Quotes from Dominique Jackson

Trans people have been repeatedly told that we don't have the right to live. And Black people have been told that by our slave masters and continue to be told that by society. We have, generationally, bled this kind of hatred.

When I would walk down the runway back in the late 90s, I could feel the tension from others who knew I was transgender. I could see the joy on the faces of people from my community, elated to see someone represent them.

It's been a long road of self-transformation for me, and I'm so grateful for the care I received at NYU Langone with Dr. Rachel Bluebond-Langer, one of the best transgender surgery specialists in the country.

My childhood had extremely difficult moments and some trauma but there were also amazing moments and times of pure happiness.

I came to be a part of the ballroom scene in late 1993. I was living in Baltimore, and i was going through that phase in high school when no one understood me. I was sneaking out of my house to go to this group that was for gay-identified people, and I just didn't fit in.

Women are very different, but the woman I wish to be is the ultra-femme girl, and it's not something that's instilled in me, it's just something that when I look in the mirror, it's how I want to present myself.

Mr. Murphy is really, really amazing. I have admired him from the time that I saw the first season of 'American Horror Story.' I watched 'Glee,' but once I saw 'American Horror Story,' I was like: 'I'm working for him.'

You're actually putting someone down by saying that you don't understand their culture and hence it's not normal. Perhaps some things we find 'new' were simply things we were ignorant to earlier.

When I was introduced to balls, it was only in New York, now it's spreading everywhere. I couldn't be happier.

We're trying to humanize the trans community. It's about showing us as normal, everyday human beings who just happen to be trans.

Being on 'Pose' for me has now allowed me to realize how important my culture is. It's made me realize how important the struggles that everyone has gone through are, and now we are able to tell that story.

We have to continue to empower each other... we do not have to live in this marginalisation, we do not have to live in oppression, but our fight to get out of it is not going to be an easy one.

Strut' was an amazing experience, but it was also a learning experience, because reality TV can be crazy.

A lot of us just want to lead normal, regular lives. I want to go in for a role and if I can play that part, my trans identity shouldn't affect me.

It is extremely important for trans people to be visible.

If your community tells you that you're an abomination, that you're nothing and, because of who you are, you'll never amount to anything, why would you love yourself? Why would you save money? Why would you set goals?