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Laverne Cox is the newest cast member of The Daily Show

Laverne Cox is the newest cast member of The Daily Show

Laverne Cox is no stranger The Daily Showafter appearing on the show three times since 2016. But on Thursday, Cox debuted in a new role: Daily Show Contributor.

Held in honor of Spirit Day – which GLAAD describes as “the world's most visible anti-bullying movement, inspiring LGBTQ youth, particularly transgender and non-binary youth, to live their lives in their truth and authenticity.” the Emmy-nominated actor/activist Thursday night's “In My Opinion” comment.

Cox dominated the stage for more than 10 minutes, where she promptly lashed out at Republicans who have chosen to weaponize transphobia in the fight to take back the White House.

“When you think of bullying, you probably think it happens in schools. And you’re right,” Cox said, while a graphic explained that 52 percent of LGBTQ youth enrolled in middle or high schools reported being bullied. “But these days, bullying is also perpetrated by people much more immature than teenagers: politicians,” she explained.

After a brief overview of the more than 500 anti-LGBTQ laws passed in the US this year alone – including restricting what school teachers can say about gender identity, banning gender-affirming care for children under 18, and the Excluding trans youth from playing sports – Cox pointed out how much politicians can achieve if they really put their minds to it.

“Great job, lawmakers,” she said. “Thank you for ensuring schools do not teach about sexual orientation or gender identity. Because pretending trans kids don't exist means they disappear. Just like saying that climate change doesn't exist also means that it's going away. I guess we’ll never know why my tits sweat in December.”

Cox's evisceration continued for several more minutes — and she wasn't afraid to name names when it came to the lawmakers who are fighting the hardest to enforce their anti-LGBTQ ideologies. Underneath? Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which was particularly surprising to Cox. “The way this man is wearing a pair of high heels, you'd think he was an ally,” she admitted.

Ultimately, Cox suggested that we should “rehumanize” each other rather than dehumanize each other, and showed the audience how to do that by delivering a message directly to North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson about his recent porn scandal a declaration of love belonged to trans porn.

“I don’t see you as just another evil bigot hanging around NudeAfrica.com,” she told Robinson. “I see you as a human being with needs and hopes and, yes, contradictions like the rest of us. And also the ability to type very sharply with just one hand.”

Given the audience's thunderous applause, something tells us this won't be the last time Cox shares her “opinion.” The Daily Show— that's the same spot that Charlamagne the God regularly occupies, and where Leslie Jones, John Leguizamo and writer/comedian Ricky Velez have all taken turns at the mic this season.

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