Laverne Cox (best known for her role as Sophia in Orange Is the New Black) has emerged a powerful voice) in the movement for transgender rights. She then had her biggest moment in the spotlight upon becoming the first trans person on Time magazine’s cover, a nuclear level of visibility in May, 2014. The rest of the world met her in 2013 on Netflix, however.
At Indiana University, Cox publicly identified as gay for the first time. Although she has been an open book about her sexuality, it seems that Jenner prefers to keep certain details of her transition private — and fair enough too, inappropriate questions about surgery are just plain rude.
Cox has been outspoken on ‘gender policing’ since the start of her public life. According to her, this only goes on to harm transgender individuals, as well the men these women date. These gates value judgment and rejection against these men, accusing them of being stigmatized by policing their gender when they have relations with transgender women. Cox thinks that if bigger celebrities, like actors or athletes, publicly dated trans women, then maybe there wouldn’t be such a stigma against those types of relationships.
For Cox, experiences dating straight-identified men have also shown her that many of them struggle with guilt and shame around their sexuality, in part due to how society has stigmatized same-sex attraction. She called for no more gender policing, adding, For Pete’s sake… My personal life might be private.
A significant number of transgender people, among them Cox, have reported difficult childhoods and mental health issues such as suicidal ideation. Cox hopes that by living openly and well, the young people who see him enjoying his life will find some hope and encouragement for their own futures dealing with questions of gender. Her advocacy and visibility are a sort of lighthouse for those transitioning and hoping to be accepted, showing that there is a beautiful, authentic life after transition.
Laverne Cox demonstrates time and again the power that living as one’s true self can give, how simply taking up space perhaps serves life more fully: not only for soap characters who find love where they hadn’t before by doing so, but to innumerable others also endeavouring to be or love or care for themselves better.