Laverne Cox, who is best known for her portrayal of Sophia Burset in the hit TV series 'Orange is the New Black' and for being the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award is now hosting a documentary about America's transgender youth.

The documentary entitled "The T word" features, Avery Grey, a 21-year old transgender woman from Long Island who started identifying herself as a female at the young age of 15.

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She talks about being discriminated whenever she applied for jobs or when she was simply shopping at the mall.

Cox, who is a transgender activist said "Its about adding more voices into the conversation about the transgender people around the world. We wanted to give a more diverse picture showing how life is like for people who are transgender and living their reality.'

She also added "We can say that what we have been through is a safe place. It's when we're vulnerable that we connect with other people and if we start connecting to each other as people that is when social change and acceptance can happen."

The documentary does not touch the topic of gender transition and reassignment surgery, but instead, shows the relationship between the young trans and their families.

"It is not about what is in their pants" Cox says about the youth featured in the documentary "It's about what is in their hearts and their minds. When you get to know the kids we have in the documentary, you just have to love them and empathize with their stories and their struggles in life living as a transgender."

"The T Word" which was produced by Laverne herself, will premiere on MTV and Logo TV on Friday at 7p.m.

TagsLaverne Cox