Laith Ashley continues to make a lasting impact as a trailblazing trans figure in the entertainment industry. As an actor and model, Ashley has appeared in notable productions including Pose,Strut, and AllBlk’s Wicked City. Most recently, he reached a wider audience with his appearance in Taylor Swift's self-directed music video for “Lavender Haze,” where he played the leading role opposite the pop icon.
Reflecting on his decade-long journey in the industry, Ashley speaks candidly about how his perspective has evolved over time. “The 10-years I've been in this industry, I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy the journey because I was so focused on the next thing that I didn't appreciate the gifts that I was experiencing throughout. So now that I'm a little bit older and I'm looking back at my trajectory, I'm just grateful that I got the opportunity to do what I've been able to do.”
Ashley currently stars in Unconventional, a comedy series streaming on the LGBTQ+ streaming service Revry. The ensemble cast includes Kit Williamson, James Bland, Kathy Griffin, Beau Bridges, and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Willam Belli. The show follows two queer siblings and their respective partners — one of whom is the sperm donor to the other’s wife — offering a layered look at family, relationships, and identity. Ashley plays Dell, a trans man navigating struggles with self-identity and substance use.
Laith AshleyChelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images
“I think it goes there. This is a very, very gay story. Something like this in mainstream television might feel too much for folks. Even talking about substance abuse is sometimes something that could be very taboo within our community. But it's something that I think is very important, because it's not to elicit shame in any type of way.”
At the core of Unconventional is an exploration of chosen family—a recurring and meaningful theme for many within the LGBTQ+ community.
“It's that a lot of us, as queer people, who have been pushed to the margins, have been, ostracized from their families, the people that were supposed to love us unconditionally and take care of us. We are able to maybe come out out of that with our own chosen families, but sometimes those are also a hot mess, to say the least.”
Unconventional is streaming on Revry.
