Watch Cox and Page’s speeches above.
Actress and trans activist Laverne Cox spoke eloquently at the GLAAD awards last night after being presented with the Stephen F. Kolzak award by Ellen Page. The award is given each year to an LGBT individual making significant strides in queer representation and the fight against homophobia.
“I’m still not used to getting awards… I’m an African-American transgender woman from a working class background, raised by a single mother. We are not programmed to think we should receive these kind of awards,” she joked. “But I’d like to think that things are changing.” After mentioning her struggles as a young trans actress and woman of colour with agents and shows unable to pigeonhole her, Cox spoke to the changing face of media and her hopes that the T in LGBT “will never be silent”.
After appearing on VH1’s I Want To Work For Diddy and co-producing the makeover show TRANSform Me, Cox made her mainstream media breakthrough last year playing Sophia Burset, the sharp, thoughtful hairdresser on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black. (Trivia tidbit: Laverne’s twin brother, musician M. Lamar, plays Sophia in flashbacks!)
Ellen Page, who came out this year on Valentine’s Day, introduced Cox with a heartfelt speech of her own. “One of the best things about [coming out] is that it has enabled me to publicly show support for the people who inspire me and give me courage. I’m here to do that tonight for one of my heroes, Laverne Cox.”
Previous recipients of the award include Sir Ian McKellen, Wanda Sykes and Martina Navratilova.
Image courtesy of GLAAD.org
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