Laverne Cox is auctioning off the custom rainbow clutch she wore to the 2019 Emmys
- Laverne Cox is auctioning off a second edition of the custom Edie Parker clutch she wore to the 2019 Emmys.
- In honor of Pride Month, the actress is donating all of the proceeds to the Anti-Violence Project, a nonprofit that helps keep LGBTQ+ communities safe and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.
- The two-week auction began on June 22 and ends on July 8.
At the 2019 Emmys, Laverne Cox was photographed carrying a clutch that made a political statement, and now it's being auctioned off for a good cause.
For the awards show, the "Orange Is the New Black" actress wore a custom rainbow Edie Parker clutch with a message on the front that read: "Oct 8, Title VII, Supreme Court."
The back of the clutch featured the hashtag #TRANSISBEAUTIFUL.
The words on the front served as a reminder of the 2019 date when the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether LGBTQ workers should be protected by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The law "prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin," according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On June 15, the Supreme Court ruled in a historic 6-3 decision that Title VII applies to LGBTQ individuals.
Cox made it clear when she first wore the clutch that it was meant to shine a light on the momentous case that was going to change the lives of LGBTQ people in the United States.
"Maybe it's about raising awareness so everyone knows that our lives are in danger," Cox told E! at the time. "A lot of people aren't talking about this case and it has implications for the LGBT community. But it has implications for women and anyone who doesn't conform to someone else's idea of how you should be. A man or woman or neither."
Jami Guzenhauser, a spokesperson for Edie Parker, told Insider at the time that Cox knew from the beginning she wanted to "incorporate the transgender flag or LGBTQ flag, as well as the date and title of the Supreme Court case." The clutch is made of 100% hand-poured acrylic and took three weeks to create.
"We feel it's important to bring attention to causes we care about," the spokesperson added. "Anyone with a platform should use it to help make a positive impact."
Now, in honor of Pride Month, a second edition of the clutch is being auctioned off on Charity Buzz to raise money for the Anti-Violence Project. The nonprofit keeps LGBTQ+ communities safe and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.
The estimated value of the rainbow clutch is $2,500. When the auction started on Monday, the starting bid was $0. At the time of writing, it was at $1,025.
The auction will end on July 8.
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