All wo-MAN.

Orange is the new black actress Laverne Cox spoke to a packed auditorium last night. The actress and activist, who has a recurring role on Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.” Cox is the first African-American transgender woman to have a major role in a television drama series, but she also is the producer and co-host of the VH1 reality series “TRANSform Me,” which won a GLAAD media award in 2013. For the majority of her talk, Cox spoke about her upbringing and career and the “state of emergency for many trans people across the country.” She said that transgender women of color face more bullying and ridicule than other members of the LGBT community.

Since third grade, Laverne Cox said she knew she was a girl, not a boy, like her twin brother. Cox began her transformation while in college in New York City, her first major venture into gender nonconformity included a shaven head, fake eyelashes and flair bell-bottom pants. Growing up in Mobile, Ala., which was the center of much of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Cox said

“there was almost always someone who wanted to beat me up” in an effort to “police” her gender.

While in therapy her mother learned that Cox viewed herself as a girl, not a boy, which angered her mother. Home life was tough, she said, because she didn’t feel safe at school nor at home. Last week, both the state House of Representatives and Senate passed a same-sex marriage bill, which made Illinois the 15th state to pass such legislation. Gov. Pat Quinn said he would sign the legislation on Nov. 20 at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Amiyan Scott (@OfficiallyAmiyah)

Known in the LGBT world as the Unicorn with an invisible horn, Amiyah Scott has caused a frenzy in every room she walked into. Flawless skin, unique facial features and a body to die for Amiyah wears the crown gracefully. Cues Drake *...We just want the credit where it's due...

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Leah T (@LeahTBrazil) 


Brazilian model Lea T became a household name after Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci hired her as his fit model-personal assistant. He then used her in his 2010 ad campaign. She has since been featured in Vogue Paris and Interview.

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Candis Cayne (@CandisCayne)

Candis Cayne became the first transgender actress to play a recurring transgender character in prime time TV when she landed a role on Dirty Sexy Money. Candis has also appeared onRuPaul’s Drag Race, Nip/Tuck and Necessary Roughness.

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Katastrophe (@RoccoKay)

Rocco Kayiatos, best known by his stage name Katastrophe, is an American hip-hop rapper and producer.

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