Laverne Cox recounts a childhood in Mobile, Alabama, marked by early expressions of her identity. At eight, she cherished a geisha fan, using it for imaginative play and performances. Her enjoyment of the fan led to public humiliation at school by her teacher, Mrs. Ridgeway. The teacher then contacted Cox's mother, Gloria, who reacted with anger and shame. Gloria recounted a story about another effeminate child ending up on the streets. This incident, coupled with her mother's frequent homophobic slurs, deeply impacted Cox. Her mother subsequently enrolled her in conversion therapy, which proved ineffective. The therapy reinforced Cox's feelings of being flawed and unlovable. Tragically, three years later, Cox attempted suicide due to this profound distress.