
With roles in the hit series Transparent and indie feature Dope, actress Kiersey Clemons has already taken on some very complex characters.
Clemons, who plays a lesbian in Dope, talked about supporting the LGBTQ community, as well the importance of Feminism.
I felt like after I did Transparent I had a better understanding of the community and how long they’ve been fighting — not just for rights but to live, to be respected as human beings, because there are some people that look at our trans women and men and think they’re animals … I think even the people that support the LGBT community forget how deep it is. We have to keep fighting for understanding and it’s going to have to be consistent; it’s going to go on for a while. I’ve been really lucky to be able to do things like Dope and Transparent and not have to verbally say, “This is what I believe in; this is what I’m fighting for,” because I’m a part of those changes. Transparent has made such an impact and influenced people like Caitlyn Jenner who can now influence a bunch of other people — this domino effect.
Would you ever date someone who didn’t fuck with feminism?
Oh my God no. That sounds very unattractive, very limiting — I don’t like friction or limits. If I believed in something or supported other people that believed in something and I was dating someone that was like, “Meh, I don’t fuck with that,” I would be like, “Well, I don’t fuck with you.” [Laughs] It’s also hard to trust people when they’re not accepting of other people. For instance, if you’re dating a guy and he’s talking shit about other people and not allowing other people to be themselves it’s like, ew. I don’t want someone to just love me; they need to love other people too.

Photography & Fashion: Zara Mirkin / Make-up: Natasha Severino at Company 1 / Fashion Assistant: Travis Wheeler
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