Laverne Cox 'Grateful' Katie Couric Show Allowed Her To Express Important Issues In Transgender Community (WATCH)

Laverne Cox appeared on the "Katie Couric Show" on Monday and explained to the world why questioning if a trans-person still has their gentalia is inappropriate.

Couric explained to the "Orange Is the New Black" actress that transgender model Carmen Carrera, who was also on the show, deflected the question relating to her body. Couric asked the question again to Cox, and the actress responded:

"I do feel there is a preoccupation with that. The preoccupation with transition and surgery objectifies trans people. And then we don't get to really deal with the real lived experiences. The reality of trans people's lives is that so often we are targets of violence. We experience discrimination disproportionately to the rest of the community. Our unemployment rate is twice the national average; if you are a trans person of color, that rate is four times the national average. The homicide rate is highest among trans women. If we focus on transition, we don't actually get to talk about those things."

Many have praised the actress since her comments aired on Monday, and Cox took to her official Tumbler account to reiterate what she wanted to express to Couric:

"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."

What do you think about Couric's question to Cox and Carrera? Let us know in the comments section below.

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