# Laverne Cox brings 'Transcendent' to Baltimore

> The 'Orange is the New Black' star closes night one of the Baltimore Book Festival with a memoir about trauma, Hollywood and healing.
- Title: Laverne Cox brings 'Transcendent' to Baltimore · The Banner
- Summary: The 'Orange is the New Black' star closes night one of the Baltimore Book Festival with a memoir about trauma, Hollywood and healing. Cox talks with Melanie…
- Keywords: laverne cox, baltimore, books, memoir, lgbtq, news, local, Laverne, Cox, brings, 'Transcendent', The Banner
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/culture/books/laverne-cox-memoir-baltimore-book-festival-ERXBKLBX5NFW3JX4J7WI5GBD2M
- Author: Darreonna Davis
- Published: 2026-09-13T17:44:29.824+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: laverne cox, baltimore, books, memoir, lgbtq, news, local
## Cox closes opening night
Emmy winner and New York Times bestselling author Laverne Cox will close out the first day of the Baltimore Book Festival, organizers announced.

> the city that reads
## Saturday at 7 p.m.
She sits down with Melanie Bryant, director of the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, at the festival's 32nd Street Stage.
## What the memoir covers
'Transcendent,' released in June, works through Cox's childhood trauma, navigating Hollywood as a transgender woman, and healing.
## The mayor rolled out the welcome
Brandon Scott announced her addition to the lineup on Instagram.

> Laverne, we can't wait to welcome you to Baltimore
## A career of firsts
Sophia Burset on 'Orange is the New Black' made her the first openly transgender actress nominated for a Primetime acting Emmy. She has two SAG awards and an Emmy as a producer.
## Free, and 30 years deep
The festival opens Saturday at 10 a.m. in Waverly with three blocks of vendors, readings and author talks. It started in 1996 under Mayor Kurt Schmoke's 'City that Reads' push.
## Key takeaway

Cox talks with Melanie Bryant at 7 p.m. Saturday on the 32nd Street Stage, and the whole festival is free.