Pre-Caitlin Jenner, before even Chaz Bono, there was Alexis Arquette. The utterly unique trans hero that no one’s heard of, she fought for trans rights before many even realised they needed fighting for.
Still not sure who she is? You may remember her as the Boy George lookalike from The Wedding Singer, or even the wannabe criminal in Pulp Fiction, but, then again… perhaps not. Alexis was born Robert Arquette in 1969. Though she was fourth of the five A-list Arquettes (Rosanna, Patricia, Richmond and David are her famous siblings), Alexis was an actress, cabaret performer and fearless activist who most of us have never heard of – probably because the roles weren’t there for her to take. In 2006, in her late 30s, Alexis began hormone treatments to transition from male to female. She died on 11th September 2016 from an AIDs related illness, at just 47 years old.
1. She forged her own path, fearlessly
Despite being the sibling of an Oscar-winner, a star of Desperately Seeking Susan and the former husband of Courtney Cox, Alexis blazed her own path in Hollywood. Starring in over 40 films, despite roles for trans actors being near non-existent, her steadfast ambition to have a career her way is something anyone can admire.
2. She proved gender truly is a spectrum
Alexis’ transgender story began when she told her sister, at 13, that she was born in the wrong body: that she was actually a woman. Surprisingly, her brother revealed after Alexis’ death that she spent the last few years of her life identifying as a man. Alexis refused to settle in a gender she didn’t feel herself in, stating that 'sometimes I’ll be a man, sometimes I’ll be a woman. I like to be refer to myself as gender suspicious.' She proved it doesn’t matter who or what you choose to live your life as, because life is too short not to live your truth.
3. She fought her corner for the LGBTQ community
She may not have been ex to the most famous Momager on Planet Earth, or the child of Cher, but Alexis did all she could to promote equality and acceptance for the LGBTQ community. A longstanding activist who raised issues at public appearances and on shows like VH1’s The Surreal Life, her siblings described her as a 'vanguard in the fight for understanding and acceptance for all people.'
4. She raised awareness of transgender issues and the transitioning process
Appearing in films, red carpets, celebrity events and talk shows in full fabulous hair, makeup and clothing, Alexis was undoubtedly one of the first famous, and flamboyant, activists for transgender rights. A 2007 documentary, named Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother, was also the first of its kind, depicting her transition from male to female.
5. She refused to settle for trans or gay stereotype roles, no matter what
After her big-screen debut in cult classic Last Exit To Brooklyn, Alexis’ luck finding gay or trans roles that weren’t 'mincing, obnoxious queen[s]' soon dried up. In a statement by sister Patricia Arquette shortly after Alexis’ death, she states Alexis’ 'career was cut short, not by her passing, but by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman.'
A consolation for Alexis’ sad passing too soon, is perhaps the hope that her death’s last burst of awareness will bring more roles for LGBTQ actors. Roles which expand beyond the realms of ‘The Gay Best Friend’ and ‘Drag Queen 4,’ to force Hollywood to save those juicy Oscar nominated roles like cough The Danish Girl for the actors actually living it.
You Might Also Be Interested In:
Follow Mimi on Twitter:
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.