Laverne Cox Reveals She & Friend Were Targets of Transphobic Attack

MON, 30 NOVEMBER 2020

Laverne Cox is luckily okay after being targeted in a transphobic attack.

The 48-year-old Orange is the New Black actress took to her Instagram to reveal that she and a friend were targeted in an “aggressive” transphobic attack while walking in Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Laverne explained that she and her friend were walking when a man came up to the friend and “aggressively” asked what time it was before asking, “Guy or girl?”.

The friend told the man to “f–k off,” which then triggered the man to start hitting her friend.

“The guy is like hitting my friend, and then my friend is going toward him and I’m like ‘Holy s–t,” Laverne said. “I pull out my phone and I call to dial 911, and all of a sudden it’s over and the guy is gone.”

Luckily Laverne and her friend weren’t physically injured.

While reflecting on the incident, Laverne said that she believes the man wanted her to answer his question instead of her friend.

“The guy really wanted me to answer so that he could spook whether I’m trans or not,” Laverne said. “I don’t know why, I don’t know why it matters. At the end of the day, it’s like who cares? I’m in a hoodie and yoga pants, I’m completely covered up, I’ve got my mask on. Who cares if I’m trans? How does this affect your life?”

She added: “This dude was looking for trouble…because I happened to be a trans person in public. None of this is new, but it’s still just kind of like…why do you need to be aggressive?”

“I started blaming myself. We were walking in the park. We weren’t doing anything,” Laverne shared. It’s important to remind myself and remind you that when these things happen, it’s not your fault…that there are people not cool with you existing in the world.”

Laverne also opened up about harsh reality about transphobia.

“It’s not safe in the world,” she said. “I don’t like to think about that a lot, but it is the truth and it is not safe if you’re a trans person.”

Laverne also shared a message with fans to be “aware of your surroundings” and know that “it’s not your fault” if an incident like hers happens to them.

“It’s not your fault that there are people not cool with you existing in the world,” Laverne said. “We have a right to walk in the park.”