LATV Premieres First Talk Show Hosted Solely by a Trans Person

For as long as society has existed, trans people have existed within it. They’ve contributed to art, medicine, politics, beauty, and ways of life. But when it comes to history books, their stories have been tragically left out.

LATV’s new show, Royal T, is one attempt to repair that loss — and on screen.

Hosted by trans advocate Queen Victoria, the talk show highlights members of the trans community making an impact in an array of industries and in the queer community at large. Conversations on air highlight varied trans experiences and universal insights. Queen Victoria and her guests dissect obstacles and celebrate triumphs that, sometimes, have nothing to do with gender identity at all.

In this way, Royal T is not just a show for trans people. It’s not just a show for queers. It’s a show for everybody.

“I’m excited to bring [Royal T] to the world and do it in such a way that helps to restructure what many people’s conceptions of the trans community is,” says Scottie Jeannette Madden, the series’ showrunner. “It’s historical. I’m excited that the world gets to see the very first show hosted solely by a transgender person. And she’s Latina, even better!”

Scottie Jeanette Madden (sourced from Women in Media)

Madden always knew she was going to make films. Tell stories.

In English class as a kid, she turned in scripts instead of essays and got away with it. Fresh out of college, she produced her own weekly TV-show, which meant hustling out stories every day. Her career unfolded and it took her around the world (she was in Fiji during a military coup). Along the way, she deepened her love for her craft.

“I’m the daughter of a bartender. He’s a professional storyteller,” she goes on to say. “My father held court in any room he walked into. That’s where I am my father’s daughter, for sure.”

As Royal T’s showrunner, Madden is overjoyed to uplift Queen Victoria’s voice and provide a platform to celebrate trans and non-binary narratives.

Queen Victoria Ortega (sourced from Instagram)

A trans woman herself and a storyteller by nature, Madden is personally and professionally invested in helping lead LATV’s next creative endeavor. Her leadership has already left an impact. 70% of the first season’s crew identified as trans or non-binary.

“The mere fact that [LATV] has pointed their money and support in this direction says volumes about who they are as an organization,” she says.

Madden has led multi-million-dollar productions. She’s been responsible for crews in some of the most dangerous locations on the planet. All that said, working on Royal T with Queen Victoria has been particularly special.

“In the queer community, the word ‘queen’ gets tossed around all the time,” Madden says. “It could lose its value, except for people like Queen Victoria. She is a queen and she doesn’t take that responsibility lightly.”

Madden is consistently inspired by the advocacy work Queen Victoria brings to the world. Royal T will certainly broaden that reach for good.

The LATV QUEER show premieres on LATV on November 28, 2023.