As the first transgender woman of color to star in a mainstream television series, actress, writer, producer and LGBTQ advocate Laverne Cox knows a thing or two about overcoming obstacles.
Cox and her identical twin brother were raised in Mobile, Alabama by their single mother. At school, Cox faced harassment and bullying on a daily basis for challenging gender norms. The message she received from her community was clear: you are unacceptable.
“I learned who I was authentically was not only a problem, but that it was blasphemy,” said Cox, who is best-known for her role on the Netflix series Orange is the New Black and spoke to an audience of students at the Bentley Arena.
Eventually, the rejection became overwhelming and Cox, like 41 percent of transgender people, attempted suicide while still a young student. That moment became a turning point for Cox, who decided to put herself in front of her classmates, get to know them and gain their trust. She was eventually voted vice president of the student council.
Despite winning over her classmates, the road to Hollywood wasn’t a smooth one for Cox. While studying dance at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, she experienced racism for the first time. It wasn’t until she moved to New York City for college that she found a community in which she felt truly accepted. Once there, she made friends with transgender people and let go of the misconceptions about the trans community with which she had grown up. Through the relationships she built with her transgender friends, she was, at last, able to understand herself.
“People will learn to accept you”
The recent talk by Cox, entitled “Ain’t I A Woman,” is one of a host of Bentley programs to raise awareness of LGBTQ topics around campus. One of Bentley’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, Bentley Brave, encourages students, faculty and staff to engage in dialogue on sensitive topics to better understand different perspectives. In addition to putting on events like the annual Rainbow Luncheon and Drag Bingo, Bentley has designated all single-stall restrooms on campus for use by all genders.
Read “3 Reasons Why All-Gender Bathrooms Are More Than Just an LGBTQ Issue”
Andrew Glanton ‘18, president of Bentley’s LGBTQ organization, PRIDE, was inspired by Cox’s reassurance that, “It does get better, and over time people will learn to accept you.” Glanton said he felt hopeful that the talk would encourage Bentley students to be more open to and accepting of transgender people.
Nicole Chabot-Wieferich, director of student programs and engagement, said Cox “encouraged all of us to stand in our truth, be proud of all facets of our identity, and do the work to understand our own developmental journey.”
“At a time when there is so much unknown in the world, Laverne reminded us that we must prioritize knowing ourselves in order to do the critical work of embracing others,” Chabot-Wieferich said.
Cox ended her talk by encouraging students to continue the conversation.
“Create safe space—yes, it is possible to create safe space—so you can take risks and make mistakes, and have those conversations with a lot of love and a lot of empathy.”
Read a student's perspective on Laverne Cox's visit to Bentley
The Laverne Cox talk was the first in a series of upcoming events to be held in Bentley’s new multipurpose arena, including Admitted Students Day, Spring Day, Black United Body Fashion Show, activities hosted by Bentley’s fraternities and sororities, career fairs, speakers, alumni events and concerts.