In a beautiful post on her personal Tumblr today, BUST cover girl Laverne Cox saluted Caitlyn Jenner’s bravery, character, and beauty — on the inside and out. Cox echoed commenters’ praise, love, and support for Jenner, while also adding her own perspective on the cis-normative beauty standards perpetuated by the media.
“In certain lighting, at certain angles,” says Cox, “I am able to embody certain cis-normative beauty standards.” In order to continue to lift up the trans community, she tells us, “we need diverse media representations of trans folk to multiply trans narratives in the media and depict our beautiful diversities.”
Noting that many trans folk do not have the resources — nor the desire — to embody certain definitions of beauty, Cox says, “these standards are also informed by race, class and ability among other intersections.”
“Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I now have,” says Cox. “It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up… those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class… I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are.”
Yes, yes, yes. Read the full post here.
