'Daniel Really Suits You'

Fall 2024 • Raye Maguire She/Her/He/Him

In an environment where far too many of us are hearing anti-transgender messages, from sources ranging from targeted attack ads to our own elected officials, we are rewriting the narrative. The HRC Foundation is committed to elevating trans stories and building a more inclusive future.

Using data to effectively guide our efforts, we are changing hearts and minds. Message testing continues to show that when people unfamiliar with transgender youth learn more about their lives, they walk away feeling more positively about LGBTQ+ people. Aiming to illustrate the lives of trans youth, The HRC Foundation partnered with Grove Insight to conduct public opinion research across the country, and then worked with our own trans employee resource group to create a storybank of moments that sparked gender joy. These moments, from shaving for the first time to getting a new haircut, were universal; both trans and cis folks experience them.

Spurred by our community commitment and guided by our messaging research, the HRC Foundation worked with BRINK MEDIA on the ground in Arizona for 3 days to shoot "Daniel Really Suits You." Using a blend of nonfiction and fiction techniques to bring Daniel’s longer-form story to the screen, the HRC Foundation then tested the effectiveness of 30-second and 15-second clips, as well as different campaign taglines across red, blue and purple states before launching a paid campaign in the lead up to the 2024 election. Across the political spectrum, age ranges, and other demographics, testing consistently found that watching “Daniel Really Suits You” changed opinions about transgender people for the better. This work is shifting culture and combating anti-trans narratives as it takes a deep dive into Daniel’s journey through some universal milestones of adolescence.

Parallel parking. Learning to shave. Getting your driver's license photo. The milestones we remember for the rest of our lives. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation was lucky enough to join Daniel as he experiences these important moments, creating a window into the life of a young trans man that isn’t so very different from anyone else’s.

Stills from the video shoot with Daniel and his family

Trans stories are everywhere, and they are everyone's stories.

Daniel is just like any other teenager. He spends his days playing video games, skating with friends and jamming on his guitar. What makes Daniel’s story unique is also what makes it universal. As he goes through these moments we all share, he’s supported by the people who love him most. His dad is not only his guitar buddy but also his guide for another milestone: learning to shave — a simple yet monumental moment.

With his dad at his side, Daniel carefully navigates the razor, laughing as his dad points out a patch of shaving cream still stuck behind his ear. It’s a lesson in self-care, confidence and the kind of quiet support that shows just how much his dad cares about him.

The impact a supportive parent can have on the life of their transgender child cannot be understated. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Youth Report showed that when parents accept and affirm their child’s identity, the positive mental health impacts are substantial — and the harm in its absence can be life-threatening. Caring for a trans child doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as easy as assuring your child that they have your unconditional love and support.

With his fresh shave and plenty of practice behind the wheel, Daniel is ready. He tackles the driving test again and passes with flying colors. The only thing between him and his driver’s license is a pause that hangs over when the DMV clerk points out he has two names in the system.

This is the only part of Daniel’s story that's any different than any other kid getting his license. Even then, it’s not so truly different. Haven’t we all run into a paperwork issue at the DMV? For Daniel, it’s another step in his journey — one filled with love, support, and those moments we all face. He says his name is Daniel and the clerk smiles.

“Daniel really suits you.”

Trans and non-binary teens face the same rites of passage into adulthood as everyone else does, and live far more relatable lives than anti-LGBTQ+ bullies would have you believe. While he has volunteered with HRC Arizona and HRC’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council, and helped organize the trans prom in Washington, D.C., Daniel is also just a teenager experiencing everyday life.

Daniel’s story reminds us that we all experience the same quiet milestones and are not so different after all.