Interview: Laverne Cox trans-forms television on "Diddy"

On his new reality show "I Want to Work for Diddy," uber-successful rap producer and entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs asks his aspiring assistants if they want to make history.

One, in particular, has already made it, just by appearing on the program. Her name is Laverne Cox, and she's transgendered.

Sure, in recent years we've seen glimpses of trans model Claudia Charriez on "America's Next Top Model" and "Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" (although she was eventually kicked off both shows because she was transgendered). Candis Cayne's currently on "Dirty Sexy Money," and "ANTM" is being more inclusive this upcoming season with MTF model Isis. Still, trans television personalities are few and far between.

So when Laverne Cox tells Diddy's assistant panel: "I'm so excited for the historic potential of someone like Mr. Combs saying to someone like me, a transgendered woman, I'd like for you to come and work for me" during her first challenge -- the all-important job interview -- she has made the understatement of the century.

As one of 13 applicants competing in grueling physical, mental and emotional challenges for the honor of being Diddy's assistant, a position that for many before them has been the springboard for other entertainment industry careers in and out of the Bad Boy/Sean John empire, Cox is not only making transgendered individuals more visible; she's also changing the way in which they are portrayed.

I chatted with this aspiring assistant about wanting to work for Diddy, being a trans person on reality TV, ENDA and the future of Transamerica.

Laverne, call me lazy, but after watching episode one, where to learn "The Art of Multitasking" you contestants worked your asses off, doing a zillion tasks in just 24 hours, I do not want to work for Diddy.  I was tired just watching you.

It's all that. You got the right impression. People have asked me, "Were you really up for 24 hours?" We absolutely were, and it was absolutely stressful. And there were so many things they didn't show during the insanity of it all.

But it was also very rewarding, at the same time, because I'm going through with my dream. I've wanted to be in the entertainment industry my entire life, and I have acting experience, a CD, and have been producing a documentary, called "t." So working with someone like Mr. Combs, who's at the top, is the most amazing opportunity.

Mr. Combs, as you call him, seems pretty intimidating, on and off the show. I mean, the lesson in episode two is "no bitchassness allowed." At the end of the day, is all this worth it in order to work for someone so demanding?

Yes, but in a way it's scary, because he demands perfection -- which is something I'm interested in, too. It's scary because he needs a lot for this empire, but it's also really inspiring.

From the little contact we've had, he's such an inspiration that you want to wash the car and make him happy because you believe in his vision. You don't want to screw up. It's not about being scared, but about being inspired.

You do exude grace under fire, especially when considering the circumstances.

You'll see I don't always, because there are moments I'm not able to. But when you work assisting someone (which I've done before in a more limited capacity), you have to be calm. If you're frantic, then it sort of sets the tone for the people around you. You have to be as calm and relaxed as possible, so the person you're working for is not stressed out. If you stay calm, then you create the sense that you got it taken care of.

I'm a pretty emotional person, so I'll speak out. But at the end of the day, it's not about me; it's about the vision Mr. Combs has that spans music, TV, fashion and booze, about bringing something that does not exist, about a vision that's bigger than you.

What about your competitor Kim, aka Poprah? It's crazy how she acts on that show, especially in that first elimination.

Since I was on the winning team, I wasn't there for that. But [watching the show] I was sitting there like, "Wow, she did good in that situation." And she was scary. I was scared of Poprah, but she handled her business.

But you're fearless in your quest to trans-form the media. What does doing this show mean for you as a trans person?

This is really huge for me, personally. I've gotten so many emails and comments from people. A young man named Johnny wrote to me saying, "It's weird, but I didn't like people like you before I saw the show. But you changed my mind." And he wished me the best.

Mr. Combs is giving me an opportunity that can change the way people see trans people of color.  I have a dream and am very ambitious, but if I can change the way people perceive trans people of color in this country, that's something hugely important to me.

For years I've been involved in the LGBT community -- doing activist stuff, writing. I've hosted "Out at the Center" -- I've been the rotating host for two years, and worked for trans civil rights, and representation and visibility. For someone who is in the entertainment business, having trans people being represented in more humanized ways is so important.

Someone like Mr. Combs, I knew he had such vision and wants to make history on a political level, by bringing to hip hop and America an awareness of trans issues not around in a mainstream media context.

