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By Lara Bertolini

We read in the entertainment news how an Argentine actress and media personality will take on the role of a trans woman or transgender femininity in a play. Actually, according to the article, Sol Pérez plays a cis woman who pretends to be trans to collect an inheritance. "Sol's character will say that she transitioned at 18 and will be seen dressed as a Boy Scout in her first appearance on stage. There, the plot will become even more absurd with a role designed specifically for the TV host and model. Although it's a comedy, humor these days isn't the same. For this reason, they'll have to be careful how they address the issue of gender equality to avoid criticism." But the news article is titled: "Sol Pérez's New Challenge: She Will Play a Trans Woman."

Beyond the conceptual error, we see how the historical exclusion and marginalization suffered by trans people continues to be entrenched in the theater world. Furthermore, the news article attempts to address the issue by conflating "gender equality" with "gender identity."

[READ ALSO: What we talk about when we talk about "cis" ]

The work's meaning is a perfect anachronism with current social understandings of trans identity. Furthermore, it subjects us to jokes and humor rooted in patriarchal oppression.

Since their revolutionary struggle for resistance and survival, the trans and travesti community has opened a Pandora's box of identity. Their demands for rights have challenged normalizing or accepted practices in all areas of society.

Throughout decades of resistance, our identities were initially made invisible, then when we established ourselves as a political protest force they mechanized the use through a systematized tokenism (definition of Blas Radi), executing a lifting of the Identity veil out of necessity for use.

[READ ALSO: Can cis people talk about trans identities? ]

Not only is the meaning of the work (if this is the path the author wishes to take) a perfect anachronism with the current realities of social understanding about trans identity, but we are subjected to jokes and humor from patriarchal opprobrium.

We know that today the trans artistic community has created spectacular works: The House of Bernarda Alba; Dungeon on 25th Street; If You Love Me, Love Me Trans, in addition to television programs where a trans actress plays a leading role, such as the telenovela "Little Victoria." But these are exceptions. Meanwhile, Daniela Ruiz, Fiorela Fabiani, Morena Ifrán, Camila Kyu, Alessandra Babino, Jazmín Cornell, among so many others, are fighting not for a nonexistent equality but for the fundamental right: employment.

While we collect coins from our trans actresses to put food on the table, others, in the name of defiance, ignore, either out of ignorance or for convenience, the critical situation of extermination of our community.

[READ ALSO: What we talk about when we talk about trans love ]

While the curtain, the performance, and the applause will run for a cis woman playing a woman who pretends to be trans, reminding her of her history from the patriarchal theatrical mandate, many wait behind the scenes not only for respect for identity, but also for the right to be the real protagonists.

When our rights are made invisible for any excuse, we are there to remind them; reminding them that the trans job quota is also a matter of dignity and respect related to our history.