Why Laverne Cox's 'The T Word' Is The Most Important Doco Of 2017
2017 has been a tough year for the transgender community. With Trump banning the community from serving in America's military, and the general Aussie sam sex marriage debate, the internet has been very vocal on the matter and not always in the most positive way. Enter: Laverne Cox. MTV teamed up with the actor to create the documentary "The T Word" which follows the lives of seven transgender young adults (ranging from 12-24 years of age), through their tears to their triumphs. Even though this doco was released back in 2014, the message is just as important and relevant today.
The doco covers all grounds from traditional teenage things, to the intricacies of what it's like to be transgender in a confused community. For example, after Kye (one of the seven subejcts of this documentary) finishes a game of basketball, he's met with confusion over his genitia over praise of his performance. This melancholy continues as Shane wonders if they'll ever find love saying, "Straight women are going to want to date a man, and lesbians are going to want to date a woman, so who's going to want to date [me]?"
Yes, T stands for transgender but to these seven individuals and Laverne Cox it's so much more personal. "Beyond truth and trans, one of the big Ts for me would probably be trying...I love the word trying. I'm trying. Because it's an emphasis on process and practice and not the result," the Orange is the New Black star told MTV.
Now more than ever, it's important to be accpeting and understanding of the Transgender community. Whilst the documentary is only an hour in length, its powerful message is likely to reside with anyone that watches it. With Laverne Cox - the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy - at the forefront of this documentary, this tv special isn't one to miss. But don't take it from us, check out America's wonderful reaction to "The T Word":
Don't forget to Enrol to Vote, so you can have your say to VOTE YES to same-sex marriage here by August 24th.
Catch The T Word airing tonight (August 21st) at 10:30pm - only on MTV!
- Haydn Hickson.
