Television history was made Thursday night as ABC’s “Celebrity Family Feud” aired its first-ever episode featuring an all-transgender team. The team, called Team Laverne, included Laverne Cox, TS Madison, Mila Jam, Joslyn De Freece, and Miss Peppermint. These five women, all respected advocates and entertainers, competed to win $25,000 for the TS Madison Starter House, a reentry support program created in partnership with NAESM, the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities.
The TS Madison Starter House is part of the Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality, or SAFE. It serves as a transitional home for Black transgender women who are formerly incarcerated or have been impacted by the legal system. The program places a special emphasis on supporting those exiting sex work and aims to offer dignity, stability, and tools for long-term success.
In an exclusive interview, activist Dominique Morgan clarified that the Starter House is not about celebrity or status.
“We don’t want you coming there just because it is ‘The Chateau’ and connected to Madison,” Morgan said. “We want you there, because of you.” She also encouraged anyone interested in joining the program to take the initiative. “The best way to make sure that you are in a position to be selected in the Starter House is to get connected to NAESM now,” she advised.
The historic episode aired on July 31st at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and will be available for streaming on Hulu this Friday. This groundbreaking moment in television is not only about representation but also about supporting tangible change in the lives of Black trans women.
