Telling queer stories has been the guiding force of trans actor Scott Turner Schofield’s life as an artist. When he first premiered his one-man show, ”Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps,” nearly two decades ago at 7 Stages Theatre, the visibility of transgender people was almost nonexistent.
Flashforward to 2026, and trans people are now part of a divisive culture war being waged by the Trump administration and right-wing conservatives. The arrival of the film version of “Becoming a Man…” comes at a pivotal and dangerous time to be a trans person in America.
“Just watching the film is a massive act of resistance,” Schofield said in a recent interview with Georgia Voice. “The political climate has made me double down on being trans and striving to live a full life, and telling diverse stories is so important right now.”
The film is currently streaming on Kinema, and there will be a special screening on March 15 at 3:30 p.m. at 7 Stages Theater following a performance of fellow queer artist Tim Miller’s new one-man show, “A Body in the O.”
Like the stage show, “Becoming a Man…” is an autobiographical, funny, and candid exploration of Schofield’s own transition. The film blends footage of his live performances – where the audience calls out a number from 1 to 127 – and Schofield shares a story from his journey as a trans man– with vignettes and even animation.
The acclaim for “Becoming a Man…” and its quick jump to becoming Kinema’s most-streamed film is just another step on what Schofield calls his “20-year overnight success story.”
When Schofield left Atlanta for Los Angeles, he had no idea he would find global stardom on a soap opera. He was the first trans actor to earn a Daytime Emmy nomination for his role as Nick on the long-running “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
“I never expected that my acting career would lead to a soap opera, but the writers created a character in Nick that was very much like me,” Schofield said. “Being on the snow and the Emmy nomination was a real confirmation that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.”
Since the soap, Schofield has appeared in numerous films and television shows – including “The Blacklist” and “Hacks” – and is currently shooting a film in Vancouver. He’s also become a sought-after consultant for trans and queer representation in the industry, most notably as an advisor on HBO’s “Euphoria.”
“When I went to Hollywood, I thought about going ‘stealth’ and not revealing that I was trans,” Schofield recalled. But I realize I had to be out and be who I was for all of these opportunities to come my way.”
Schofield’s ascension and recognition were part of a wave of trans actors suddenly becoming household names, like Laverne Cox, Hunter Schafer, MJ Rodriguez, and Dylan Mulvaney.
The visibility was a double-edged sword. “We became the next monster in the culture wars,” Schofield said. “And when you call someone a monster, you dehumanize them because it makes it easier to discriminate and demonize us.”
