Laverne Cox perfectly explains in a few simple words why all Black lives – including Black trans lives – matter
Laverne Cox appeared remotely on The Kelly Clarkson Show. (The Kelly Clarkson Show/ YouTube)
Actor, LGBT+ activist and trans icon Laverne Cox perfectly explained in an interview with Kelly Clarkson why All Black Lives Matter.
Appearing remotely on Clarkson’s talkshow The Kelly Clarkson Show, Cox addressed the attention that the Black Trans Lives Matter movement has been receiving recently.
She told Clarkson: “The [movement] been going on for a very long time and I think we’ve just — people are starting to pay attention and we have a long way to go.
“Unfortunately, in the month of June there have been murders of several trans people.”
Black trans women Selena Reyes-Hernandez, Riah Milton, Dominique Rem’mie Fells and Brayla Stone were all killed during Pride Month in the United States. Cox also mentioned the murder of trans man Tony McDade, who was killed by police two days after the death of George Floyd.
Cox continued: “It’s a movement that’s been going on for a long time…We’re beginning to understand that when we say Black Lives Matter that has to include all Black lives.”
Then, in just a few simple words, the Orange is the New Black star and Emmy-nominee perfectly summed up why All Black Lives Matter.
“Just because I’m transgender doesn’t mean that I’m not affected by the same racism that the rest of the world is also affected by.”
Laverne Cox says she has hope for the future because “the people have mobilised”.
Laverne Cox told Kelly Clarkson that her hope for the future comes from everyday people, rather than from politics.
She said: “Politicians don’t always give me hope, but the people give me hope.
“After what happened to George Floyd, I think that if people hadn’t taken to the streets and hadn’t mobilised then…I’d feel horrible.
“And I thought after we saw Mike Brown and Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin that something would change.”
But, she added: “I have hope because the people have mobilised and the people are not relenting.
“I think we need to not relent and we need to continue to make our demands and I feel emboldened and inspired by everyone out there marching, so keep marching, keep protesting peacefully and keep spreading love and awareness and keep demanding justice.”
