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MTV's Are You the One? Is Humanizing Trans Stories With Kai

Kai shared his transition story and took hormone injections on tonight's episode.

Taylor Henderson

Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!

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Taylor Henderson

cornbreadsays

June 26 2019 9:42 PM EST

December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST

MTV's Are You the One? has already made history as the first reality dating show to feature an entirely sexually fluid cast, but tonight's episode is even more groundbreaking for its transgender representation.

We meet Kai, a queer transmasculine nonbinary human who has chosen to medically transition, who details his experience within the first five minutes of the episode.

\u201cWhat happens when you put 16 sexually-fluid singles in a house and tell them to find their Perfect Match? We're about to find out... \n\nWatch the season premiere of Are You The One? THIS WEDNESDAY at 9/8c! \ud83c\udf08 #AYTO\u201d
— #AYTO (@#AYTO) 1561230000

Kai, as well as the rest of the cast of the fifteen loveable singles, get to know each other and he quickly forms a connection with Jenna. At one point, Kai pulls Jenna aside and asks for her emotional support as he takes his hormone injections.

It's a groundbreaking moment for transgender representation on television, especially reality TV. Many of the trans stories we see on TV and movies today focus on body dysphoria or the physical transition or some type of trauma porn, so we don't often see stories about trans people simply wanting to find love. (Unless you're watching Pose or Euphoria, which you should be!)

We get to see Kai post-transition and searching for love. While his transness is part of who he is, it's not all that he is, and the representation feels momentous.

That doesn't mean he's not as messy as the rest of the house though...