Alexis Arquette’s family release moving statement praising her ‘brave’ fight for trans equality
The trans actor passed away yesterday aged 47.
Alexis Arquette’s family have paid tribute to the trans actor, praising her fight for the “understanding and acceptance” of the trans community.
The actor – best known for roles in Last Exit To Brooklyn, Pulp Fiction and The Wedding Singer – passed away “surrounded by love” yesterday, as her family “held her and sang her David Bowie’s Starman”.
The Arquette family have since released a joint statement praising Alexis’ bravery and trans activism.
“Alexis was a brilliant artist and painter, a singer, an entertainer and an actor,” her siblings said.
“We learned what real bravery is through watching her journey of living as a trans woman. We came to discover the one truth – that love is everything.”
“She fiercely lived her reality in a world where it is dangerous to be a trans person – a world largely unready to accept differences among human beings, and where there is still the ugliness of violence and hostility towards people that we may not understand.”
Her family also championed her determination to reject stereotypical trans roles, despite the effect it may have had on her career.
“Her career was cut short, not by her passing, but by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman,” they said.
“Despite the fact that there are few parts for trans actors, she refused to play roles that were demeaning or stereotypical.
“She was a vanguard in the fight for understanding and acceptance for all trans people,” they added.
“Alexis always had to do everything first. She left before we were ready to let her go.”
The trans star came from a family of distinguished entertainers and was the sibling of David, Rosanna, Richmond and Patricia Arquette, who have asked for donations be made to organisations which support the LGBT community in their sister’s honour.
Her cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
