People and pronouns Laverne Cox speaks at Pitt
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averne Cox’s identity — and her pronoun — are feminine, and she’s proud of both. Cox, an activist and actress on the hit Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” spoke to about 500 attendees at Alumni Hall about her experiences as a transgender black woman Monday. Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance hosted the event that drew crowds of students outside the building more than two hours before its 7:30 p.m. start. Cox spoke about her experiences from childhood to adulthood, including her time in school and church. She also discussed her spirituality, her gender transition and dealing with her mother’s acceptance of her gender. “My femininity could not be contained,” Cox said, referring to her time in school. One of Cox’s idols is abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who declared in her historic speech at the 1851 Women’s Convention, “Ain’t I a woman?” Cox repeated those words Monday as her own rally for her femininity. Allie McCarthy, president of the Rainbow Alliance at Pitt, said they booked Cox to speak because of her role as an LGBTQ activist. “We chose Laverne Cox because she has done a tremendous amount of activism for the trans community,” McCarthy said. “Although our mission is primarily to serve the queer community at Pitt, it is extremely important to us that all people hear about struggles that queer people have so that we can make an inclusive environment for all.” Sounds Like Treble, a female a capella group on campus, Sarita Brady, a Pitt student reciting her own poems, and performers Cox 3 from the Vagina Mono-
Nerine Sivagnanam Staff Writer
Alyson Derrick | Staff Photographer