‘I’m setting myself free from shame’: Laverne Cox on her brutal childhood and life as a trans woman in Trump’s America
Before Orange Is the New Black made her a star, Cox endured bullying, abuse, harassment and violence. She talks about the bad old days – and her fears they’re on their way back
TL;DR
- Laverne Cox's memoir, 'Transcendent,' details a childhood filled with bullying, abuse, and prejudice.
- Cox expresses grave concerns about the current political climate in America, stating that trans people are at risk of extermination and losing fundamental rights.
- She critiques the narrative that trans rights are about 'protecting women,' asserting it's a 'permission structure to scapegoat trans people.'
- Cox links present-day cruelty to the legacy of chattel slavery and 'post-traumatic slave syndrome.'
- Despite a difficult upbringing, Cox highlights her mother's strength and resilience.
- Her early life involved a suicide attempt before age 12 and a period of dressing in 'Salvation Armani' (thrift store clothing).
- Cox and her twin brother, M Lamar, were both gifted artists who attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts.
- She moved to New York, found a vibrant club scene, and thrived without using drugs, attributing her survival to this decision.
- The shift in New York's club scene due to 'bottle service' commercialization led to less space for artists.
- Cox transitioned in 1998 and aimed to use her platform to 'change the conversation about trans people.'
- Orange Is the New Black brought her widespread recognition and significantly changed her life, moving from being a target of assault to a celebrity.
- Despite recognition and awards, Cox has experienced a drastic 90% loss in income due to the current political climate impacting her work opportunities.
- She attributes this loss to political agendas that threaten institutions promoting 'gender ideology' and DEI.
- Cox draws parallels between the current marginalization of LGBTQI+ people and the book burnings in Nazi Germany, seeing it as a similarly dangerous moment.
- Her acting philosophy, learned from Susan Batson, emphasizes infusing a character's unfulfilled need into every performance to change people.