00:00You're participating in the Future of Trans Visibility panel here today.
00:04How do you hope conversations like this one push trans visibility in Hollywood forward?
00:08I hope in a conversation like this that people within the industry realize that we need to
00:13take a stand against any cultural backlash that we're experiencing and that culture is
00:16what really pushes us forward.
00:18It pushes legislation forward.
00:20So the more authentic representation that we have, the more truth and the vibrancy in
00:24our lives that people can see, I think the better impact it's going to have directly
00:28on the lives of trans people in this country.
00:29And the rest of the people in this country.
00:31Because what affects us as trans people and our rights has an impact on everyone else's
00:35rights as well.
00:36So when we all realize how much we have in common and that we're all fighting for the
00:39same thing, we progress as a culture.
00:43We're at the Raising Our Voices event.
00:45What's your message to allies in Hollywood?
00:47Why is now the time for them to raise their voices and speak out about trans rights?
00:52Now is the time to raise your voice because again, there's a sound check going on.
00:57Now is the time to stand up and raise their voices along with ours because again, what
01:02happens to trans folks affects everyone.
01:05And if they attack us and they attack our rights, they're opening the door to attack
01:08everyone else's rights.
01:10So this is the time to take a stand and say that we respect and we support everyone in
01:14this country and everybody wants to be entertained.
01:17It's our job to provide entertainment for everyone.
01:20And that means showing authentic representation of all the diverse groups of people here and
01:24taking a stand whenever anyone is feeling themselves being sort of attacked or pushed
01:29down.
01:30This event is all about accessibility, representation, equity and diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
01:36How would you say that embracing those principles makes the content coming out of Hollywood
01:40just better?
01:41Well, you can see all the shows that have come out, whether it's Pose or Transparent
01:45or Baby Reindeer, have had a big impact.
01:48They've been profitable.
01:49They've been popular.
01:50And whenever you show true, authentic voices, it's so nuanced that it speaks to what's universal
01:55in all of us, right?
01:56So we don't need to have niches because again, what happens in our community, what impacts
02:01us, what we care about, what we're concerned about is the same thing that everybody else
02:04is going through.
02:05But when you get to look at it through a different perspective, sometimes it hits you a little
02:08bit differently.
02:09Sometimes you can really come to understand something when you see it through somebody
02:12else's eyes or when you take a walk in someone else's shoes.
02:14And again, that's the power of media.
02:16That's the power and what's beautiful about television and about film.
02:19It gives you an opportunity to walk in someone else's shoes and teach you something about
02:23yourself.
02:24For you, the final season of 9-1-1 Lone Star is about to premiere at the end of this month.
02:29What are you excited for fans of the show to see in the new season?
02:32I'm so excited for people to see just how much each character has grown and the new
02:35challenge that they're going to face this season.
02:37I mean, of course, you're going to have the explosions.
02:39You're going to have the crazy disasters.
02:41But there's a lot of personal, interpersonal stuff going on between all the characters.
02:45I'm particularly excited about seeing what's going to play out between Paul and Marjan
02:48in the first couple episodes, you know, from besties to rivals, I think is a real fun story
02:53to play out.
02:54And they do not disappoint in how they explore that this season.
02:57Finally, what are you going to miss most about being on the show?
03:00I'm going to miss going to work with my family and friends.
03:02We really grew together as a unit.
03:04The storytelling has been amazing and powerful throughout the five seasons, but we really
03:07bonded.
03:08I mean, we've gone through a pandemic together.
03:10We've gone through strikes together.
03:11We've gone through disasters, you know, real and fictionalized.
03:15And it just really brought us together as a family.
03:16And I just enjoyed going to work every day with everyone on it.
03:18So I'm going to miss that.
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