Laverne Cox: 'Transgender community still experience violence at a disproportionate rate'

Laverne Cox has warned that while there may be a shift in “visibility” of the transgender community, there is still a lot to be done.

The Orange Is The New Black star covered Time magazine last year along with the headline “The Transgender Tipping Point”, but remains concerned about forgetting the daily issues faced by transgender people.

7-Jun-Cover-Lavern_3331845b

“I think there’s something shifting in terms of visibility and media representation,” she told the Telegraph‘s Stella magazine.

“But in terms of the day-to-day lives of trans people, we still experience violence at a disproportionate rate, as well as homelessness, unemployment, the denial of health care, and being criminalised and incarcerated.

“There are still over 30 states in the US that don’t have any anti-discrimination protections for trans people at all.”

Addressing how she declined to discuss the “details of the medical transition” in another interview, Cox explained: “The preoccupation with transition and surgery objectifies trans people… Our bodies matter, but I’m more than my body. I’m so much more. I’m my heart, my soul, my spirit, my mind, my critical thinking, my talent and my intelligence.”

The Emmy Award-winning actress also spoke about wanting to find love, and her hopes to be in “a loving, committed relationship”, but added: “I really don’t need the institution of marriage. And I don’t want to have kids.

Laverne Cox: ‘Transgender community still experience violence at a disproportionate rate’

In This Article: