ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud made history Thursday by featuring its first-ever all-transgender team, led by Emmy-nominated actress and activist Laverne Cox. The team appeared on the popular game show to raise funds for the TS Madison Starter House, a nonprofit supporting Black transgender women impacted by sex work and the criminal justice system.
“We’re at Celebrity Family Feud, and I am here with my chosen family, my dear sisters Mila Jam, Joslyn De Freece, TS Madison, and Peppermint,” Cox shared in a pre-show Instagram video, introducing her fellow team members. Dubbed “Team Laverne,” the group competed on behalf of the Starter House project, an initiative led by TS Madison in partnership with the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities (NAESM).
“The TS Madison Starter House is a re-entry house for system-impacted trans women,” Madison explained, referring to its mission of providing housing and support for transgender women reentering society.
Cox brought energy and optimism to the event, exclaiming, “Hallelujah, honey! We’re gonna have some fun, we’re gonna make some money for charity, and we’re gonna look good doing it,” before joking with Madison about their on-camera appearance.
The lighthearted spirit continued into the episode, where host Steve Harvey asked Madison if he could call her “TS.” Madison responded playfully, “Of course. Listen, I take it short or long,” drawing laughter from the crowd and a stunned reaction from Harvey.
The team’s humorous and candid remarks, including jokes about gender confirmation surgery and body autonomy, added a unique dynamic to the show. At one point, Madison referred to her anatomy with a quip about naming it “Chucky,” prompting both cheers and stunned silence from the audience.
While some of the humor pushed boundaries, the episode marked a milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility on mainstream television and highlighted the intersection of entertainment and advocacy.
