Earlier this week, America’s Next Top Model contestant Isis King, actress Laverne Cox and other “trailblazers in the transgender community” (like actress Harmony Santana who made her debut in the Sundance Film Fetsival’s Gun Hill Road and Chaz Bono) appeared on a panel to discuss being transgender in America. CNN anchor Don Lemon served as guest host on the Joy Behar Show and moderated the discussion.

Each woman shared her personal story, including struggles she faced growing up. Laverne spoke about the transphobia she internalized as a child. Harmony and Isis spoke about being homeless.

Laverne recounted, “I went to the therapist, and I remember the therapist asking if I knew the difference between a boy and girl. In my infinite wisdom as an eight-year-old, I said, I don`t think there is a difference. Up until that time, everyone of telling me I was a boy, but I always felt like I was a girl inside.”

Isis also reflected on what it was like growing up without transgender role models: “I lived a life as I guess as a, quote, ‘gay male’ because at that point, I didn`t have any role models as trans. I didn`t even think it would be possible for me to make a big step like that. So living in Maryland where I lived where there were only maybe one or two gay people in school, how could I come out as being trans on top of that when that was such a minority group? So I lived that life.”

Read more about the segment at the Joy Behar Show.

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