Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense interviews with transgender youth promote empathy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
If anyone knows about the struggles of transgender youth, it's actress Laverne Cox, whose breakthrough role in Orange Is the New Black ushered in a new public consciousness about gender identity. In LAVERNE COX PRESENTS: THE T WORD, Cox interviews seven young people about their lives, their problems, and their successes. From the importance of family support to the horrors of puberty to the words they'd prefer people not use about trans people, these young subjects, age 12 to 23, allow us a peek into their worlds. We meet their family members and romantic partners and hear about what it's really like to be young and trans in America.
Is It Any Good?
Calmly and with impressive aplomb, Cox addresses the camera directly to explain to viewers core concepts around trans identity. Why do some people opt to transition through surgery and hormone therapies while others don't? How is dating different, or the same, for trans and cisgender people? What types of violence do trans people experience at disproportionate rates? Given how comfortable Cox looks in front of the camera, perhaps it's only natural that her subjects would be natural and honest as well, opening up about their personal histories and their current struggles. Ari, for example, a teen trans man, has never had sex. He's had opportunities, but he's afraid that "a girl will put her hand in my pants and freak out. It's happened before. And it sucks."
Even more heartrending, Danielle, 20, recalls her rape and how the law enforcement response changed when they learned she was trans. Was she sure she wasn't doing sex work and something went wrong? Meanwhile, Shane, 23, is over the moon at finding a girlfriend, despite being told by his mom that no one would ever love him if he transitioned. When Shane was insecure about showing his naked body to his girlfriend, she reproved him: "Shane, you're not an alien. You're going to have parts I'm familiar with and that's fine." With just such tiny, personal anecdotes, these interviewees celebrate the humanity and resilience of its young subjects.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the issues uncovered in The T Word. Why do trans women face a higher risk of violence? Why are trans people more likely to attempt suicide? Why would families not accept one of their members?
How are trans people depicted on-screen? What are some movies or TV shows you've seen that have transgender characters? Are they portrayed with nuance?
Did watching The T Word teach you anything new about what it's like to be a young trans person? If yes, did it give you more empathy toward this community? If everything in the documentary sounded familiar to you already, where might you look for more in-depth information about trans experiences?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 17, 2014
- Cast : Laverne Cox , Kye Allums
- Networks : Logo , MTV
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Activism ( LGBTQ+ rights )
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 2, 2025
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