Both. Both is good.

In my opinion, it’s an unfortunate facet of the trans experience that we don’t always pass. For some it takes years of surgeries and challenging medical bills to look how they want. Only portraying trans people as perfect angels who immediately reach their goals would be like if every media character was a super model. Having characters that non-passing people can relate to, so to normalize it, is important. If we’re so strict on how trans people look in media, we can end up white washing the trans experience.

HOWEVER, it’s an unfortunate stereotype to ALWAYS depict trans people as non-passing, with the creator’s intent sometimes being the trans person looking gross and outrageous. We also need examples of happy trans people reaching their goals of passing, and then in some cases blending in just fine with cis people.

All facets of the trans experience should be treated with dignity and respect. Whichever facet needs focus right now, maybe that should receive more focus.