In July, trans Puerto Rican actress @thejulianajoel made history for playing the first transgender character on the Disney Channel with her role as Nikki on “Raven’s Home.”⁠ Playing Nikki has been nothing short of joyful. When Juliana Joel first started acting, the representation of trans people on television was limited to nameless corpses on “Law and Order: SVU” and other tragic characters that do nothing to show viewers the character's humanity. Instead, Nikki is funny, compassionate, and undeniably human — a critical portrayal for the network's young audience.⁠ Still, working on Disney Channel as a trans Latina comes with many emotions. Earlier this year, LGBTQ employees at Disney, and queer Disney fans across the world, protested the company after learning it initially refused to denounce Florida’s homophobic and transphobic Don't Say Gay legislation that prohibits teachers from speaking about LGBTQ issues in the classroom. While she’s grateful that the company supported her character, the actress does not see Nikki’s place on Disney Channel as redemption.⁠ “I’m not taking Nikki’s character as a way for Disney to think that everything’s hunky-dory and that they’re truly supportive of and allies to the community,” she says frankly.⁠ While Juliana Joel is on the network, however, she intends to provide representation of trans people that she and so many others have always wanted to see and deserve, like ensuring that her Latinidad is celebrated as much as her transness.⁠ -⁠ Writer @oliviazayry connected with @thejulianajoel about her historic role on "Raven's Home," real inclusivity in Hollywood, and what's next for the rising talent. Link in bio.