On Monday, actress and transgender activist Laverne Cox and model Carmen Carrera appeared on ABC's Katie hosted by Katie Couric to discuss their upcoming projects. The interview segment quickly devolved into a a series of awkward and invasive questions about what it means to transition. "Your private parts are different now, aren't they?" asked Couric at one point.
Laverne Cox used the exchange as an opportunity to draw attention to the way media often objectifies the bodies transgender people. And today, Cox published a brief comment in response to the interview on her Tumblr.
I am so deeply moved by the dialogues that are happening around my appearance with Carmen Carrera on "The Katie Show" on Monday. It is my dream that by highlighting the deep humanity of trans people's lives in the media, elevating actual trans voices to speak the truth of our lived experiences in ways that don't sensationalize and objectify us, those human voices and stories can be a part of the disruption needed to end the disproportionate injustices that threaten so many trans people's lives, particularly the lives of trans women of color. It is a state of emergency for far too many trans people across this country. The stories of women like Islan Nettles and CeCe McDonald are far too commonplace in our community. I look forward to engaging in more dialogues about the complicated intersectional issues around these injustices and ways to make them a thing of the past. I am so grateful to Katie Couric and her show for the opportunity to highlight these important issues.