Media Advisory: Transgender advocate Laverne Cox to speak at UB on Sept. 16

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Laverne Cox, a transgender advocate and award-winning actress from the Netflix original series “Orange is the New Black,” will open the University at Buffalo’s 2015-16 Distinguished Speakers Series with a talk at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, in Alumni Arena on the UB North Campus.

One of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015, Cox is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show.

Her work as an actress and advocate has led to an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, a Critic’s Choice nomination for Best Supporting Actress and an NAACP Image Awards nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

During her program, audio and/or video photography, as well as still photography, will be limited to the first five minutes of her lecture. Cox is expected to begin speaking at approximately 8:10 p.m. The title of her program is “Ain’t I a Woman: My Journey to Womanhood.” She is not available for interviews.

Working media may reserve tickets for the program by contacting Christine Vidal in the UB Office of Communications at 645-4607 or vidal@buffalo.edu no later than noon on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Reserved tickets may be picked up at the will-call window in Alumni Arena prior to the program. Media may need to show press credentials in order to be admitted to the program.

Press arrangements: Mike Andrei, onsite, at 716-352-2955.