Actress and reality television star Laverne Cox will present “Ain’t I a Woman” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Centennial Room of the Nebraska Union.

Known for her groundbreaking role in the critically-acclaimed Netflix original series, “Orange Is the New Black,” Cox is a renowned speaker, writer and transgender rights activist. The first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream, scripted television show, she also produced and starred in her own VH1 series, “TRANSform Me,” and has been a huge inspiration for the LGBT community. Her role in “Orange Is the New Black” was cited as the fourth most influential fictional character of 2013 by Time Magazine.

Starring in “Orange Is the New Black” has given Cox a public platform where she said she plays “a multi-dimensional character who the audience can really empathize with. All of the sudden they’re empathizing with a real trans person. And for trans folk out there, who need to see representations of people who are like them and of their experiences, that’s when it becomes really important.”

In addition to her work on screen, Cox has spread her empowering message of “moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically” across the country. She has spoken at numerous colleges and has been featured on many national TV and radio networks including CNN, MSNBC, ABC and NPR. In her speeches, Cox explores how the intersections of race, class and gender uniquely affect the lives of trans women of color by drawing from her own personal experiences and tells the story of the unique challenges along her journey to womanhood, professional achievement, self-acceptance and love.

Her UNL appearance is sponsored by the University Program Council and the LGBTQA Resource Center. This event will be free for UNL students with a valid NCard and $10 for all others. Tickets will only be available at the door.

The University Program Council is a student organization that provides diverse, educational and entertaining programs to enhance the UNL community. For more information, go to http://involved.unl.edu/upc.