January 27, 2015

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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

M I S S O U R I

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U N I V E R S I T Y More than 100 years in print

Volume 108, Issue 17 | the-standard.org The Standard/The Standard Sports

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Laverne Cox speaks to Springfield

Zachary Fletcher/THE STANDARD

‘Orange is the New Black’ star touches on living her dreams, breaking barriers for transgender people and becoming an icon

Laverne Cox speaks to Missouri State students and Springfield citizens about her experiences as a transgender woman during her speech on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

By Rebecca Biundo The Standard @rebeccabiundo

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Alliance club, was starstruck and overjoyed by Cox’s speech. “It’s so cliche, but I was getting stars in my eyes every time she said something so inspirational,” Fuller said. “Then she talked about needing and building a community around yourself… It just made me feel really happy.” MSU students were also in awe after the lecture. “I thought she was absolutely amazing, and props to Missouri State for getting her; she is more high profile than a lot of people know,” Courtney Clark, a junior entertainment management major, said. “I thought she had great insights on the LGBT community and just opened your insights about transgender (communities) because a lot of people don’t even think about that. She was an amazing speaker.” Kelsey Engle, a senior operations management major, added that Cox gave her opinion in a pleasant way. — Laverne Cox “It wasn’t harsh and she didn’t force it on anyone,” Engle said. “It just made you think of her side of the story.” Time magazine’s cover and being the first transgender Brianna Duda, a sophomore socio-political communiPrimetime Emmy nominee. cation major, was shocked by the vast amount of people SAC President Grace Chang was pleased to have final- who came to Cox’s lecture. ly booked Cox’s lecture for the MSU campus and sur“There was not an empty seat in the house, and for rounding community as the final event of Winter Week. Springfield, that’s a really big deal,” Duda said. “I think a “Laverne Cox is a huge icon right now with ‘Orange is lot of people came to Laverne Cox because they know the New Black’ — she has a book coming out, all of these ‘Orange is the New Black,’ but hearing her story is what things that she’s doing, fighting for transgender rights,” really gets to people.” Chang said. “We talk a lot about LBGTQ topics, but we As the transgender advocate exited the stage, the crowd tend to overlook the transgender and non-binary stan- whistled and applauded as the night came to a close. dards.” Directly following the lecture, Cox tweeted, “Thanks so Groups from around Springfield attended the lecture, much #MissouriStateUniversity. I was feeling down today including Central High School. Sarah Fuller, a high school and your love and support lifted me up. You mean the junior and vice president of Central’s Gay-Straight world to me.”

Being transgender is beautiful. I believe calling a transgender woman a man is an act of violence.

“Human beings aren't supposed to live like this,” Sophia Burset said while facing the hardships of incarceration as a transgender black woman. Burset is Laverne Cox’s character on the Netflix series, “Orange is the New Black.” Much like Burset on the show, Cox has been seeking justice and awareness for the transgender community. Cox spoke to a sold-out crowd at Juanita K. Hammons Hall on Jan. 20. The lecture was sponsored by MSU’s Student Activities Council, the MSU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, Springfield Pride, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks and One Springfield. “Being transgender is beautiful. I believe calling a transgender woman a man is an act of violence,” Cox said during her highly-anticipated speech. There was nothing but love for the actress; she received three standing ovations and endless applause from the audience. Cox’s speech lasted an hour with a brief question and answer session from students. During the Q&A session, Cox said she has had many rewarding experiences as a transgender woman. “I’m very blessed. I have a lot, and honestly, just being here tonight and seeing all of your faces,” she said. “I get to live my dreams publicly. I always dreamed and talked about being an actress. Now I can make a living as an actress — like, on my tax return it says ‘actress’.” Cox has been recognized all over the world as an influential transgender person, including being the first to grace

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