Hear Laverne Cox Sing ‘Sweet Transvestite’ From ‘Rocky Horror’
Laverne Cox will be making Rocky Horror Picture Show fans shiver with “antici- [say it!] -pation” next week when she stars in a remake of the film as its sex-crazed, diabolical Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Audio of the actress singing the character’s funky and flamboyant introductory theme, “Sweet Transvestite” is now streaming. It features a heavier beat and more horns than the version Tim Curry sang while playing the role in the original 1975 film.
Cox, who is transgender and an outspoken activist for transgender rights, parsed the term “transvestite,” which she described as an “antiquated term that trans folks certainly don’t use,” with Vanity Fair, which premiered the song. “I had a conversation [with director] Kenny [Ortega],” she said. “We talked about the word ‘transvestite.’ Historically, the terms have changed [and] it doesn’t mean the same thing today that it meant in the Seventies. It’s not appropriate to refer to trans people as a transvestite [today], but it is [used here as] the character in that specific moment in history.”
In another interview with The New York Times, Cox discussed the current election, Donald Trump’s treatment of the trans community and how she considers a lot of his rhetoric racist. “It’s not a dog whistle; it’s a bark,” she said of his questionable views on race. “And I think Republicans are trying to use trans as a wedge issue, the same way they used gay marriage in the last election.” She said she’d be voting for Hillary Clinton.