Productions Transamerican Love Story is an American reality dating show in which suitors woo transgender woman Calpernia Addams.

Transamerican Love Story is the first reality dating show in the United States in which contestants compete for the attention and approval of a transgender woman.

[2] Logo TV, a digital cable channel with LGBTQ content, announced the series in November 2007, and premiered the first episode the following February.

In 2009, Transamerican Love Story won a GLAAD Media Award in the "Outstanding Reality Program" category, tying with I Want to Work for Diddy.

Before deciding which contestant to eliminate in the evening's ceremony, Calpernia confers with her friends Andrea James and (show host) Alec Mapa.

Transamerican Love Story was one of three new reality television shows that Logo premiered in 2008, accompanied by Gimme Sugar and Shirts & Skins.

[11][12] After World of Wonder developed the concept for Transamerican Love Story, Logo called Calpernia Addams in the summer of 2007 to offer her the starring role, which she accepted.

In a 2013 interview, James explains that she saw an opportunity for social progress in a program that accurately represented men who are attracted to trans women.

Typically, she says, in US media trans-attracted men are stigmatized and shamed, and that can make them hate themselves—and "lead to unhealthy and even dangerous situations for trans women.

[17][18] Transamerican Love Story contestant Jim Howley, who is himself transgender, appeared in the premiere episode of Sex Change Hospital.

[19] Heather Havrilesky, in her review for Salon, observed: "The show’s producers (thankfully) resist the urge to throw in big, manipulative Fox-style surprises.

"[15] About two months after the final episode aired, Addams, Howley, Andrea James, and Alec Mapa all appeared together in the 2008 Los Angeles Pride parade.

[23] Later that summer, Jim Howley did a photo shoot with portrait photographer Eric Schwabel for a feature in The Advocate on the human body.

[30] Calpernia Addams and Laverne Cox were at the awards ceremony in San Francisco to accept the honors for the respective shows.

[36][37] Chris McCarthy, general manager of Logo and VH1, told Adweek in 2015 that without Transamerican Love Story and other portrayals of diverse trans issues, "there would be no I Am Cait.