He's not backing down.
Laith Ashley has become a household name in the modeling world thanks to his incredible catalog and a recent appearance in Taylor Swift's "Lavender Haze" music video.
The star recently chatted with PRIDE on the red carpet for the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Viewing Party.
"I'm living in it. I'm in awe all the time. I'm just happy to be here. I'm really grateful for the opportunities I'm getting. Representation is important, so that's what I'm here for," Ashley tells PRIDE.
With many anti-LGBTQ+ laws introduced across the country, Ashley is using his platform as a transgender man to stand up for the community.
"I'm here to advocate for myself and my community, especially with what's going on politically right now. It's very important that we're here and that we're loud about things. The folks that oppose us are being very loud. Anything I can do, anything I can say... I'm going to."
The supermodel is hoping his story can inspire younger trans people to stay resilient.
"I'm happy that I have the opportunity to speak on behalf of our community and also to help give voices to those who haven't had voices and have them step forward as well. You can be here too. You can do whatever it is you want to do. We represent fearlessness. We represent freedom."
As a community based on love and acceptance, Ashley wants to do his part to show the authentically beautiful parts that truly represent the LGBTQ+ community. "My community has supported me and my journey. When I thought I didn't have that support, they all showed up. I'm so grateful."
To see the full PRIDE interview with Laith Ashley, check out the video below.
