Laverne Cox and Friend Okay After Transphobic Attack

Over the weekend, actress and activist Laverne Cox took to IGTV to share the details of a transphobic assault on she and a friend that has left her “in shock and triggered.”

Reuters reported that the pair were approached by a man while out on a socially distanced walk in Los Angeles who aggressively demanded to know whether Cox was male or female.

After Cox’s friend told the stranger to “fuck off,” the encounter quickly and violently escalated. According to Cox, her friend was struck several times.

“I look back, and I’m like, ‘What is happening?’ The guy is like hitting my friend, and then my friend is going toward him, and I’m like, ‘Holy shit!’ I pull out my phone, and I call to dial 911, and all of a sudden, it’s over, and the guy is gone.”

Although Cox is safe and unharmed, and her friend is also fine, the random attack obviously left the Orange is the New Black star upset and shaken. She reminded her 4.4 million followers on Instagram of the staggeringly high rates of hate-motivated violence trans people face every day.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 39 trans or gender non-conforming Americans were violently killed in 2020 alone. Black, trans women like Cox are also disproportionately impacted by this epidemic of violence.

“It’s not safe in the world,” Cox said. “I don’t like to think about that a lot, but it’s the truth. It’s not safe if you’re a trans person. Obviously, I know this well. It’s just really sad. It doesn’t matter who you are. You can be Laverne Cox, you know, or whatever that means. If you’re trans … you’re going to experience stuff like this.”

Related Article: Laverne Cox: A Trailblazer for Trans Representation

Cox ended the IGTV video by reassuring trans people that transphobic encounters are not their fault.

“We were walking in the park. We weren’t doing anything. I think it’s important for me to remind you, and to remind myself, that when these things happen, it isn’t your fault. That there are people who are not cool with you existing in the world. If something like this happens to you, be as safe as you can.”

OUT FRONT recently had the opportunity to interview Cox where she talked about her involvement in Netflix’s documentary Disclosure.

The entire OUT FRONT team sends their love and well wishes to Cox and her friend.