Laverne Cox initially got our attention when she appeared on VH1's "I Want to Work for Diddy," making her the first African-American transgender woman to appear on a mainstream reality television show. In 2009, Cox accepted the show's GLAAD media award for outstanding reality program and said, "It is so important that transgender stories be told... There are so many stories out there that need to be told in humanizing and three-diminseonsal ways."
Soon after, Cox became the first African-American trans woman to produce and star in her own VH1 reality series, "TRANSform Me," which was nominated for its own GLAAD media award for outstanding reality program in 2011.
Since then the actress and media personality has had guest roles on NBC's "Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," and HBO's "Bored to Death." Some of Cox's independent film credits include her work for "36 Saints" and "The Exhibitionists."
Cox has used her visibility to become an outspoken advocate for the LGBT community and her efforts have been recognized by Out magazine, who honored her on its "Out 100" list in 2010, and she was one of Metro Source magazine's "55 People We Love."
Cox is also a blogger for The Huffington Post and you can follow her on Twitter by clicking here.
Each day in October, which is LGBT History Month, we'll be featuring a different LGBT icon. Check back tomorrow for a look at another incredible individual who changed history and visit our LGBT History Month Big News Page for more stories.