That's a tall order considering how homophobic and trans-phobic hip hop has been, historically.

In many cases it is. To keep it real, there's a lot of homophobia and transphobia in hip hop and rap, which is why what he's doing is so huge. It's so brave to say that it's an important thing that Bad Boy hires based on ability rather than sexual orientation or gender. It's about heart and what you bring to the table rather than how you look And it's starting to change, cause of Mr. Combs saying that it's not about gender identity. I have a dream that the entire country will move to a state of seeing people as human beings.

OK, so Mr. Combs was open to the idea of working with a trans person, but how about your fellow contestants?

My experience was so positive. Of course in the heat of competition things are said and we get into it with each other, especially with me being a trans woman. Many people never meet someone transgendered, and people are prejudiced because they just don't know anybody. I'm curious to see what's been said behind my back, but it's still all good.

A lot of times people just don't know, but it's partially my job to make them aware and educated, and some got the awareness and education that they've never had before.

But hopefully, America will get to know someone trans in a way that's complicated. It's usually in limited kinds of ways, but here it's me: the good, the bad and the ugly.

So tell us more about you. What is your current romantic situation?

I'm happily single for two and a half years -- and loving it.

Were you attracted to anyone on the show?

No, and I'm glad that I wasn't, because it's a big distraction. I am a big ol' flirt, so I was really happy because I was able to focus.

Not even your fellow competitor Rob?

I found Rob to be very articulate, intelligent and thoughtful. Because I was on the other team, there was not tons of interaction. I found him to be a very smart, thoughtful guy, with really white teeth. He's very attractive and a really awesome guy.

Does his being gay ever come into play on the show?

It does. You'll see in [the Aug. 11] episode that's there's a whole conversation about that. It's interesting that he's also in the army. Obviously I know tons of gay people, living in New York City, but the fact that you have a gay man in the army, it's an interesting thing for me. Me, personally, I respect what the military is doing for us overseas, but "don't ask, don't tell" I find problematic and troubling.

How did you respond to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)'s exclusion of trans people?

I have always had this thing about employment, because trans people need to work like anybody else. They don't have employment nondiscrimination in this country, so it's a bigger issue for trans people. People need to look at people based on merit, and then gender won't factor in. I dream that we'll actually have employment nondiscrimination protection from the government, but we have to start with education.

When they decided to drop trans people from the bill, [Rep.] Barney Frank said that Congress was not educated -- but America's not educated. We have to take the time to educate people, because protection without education doesn't work, because as with racism, in order to make strides, people who are prejudiced have to change their hearts and minds.

That's why shows like this are important. People have never seen someone like me before on television. I've never seen anyone like me before on TV -- and I watch a lot of TV. That's why the media is really important. But educating congress and the citizens of America are a few different things that have to happen.

How close are we to seeing real progress in trans rights, in your opinion?

I think things will be different in five years. I think there will be major change, but we need more education first to make people more accepting and aware. There's a lot at stake; our lives are at stake. There's so much violence against trans people, especially trans women of color. But we definitely have the right to live, get medical treatment and have jobs.

Who are you working for now? Anyone we've heard of?

You're gonna have to watch the show to find out about the winner. It's a very good show, and it's exciting to see what happened. There is some juicy stuff, with a lot of colorful people, with big personalities, who all want to win, and the conflicts that have ensued.

So it's really all about the show. I want to work for Diddy. But I'm waiting for the show to be over, so the person who gets the job gets to start.

In the meantime, I'm in the process of trying to do as much educational stuff as possible. On lavernecox.com, there's some great educational stuff -- like a lexicon of terms, so people understand the difference between "transvestite," "transgender" and "transsexual."

I know you've done some acting on "Law and Order: SVU" and in the film "The Kings of Brooklyn," as well as music. Are you currently pursuing any of your entertainment industry dreams?

I'm working on some music, working as an actress, taking classes and auditioning. But my whole life is contingent on working for Diddy. I have to give up a lot of things to take on the job, so I have to talk about everything else when we know.

New episodes of "I Want To Work For Diddy" air Mondays at 9p.m. For more information on "I Want To Work For Diddy", please log on to workfordiddy.vh1.com.