‘Orange Is The New Black’ Actress Laverne Cox To Host New MTV Documentary ‘The T Word’

“Orange Is The New Black” star Laverne Cox is taking a prison break to appear on a new documentary as her sassy, beautiful and transgender self. According to Entertainment Weekly, Cox, who plays the Emmy Award-winning, transgendered character Sophia Burset on the Netflix original series, will be hosting and producing the upcoming MTV/Logo special, “The T Word.” The program is set to air Friday, Oct. 17, the day after national LGBT Spirit Day.

The hour-long event will follow seven transgender individuals each hailing from New York, New Orleans and Baltimore and ranging from the ages 12 to 24. The documentary will share their raw stories of the obstacles they’ve faced as well as the most joyous moments of their lives thus far.

Cox explained that while it’s important to open the conversation about the crisis of anti-transgender bullying and violence that she also wants to bring to light the strength and courage from the LGBT community of how they proudly embrace themselves.

“For many of us, the ‘T’ in LGBT means more than transgender, it also means truth,” Cox said. “The cast members in this documentary are fearlessly living their truths and in sharing their stories will send the message to other trans youth that it’s okay to be who you are.”

“The T Word” was created by MTV to be a part of the Look Different campaign, a multi-year initiative to fight “prejudices based on gender and sexual identity, as well as race,” according to Entertainment Weekly. Following the documentary’s premiere Cox and SuChin Pak will host an hour-long “Trans Forum” where they will take questions from audience members and through social media

“Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word” will air on MTV on Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. EDT.