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Nickelodeon Casts First Openly Transgender Teen for Kids' Show

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Nickelodeon, owned by ViacomCBS, has cast its first openly transgender teenage actor to star in a live-action kids’ series.

The 13-year-old Sasha Cohen, who was born female but now identifies as male, will appear in the June 19 episode of “Danger Force,” according to Variety.

Cohen’s appearance in the series comes less than two years after actor Michael D. Cohen — no relation — came out as transgender. Born female, Cohen transitioned to identifying as male some 20 years ago. Michael co-wrote and directed this episode.

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“I had never felt comfortable about who I am, and I always thoughts that I would never play a transgender role,” said Sasha Cohen. “But there are so many kids out there who need to see someone like them — a role model who has the ability to put themselves out there.”

The younger Cohen landed the gig after participating in the Trans Youth Acting Challenge, which Michael D. Cohen launched in December.

“I want Sasha to see his own power as an actor and as a human,” the elder Cohen said. “I want him to feel proud of his work and feel real confident in himself in every aspect and to know that he will help change kids’ lives by being the first kid of trans experience on Nickelodeon in live-action.”

Paul DeBenedittis, executive vice president of programming and content strategy for Nickelodeon, said it has “long been Nickelodeon’s mission to be a home for all kids and to authentically represent them in their full diversity.”

He said the episode Sasha Cohen stars in “tells a relatable story of friendship, openness, and trust through the lens of sitcom.”

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The announcement about “Danger Force” comes just weeks after Disney announced it is revamping its 20-year-old animated series “The Proud Family.”

As Faithwire previously reported, the rebooted show — “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” — will center on two multiethnic, gay dads and their adopted teenager daughter, who is a racial activist.

The gay dads, Barry and Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins, will be voiced by Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto — both of whom are gay — while their daughter, Maya, will be voiced by Keke Palmer.

It will also feature returning series character Michael Collins, the best friend of original character Penny Proud, as a “non-conforming trendsetter.”

That series is expected to debut on the streaming platform Disney+ sometime in 2022.

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About The Author

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Tré
Goins-Phillips

Tré Goins-Phillips serves as a host and content creator for CBN News. He hosts the weekly “Faith vs. Culture” show and co-hosts “Quick Start,” a news podcast released every weekday morning. Born and raised in Virginia, Tré now lives along the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he has built his career, often traveling to meet and interview fascinating cultural influencers and entertainers. After working with brands like TheBlaze and Independent Journal Review, Tré began his career at CBN News in 2018 and has a particular passion for bridging the chasm between the secular world and the church