Laverne Cox, acclaimed actress and LGBTQ+ advocate, has candidly shared the tumultuous experiences of her childhood in her upcoming memoir, “Transcendent,” set for release on 9 June. The 54-year-old, best known for her role in the hit series “Orange Is the New Black,” details the painful time when her mother placed her and her twin brother, Lamar — now known as artist M Lamar — in an orphanage for what Cox insists was a month.
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In an interview with PEOPLE, Cox reflects on the emotional turmoil of being left in the orphanage, a period she describes as one of immense abandonment and unworthiness. “I felt abandoned, unlovable and discarded,” she stated. Despite these feelings, Cox hopes her story will resonate with others who may have faced similar challenges, offering a sense of connection and understanding.
Cox’s memoir delves into her upbringing in Mobile, Alabama, where she was raised by her single mother, Gloria, who juggled four jobs to provide for the family. The household environment was fraught with tension. Cox recounts vivid memories of her mother’s threats to evict them from their home, escalating to the point where Gloria dropped the twins off at their father’s residence.
It was there that their father made a lasting impact on Cox and Lamar with a derogatory remark. Referring to them as “f—-g freaks” during their singular encounter left the twins feeling further alienated. Following this experience, the twins were taken to a police station by their father’s partner and ended up in an orphanage.
Cox recalls her mother’s assertion that their stay would last only a week, but her memories conflictingly indicate a much longer stay. “It’s nice to have a twin brother I can check with and be like, ‘It was a month, right?’” she explained, highlighting the importance of her shared experiences with Lamar in affirming her reality.
Revisiting the trauma associated with her childhood, including episodes of bullying and isolation, proved to be an emotionally taxing process for Cox as she penned her memoir. “To actually tell that orphanage story was triggering. It was re-traumatizing. I was just back there again,” she shares, underlining the lasting impact of these formative experiences.
Despite the pain tied to her past, Cox expresses hope for those who may yet struggle with similar feelings of abandonment. “I think that’s the reason to tell any of these stories — hopefully, someone will read them and feel less alone,” she affirmed. Her narrative aims to foster a sense of belonging and comfort for those grappling with their identities.
In addition to sharing her struggles, Cox is also eager to convey the joy she has found in her journey. As she reflects on her life now, she hopes to inspire others through her happiness. “I hope my joy is something that can become infectious and people can partake in,” she says, promoting a message of resilience and positivity.
As the memoir’s release date approaches, Cox’s revelations promise to not only highlight the obstacles she has overcome but also encourage readers to embrace their own stories, no matter how daunting they may initially seem. With “Transcendent,” Laverne Cox aims to illuminate the complexities of her life, paving a pathway for others to step forward with their own narratives.