OITNB’s Laverne Cox speaks in Wichita

(Wichita) Laverne Cox, the openly transgender actress from the Netflix hit series “Orange Is the New Black,” is much more. She is also a writer, producer, and transgender advocate. On Wednesday, April 29, Cox spoke on “Ain’t I a Woman: My Journey to Womanhood,” at Wichita State University.

In the Netflix original series, Cox plays Sophia Burset, an incarcerated transgender woman of color. She is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show. She is the first trans woman of color to produce and star in her own television show, VH1’s TRANSForm Me, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Laverne is also the first trans woman of color to appear on an American reality television program, VH1’s I Wanna Work for Diddy, for which she accepted the GLAAD Award for Outstanding Reality Program. Laverne was named one of Out magazine’s “Out 100,” one of the country’s top 50 trans icons by The Huffington Post, and one of Metro Source magazine’s “55 People We Love.” Laverne’s critical writings have appeared in The Advocate and The Huffington Post. A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, Laverne holds a degree in Fine Arts.

In her speech, Cox explored how the intersections of race, class, and gender uniquely affect the lives of trans women of color.  Laverne draws from her own personal story and how issues of race, class, and gender affect how she has been able to navigate the world. From growing up in Mobile, Alabama and being raised by a single mother in a Christian family, to attending college in New York City to pursue a career as an actress, to finally finding the courage to step into the womanhood she always knew at heart was her destiny, Cox told the story of the unique challenges along her journey to womanhood, professional achievement, self-acceptance, and love.

In 2013 Laverne won Best Supporting Actress at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival for her work in the praised film Musical Chairs, directed by Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan). Laverne’s other acting credits include Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, HBO’s Bored to Death, and the independent films Carla and The Exhibitionists.

The Gayly – May 5, 2015 @ 12pm.