Indya Moore: “We need people to care about us”

The star of Pose opens up about being black and transgender

BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS, IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM

Indya Moore has soared to stardom over the past few years in the hit show Pose, which is all about 80s ballroom culture and centres trans women of colour.

Moore is also, as they put it, “a black trans person from the Bronx who comes from poverty”, who is non-binary and uses “they” pronouns.

Starring as Pose’s Angel, a streetwise sex worker full of romantic dreams and fluffy coats, Moore stands as a firm champion of marginalised voices, doing everything they can to challenge negative beliefs and represent their community. 

Pose is revolutionary for television because in Moore’s words: “It’s giving people an insight [into the] experiences of people they’ve never met before, right on their living-room screens.”

Chatting to Another Mag, Indya spoke of their experiences growing up with extreme gender dysphoria. 

“I was always just very upset because I felt like there was nothing in this society that made me feel like it was OK for me to be me.”

Moore also spoke about the importance of identifying with trans characters: “We need people to care about us. No one’s ever going to care about us if the only things they know about trans people are [from] Maury and Jerry Springer, if the only thing people know about trans people is fear.”

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Thank you Aree, for sharing your keepsake earings so I could bring my sister’s with me tonight. Just Like me these women dare to exhaust their freedom to exist by being visible, however, instead of being celebrated, they were punished for it. While we make up .6 percent of the American population, The life expectancy of trans women/femmes is 35 years old. Existence that requires bravery is not freedom. A life that requires bravery is not free. I accept this award in honor of the truth that The best award and the award we all deserve is to be able to get home safe. I accept this award in good faith that my recognition doesn’t lead to the Erasure of other trans and GNC folks who also deserve health care, housing safety in visibility, magazine covers, runways, leading film and tv roles, doctorates degrees, high school diplomas, college educations and representation everywhere. Jewelry @kbhjewels Make up @aerieldandrea Hair @monaeartistry Style @iancogneato dress @oscardelarenta repost • @beadsbyaree The first “Keepsake” earring was created to honor my Iya (godmother) who passed this April. Not knowing what to do in the darkest times of my life, I held on to love. I was inspired by love and representation of it. In each frame I inserted images of my sisters who my Iya has raised. They carry her in their faces and are a reminder of her presence to me simply by being themselves. We’re all entangled. We may look like one person but we show up as many. @iancogneato contacted me with a mission for the earrings. He was prepping @indyamoore to receive the honor of Cover of the Year for ELLE at @dailyfrontrow. They wanted to pay tribute to and also build awareness for the 16 (now 17) trans women who were murdered this year in the USA. The issue is so pressing that after creating the earring and three days before the event, Bailey Reeves, a 17 year old girl from Baltimore was killed. For her, Indya carried a frame around with her face. @indyamoore’s jewelry served as an altar and their speech was both a prayer for the future and a call to action. In their hour of celebration they put their trans sisters in the forefront.

A post shared by IAM (@indyamoore) on Sep 6, 2019 at 6:59am PDT

Indya recently wore earrings with portraits of murdered trans women to Daily Front Row’s  annual Fashion Media Awards. The earrings comprised of portraits of the 16 black transgender women who have been murdered in the US so far in 2019. 

Speaking at the event, Indya said: “Trans people deserve safety, acknowledgement and respect.” It was a particularly poignant moment, full of respect and honour for the trans community.

If you want to see more of Indya’s incredible work, follow their Instagram where they dedicate their presence to discussing trans issues and trans activism. 

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