Impact of Federal Changes on Transgender Actors
Transgender actress Laverne Cox has spoken out about how President Trump’s rollback of federal diversity rules has seriously affected transgender performers, leading to significant financial losses. She notes that the administration’s diminishing focus on DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion — has removed many opportunities she once had.
“We’ve lost so much money over the past year due to this administration,” Cox reflected in an interview with a magazine. Although she has managed to keep busy with various acting roles and public speaking engagements, she expressed surprise at the halt in her university speaking opportunities.
Cox emphasized the importance of engaging with universities, particularly for those burdened with student loan debt. “I was working hard to escape economic struggle,” she shared, while also striving to uplift her community, believing it’s crucial to discuss transgender issues on college campuses to help “humanize” transgender individuals.
This avenue, however, has diminished since the Trump administration began pushing back against DEI programs in educational settings. “This administration has taken a harsh stance on DEI and anything related to gender ideology, leaving companies feeling very apprehensive,” she stated.
Over the past couple of years, Cox has had to rely on her savings and retirement funds, though she is now in a position to contribute to her retirement again. “But you really don’t want to do that,” she mentioned, sharing her concerns.
In another interview, she called for everyone to participate in elections, stressing the idea that rights currently in place could still be at risk. “Just because we have rights now doesn’t mean those rights won’t be taken away,” she cautioned.
Cox also voiced her concern for trans women involved in sex work, noting they are at a higher risk of violence and often pushed into survival circumstances. “Transgender individuals face disproportionate murder rates,” she added, attributing this to a lack of cultural acceptance and understanding that trans women are, indeed, women. “That’s the core of why we’re murdered,” she concluded.
