Out at the Center Archives

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Out at The Center - May 2009

Laverne Cox hosts the Center's half-hour TV show. May is membership month and Out at the Center brings you Marcus Mills' story, who has participated in the life-changing programs and services at the Center and, like you, is a Center member. The next segment, the work of first time producers, we meet three people at the Center who have dedicated their careers to work for social change. Julia Porfido has been involved with the Gender Identity Project since the 80's and in this next segment she talks about her personal journey. Though the initial adjustment was daunting, the two individuals in this next segment have built successful lives here and are active participants in the Social Action Group, advocating for immigrant rights, this piece is also the work of first time producers. Out at the Center's first time producers, take a look at the work of the Anti-Violence Project and what each of us can do to fight homophobic violence and report hate crimes. Nathaniel Frank, author of 'Unfriendly Fire,' visited the Center to talk about his book on the military’s "Don't Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. As the credits roll we will see a live music performance called Women Sing the Blues, Kym Hampton, Crystal Monee Hall and Chaney Sims sang with the accompaniment of Bill Sims Jr.

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Laverne Cox made television history when she appeared as a contestant on VH1’s I Want to Work For Diddy. She is the first African American transgender woman to appear on an American reality show. She quickly became the audience favorite according to French Elle and was the most talked about contestant on the show according to the New York Post. The Post wrote she “seems to grab the screen everytime [she] is on.” The San Francisco “Bay Area Reporter” wrote that she’s “Gorgeous” and “politically astute.”

As an actor Laverne has guest starred on both the original Law and Order as well as Law and Order: SVU. She also guest starred on the pilot episode of HBO’s Bored to Death. She recently starred in the independent film Uncle Stephanie which was written specifically for her. Her other film credits include Bronx Paradise, The Kings of Brooklyn and Daughter of Arabia.

Laverne has appeared at performance venues all over New York City as both an actor, dancer and Emcee including Radio City Music Hall, P.S. 122, La Mama Etc, The Duplex and The Producer’s Club. Laverne has added producer to her credits with the forthcoming series “T”(www.beingt.com).

For more information on Laverne go to: www.myspace.com/lavernecoxnyc.

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About Out at the Center

Out at the Center was a monthly half-hour TV show produced by The Lesbian Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. More about Out at the Center.