Laverne Cox has warned that trans people are increasingly being “dehumanised”, saying hostile rhetoric and political attacks risk stripping an already marginalised community of dignity and safety.
Speaking in connection with her latest project - an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm - the US actress and activist said the themes of the novel felt particularly resonant as trans people face mounting backlash in public debate and policy-making.
Cox, who became the first openly transgender actor nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in Orange Is the New Black, said Orwell’s exploration of power, propaganda and the erosion of empathy offers a stark warning for the present moment. She argued that the framing of entire groups as threats or abstractions makes it easier for society to ignore their humanity.
“Dehumanisation is always a precursor to violence and injustice,” Cox said, adding that language used about transgender people often reduces them to political talking points rather than individuals with lived experiences.
Cox’s comments come amid intensified debates over trans rights across the globe, particularly around healthcare, education and public participation. While she did not single out specific governments, Cox said she was concerned by what she described as a “dangerous pattern” in which misinformation and fear are used to justify exclusionary policies.
The star stressed that dehumanisation does not begin with physical violence but with words. “It starts with jokes, lies and distorted narratives,” she said, warning that once empathy is lost, “cruelty becomes easier to rationalise”.
Cox voices a character in the new animated version of Animal Farm, Orwell’s 1945 allegory about totalitarianism and the corruption of revolutionary ideals. She said the story’s depiction of how language is manipulated to control populations felt urgently relevant.
“Orwell shows us how easily people can be convinced to turn on one another when those in power rewrite reality,” Cox said, noting that marginalised groups are often the first to be scapegoated.
She added that stories, whether literary or cinematic, play a crucial role in challenging dehumanisation by reminding audiences of shared humanity. “Art can either reinforce stereotypes or break them down,” she said.
Cox has long been one of the most prominent voices advocating for trans rights in the entertainment industry and beyond. As the first trans woman of colour to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television series, she has frequently used her platform to discuss discrimination, mental health and violence affecting trans communities.
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