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Fresh Air

Laverne Cox

6/22/202645 min

For more than a decade, actor Laverne Cox has been one of the most visible trans women in America. But the ‘Orange Is the New Black’ star says she spent most of childhood keeping herself hidden. Cox spoke with Tonya Mosley about the bullying she endured, pursuing a dance career before acting, and the anti-trans culture shift of the last few years. Her memoir is ‘Transcendent.’ 

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Clips

Raw Anger After Childhood Trauma
Doctor Suggested Testosterone For Child
Anti-Trans Laws Fuel Bullies
Fake Mustache Fails Audition
Groove In The Heart

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 10:00

    This message comes from Capella University. That spark you feel, that's your drive for more. Capella University's FlexPath learning format lets you earn your degree at your pace without putting life on pause. Learn more at capella.edu.

  2. Tonya Mosley· Host0:14

    This is Fresh Air. I'm Tonya Mosley, and my guest today is Laverne Cox. Chances are you met her the way most of the world did, a transgender woman in prison doing hair and fighting for her right to gender-affirming care in the Netflix series Orange Is The New Black.

  3. Laverne Cox· Guest0:32

    Listen, Doc, I need my dosage. I've given five years, $80,000, and my freedom for this. I'm finally who I'm supposed to be. Do you understand? I can't go back.

  4. Speaker 4· Soundbite0:46

    Look- Where are you? I'd like to help you. Unfortunately, you have elevated levels of AST and ALT, which could mean liver damage.

  5. Laverne Cox· Guest0:57

    That's [beep]. That could mean anything.

  6. Speaker 4· Soundbite0:59

    We're gonna take you off your hormones entirely- What? ... until we can schedule an ultrasound, get a clean read.

  7. Laverne Cox· Guest1:06

    But that could take months.

  8. Speaker 4· Soundbite1:08

    I can offer you an antidepressant.

  9. Tonya Mosley· Host1:10

    [laughs] That's Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset in 2014. The role made her the first openly transgender person nominated for a primetime Emmy in an acting category, and put her on the cover of Time magazine next to the words, "The Transgender

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