to every single trans person who walked this path, broke down barriers, and risked their lives to live authentically and radically as themselves before me,” Tommy wrote.

“Thank you to all the trans women that showed me who I am, how to live, celebrate myself, and take up space in this world,” she added.

Tommy also sent out “immense love” to her day one glam and styling team, who she said has always supported her evolution “in the most affirming of ways.” She also expressed gratitude to friends who held her hand “every step of this process.”

In an interview with Time magazine, Tommy said that she had been “privately identifying and living as a woman – a trans woman – for a year now.” She has also been documenting her journey on Instagram for the past year.

“It’s funny to think about coming out, because I haven’t gone anywhere. I view today as a reintroduction to me as a woman, having made a transition medically. Coming out is always viewed as this grand reveal, but I was never not out,” she said.

She said that the announcement is about clarity, and not necessarily a “transition.”

“Or it is, but not as an idea of going somewhere. Just that I am actually myself,” Tommy added.

She also said that she wants to keep the name “Tommy,” as it was the name of her mom’s brother, who passed a month after she was born.

“I feel very connected to that name, to an uncle who held me as he was dying. This is an evolution of Tommy. I’m becoming more Tommy,” she said.

GLAAD issued a statement following the announcement, saying that Tommy, who had been previously awarded the Rising Star Award in 2017 by the organization for her LGBTQ+ activism work, will inspire so many trans young people.

“She also reminds us that when it comes to queer identity there is not a specific timeline or roadmap to follow. She continues that work at a time when the trans community is facing attacks in states all over the country. Tommy is a talented artist, and we look forward to the stories that she will tell about the trans community,” GLAAD added.

Tommy is most known for her role as Ryan Shaver on Netflix’s drama series 13 Reasons Why, which she played from season one to season four from 2017 to 2020. Her next acting role is for Lena Dunham’s Sharp Stick, a film shot during the pandemic. The cast also includes Taylour Paige, Scott Speedman, Jon Bernthal, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. – Rappler.com