Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox discusses her memoir, *Transcendent*, detailing her childhood in Mobile, Alabama, where she faced persistent bullying and institutionalized transphobia. She recounts the trauma of being subjected to conversion therapy at age eight and the coping mechanism of dissociation through dance and imagination. The conversation highlights her professional journey, including her breakthrough role in *Orange Is the New Black* and her co-creation of the series *Clean Slate*, which serves as a fictionalized, healing exploration of her own life. Cox addresses the current political climate regarding anti-trans legislation, emphasizing the dehumanizing impact of such rhetoric on vulnerable youth. She reflects on the importance of artistic expression as a means of survival and the ongoing process of reconciling her past with her identity as a visible, articulate trans woman in America.