Laverne Cox opens up about the “blessings” that come with being a transgender woman – including how it can protect one from narcissistic men.
“Being trans has helped me a lot with the Hollywood thing and not being too full,” Cox, 54, told Self. Us Weekly while promoting his new memo Extremecome out now. “It really tests you. Because I even think about all the women that I work with, in my age group or whatever, like – they're all, like, famous athletes, rappers. [and] actors make fun of me but they will never fall in love with me in public because I am a changeable person.”
Cox went on to say, “My infidelity has protected me from a lot of things that a lot of women in Hollywood go through that aren't good things — like a lot of narcissistic men. Rejection really is God's protection.”
Cox, who opens up about her traumatic upbringing and how she found healing and safety as a transgender woman in Hollywood, says an important part of her journey has been learning how to set healthy boundaries and sometimes avoid or cut out potentially toxic people — including men — in her life.
“Love for me is about going to the doctor, eating, getting enough sleep, but also people, places and things,” she explained. Us. “Who am I surrounded by? Do I have people in my life who suck me dry, who make me feel worthless, who start my patterns and, if these people can help me, I have to let those people go.”
Laverne Cox
Getty ImagesHe continued, “A lot of it was about letting go of certain types of people who are just toxic and bring out old trauma, or who don't have healthy boundaries.
In his memorial letter and on Wednesday, June 10, interview no The New York Times On the “Modern Love” podcast, Cox opened up about the pain of letting go of someone she felt was not helping her—her boyfriend of nearly four years, who she found out was an NYPD officer who voted for President. Donald Trump three times.
“I was happy with the man and you know, things were coming up and we could agree to disagree on some political things,” Cox said Wednesday. “He had problems but not, as annoying. He used to be like that, the way he grew up and the ways of behavior he was given, the information he used that was spread. So I tried to give him grace there.”
While talking only UsCox – who came out as a trans woman in 1999 while attending college in New York City – explained that there was a certain moment in her relationship with the officer that she realized there was a “soul connection” that transcended politics. At the same time, he realized that one's politics matter—especially when the policies they support or defend harm marginalized communities.
Laverne Cox steps away from the red carpet coverage of E! before the 2025 Golden Globes. “With an incredible amount of gratitude, I have decided not to return as a #LiveFromE red carpet host,” Cox, 52, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, January 2. “I'm incredibly proud of the work we've done in my three years. […]
“I believe that there is, as it were, a spiritual connection that we have beyond politics and history, but those things are real, aren't they?” he told Us. “Like, they let us know who we are. I couldn't build a relationship and build a life with him because of his politics, but that's not against soul connection, is it?”
She continued, “Those two things are different—the things that make up society, like me being a Black woman is only important because of the discrimination that black people face. Wouldn't it be great if we could live in a world without color, without gender? But we can't because of oppression.”
