Laverne Cox is making headlines again, but this time it is not for her acting or activism. The Emmy-winning actress recently addressed public reactions to her past relationship with a man she described as a MAGA Republican and a New York City police officer. The conversation came up during a July 21 Instagram video promoting her upcoming one-woman show Gurrl, How Did I Get Here?, which hits New York City on July 28.
Cox shared that the relationship was serious and lasted years, even though their political beliefs were far apart. They first connected on a dating app, and she says she had no idea about his politics or his job when they started talking. In fact, he initially told her he worked in a different field. Instead of letting politics shut the door, she made the choice to focus on who he was as a person.
“I fell in love with a human being who had different politics,” Cox explained. “The good things about that relationship were so good that I was willing to work with the politics I did not agree with.” She described the experience as healing but admitted that, in the end, their differences in core values were too big to ignore. “Lines had to be drawn. I had to set boundaries.”
Not everyone took the news lightly. After the video, some questioned if dating someone with opposing political beliefs went against her advocacy for social justice. In a follow-up livestream, Cox pushed back on that idea. She made it clear she does not support extremist ideologies and stressed the importance of not mirroring the dehumanizing tactics of those she speaks out against.
“We have to fight fascism,” she said, “but I hope that we are not dehumanizing people with different beliefs the way they are dehumanizing us.” She quoted writer Audre Lorde, reminding viewers that “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.”
Actor Indya Moore stepped in on social media to defend her, calling the backlash cruel and pointing out that personal relationships are rarely simple. Cox encouraged anyone with opinions about her past to come hear the full story at her live show, where she plans to speak openly about what she learned from that chapter of her life.
