Laverne Cox, an actress known for her role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix T.V. original series Orange Is the New Black, gave a speech about identity in Talley Student Union Ballrooms to more than 850 people Tuesday night.
The speech titled “Ain’t I a Woman: My Journey to Womanhood” encompassed Cox’s upbringing and how she managed to come to terms with her identity and realize the intricacies that make up her own identity and the identities of those around her.
Cox said she self-identifies as a “transgender woman of color.”
During the question and answer portion of her speech, multiple students asked Cox how she and her mother came to terms with Cox’s identity. Cox said multiple times that she was lucky to have a mother who loved her and always wanted to be in her life throughout her speech.
She also gave students advice on ways that they can bring up the conversation about gender or sexual identity with their parents.
“I love Orange Is the New Black, and I think transgender awareness needs to be in the spotlight more,” said Lizzie Goins, a senior studying human biology. “Her story was inspiring to everyone, and I’m glad I got to hear her speak.”
Another student in the audience asked Cox how she dealt with people who are offensive towards her and the GLBT community without being rude.
“Getting to know people different from us will help the world,” Cox said. “Don’t question the authenticity of who you are. The second we get defensive is when we close our hearts and minds.”
Volunteers from the NC State Women’s Rugby Team helped to conduct the Question and Answer potion of the speech. They often volunteer and work with NC State’s GLBT Center.
According to Kat Roche, a junior studying zoology, the team enjoys working with the GLBT center and when they were contacted, they had no problem finding volunteers for this event.
“We as students have our own stereotypes to work with and I think Laverne coming to NC State and speaking to students was awesome,” said Carol Trammell, a senior studying middle eastern history and a member of the NC State women’s Rugby team.
Cox also spoke about her time as a teenager attending the Alabama School of Fine Arts and buying clothes from the Salvation Army. She would alter these clothes and then refer to them as her “Salvation Armani.”
“I’m not just one thing, and neither are you,” Cox said as she listed many famous women in history who have stood up for gender rights and “women of color.”
A major aspect of Cox’s speech was that identity has many aspects and layers.
“It was eye opening in terms of identity and culture how one person can be so many different things,” said Lucia Boehling, a freshman studying graphic design.
Cox encouraged students and the other members of the audience to be confident.
She shared how her personal drive is her religion and relationship with God, encouraging others to let the important aspects of their lives drive them in the same way.
Although Cox does not partake in organized religion now, she said that she grew up in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama.
“I don’t have plans to be placed in a box, and I don’t know what the future has in store for me,” Cox said.
