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Laverne Cox ‘s choice of handbag at the Emmy Awards made a powerful statement about LGBT + rights.
This year’s Emmy Awards are taking place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday 22 September.
Many of the biggest names in television have descended upon the City of Angels for the glamorous event, one of them being Orange Is The New Black star Cox.
The actor graced the purple carpet ahead of the awards ceremony in a stunning black and lilac Monsoori gown, carrying a custom rainbow-coloured Edie Parker clutch in tow.
However, her clutch was far more than simply an accessory, as it referenced an upcoming date during which LGBT+ rights will be discussed in the US Supreme Court.
Laverne Cox at the 71st Emmy Awards (Getty Images) The white lettering which adorns the eye-catching clutch reads: “Oct 8. Title VII. Supreme Court.”
On Tuesday 8 October, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against cases of anti-LGBT+ discrimination in the workplace.
“Title VII is a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, colour, religion or national origin,” Time
However, the US Justice Department argues that this does not apply to sexual orientation.
Show all 70 1 /70Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Emilia Clarke The Mother of Dragons wears a dark blue Maison Valentino gown, accessorising with a pair of statement earrings by David Webb.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Sandra Oh The Killing Eve star masters old school Hollywood glamour in a pink floor-length gown by Zac Posen.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Zendaya Zendaya conquers the Emmys before it has even begun in a custom design by Vera Wang.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Billy Porter Porter makes the purple carpet his own in a pinstriped Michael Kors suit and an extravagant headpiece by milliner Stephen Jones.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Laverne Cox The Orange Is The New Black star dazzles in a black and lilac Monsoori ballgown, accessorising with a custom-made, rainbow-coloured clutch by Edie Parker.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Phoebe Waller-Bridge The Fleabag creator wears an ethereal creation by Monique Lhuillier.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Kristen Bell Bell twirls playfully in a multicoloured, cutout Dior dress.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Maisie Williams The Game of Thrones star works the purple carpet in a JW Anderson dress, wearing her hair in a chopped bob style.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Joey King The actor makes a bold statement in a scarlet Zac Posen design.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Nicole Scherzinger The singer dresses in white for the 71st Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Terrence Howard The Empire star looks suave in a silver patterned waistcoat and navy trousers.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Amy Adams The six-time Oscar nominee goes for a gothic look, wearing a sheer gown from the Fendi autumn/winter 2019 couture collection.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Lilly Singh The television host glows in green on the purple carpet, dressed in a custom satin dress by Kimberly Parker Atelier.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Marisa Tomei The actor opts for a red and pink design.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Christina Applegate The Dead To Me star dazzles in a light grey gown by Vera Wang.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan Dano and Kazan pose for photographers on the purple carpet, both dressed in Gucci.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Angela Bassett Bassett wears a custom-made jumpsuit by couture fashion designer Antonio Grimaldi.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Viola Davis The Oscar-winning actor emanates elegance in a black and white creation by Alberta Ferretti.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Gwendoline Christie The Game of Thrones star looks every inch a queen in a regal design by Gucci.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Kerry Washington The Scandal actor opts for an effortlessly cool ensemble, wearing a white ruffled shirt and black sequinned trousers by Alexandre Vauthier.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Sophie Turner The Queen in the North stuns in a baby pink gown by Louis Vuitton.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Julia Louis-Dreyfus The actor wears a gold Oscar de la Renta dress for the Emmys.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Alex Borstein The actor matches the purple carpet at the Emmy Awards in a royal purple gown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Clea DuVall The actor makes the purple carpet her own in a stylish tuxedo.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Nathalie Emmanuel The Game of Thrones actor oozes glamour in a black, sheer, embellished gown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Naomi Watts The actor is the epitome of sophistication in a black, strapless Dior ballgown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Rachel Brosnahan The star of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel lights up the purple carpet in a sequinned Eli Saab design.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Susan Kelechi Watson The This Is Us actor wears a red and pink Badgley Mischka dress.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Amy Poehler Poehler goes for gold in a relaxed ensemble by Greta Constantine.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Lin-Manuel Miranda The Hamilton creator appears relaxed as he poses in a black suit for photographers.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Marsha Stephanie Blake The actor stuns in a white Zac Posen gown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Dominique Jackson The Pose star wears a custom gold creation by fashion designer Jeffrey Dodd.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Ava DuVernay The filmmaker wears a custom, yellow, pocketed gown by Reem Acra.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Taraji P. Henson The Empire star opts for red and pink, wearing a majestic design by Vera Wang.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Bobby Berk, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Karamo Brown The Queer Eye cast-members pose alongside one another on the purple carpet.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Kit Harington The Game of Thrones star is styled in a black suit and white shirt for the Emmys.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Sian Clifford The Fleabag actor strikes a serious pose in a white dress on the purple carpet.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Tan France The Queer Eye star wears a gold garment by Tarun Tahiliani, accessorising with David Yurman jewellery.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Natasha Lyonne The Russian Doll actor and co-creator glistens in gold Gucci at the Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Jodie Comer The Killing Eve star looks far more angelic than her villainous character in the show, wearing a white Tom Ford design.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Niecy Nash The comedian and actor looks every inch a star in a dazzling Christian Siriano ensemble.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Mandy Moore The This Is Us star graces the purple carpet in a red and pink Brandon Maxwell design.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Regina King The Oscar-winning actor oozes elegance at the Emmys in a baby blue Jason Wu gown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Karamo Brown The Queer Eye star showcases a fashionable style of tux, wearing head-to-toe Versace.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Dascha Polanco The Orange Is The New Black actor stuns in a white and pink Christian Siriano dress.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards RuPaul RuPaul dons an eye-catching pink and black suit for the Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Indya Moore The Pose star owns the purple carpet in a corseted Louis Vuitton gown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Antoni Porowski The resident Queer Eye food expert dresses in Ralph Lauren for the 71st Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Laura Linney The actor wears a silver and black Tom Ford ensemble.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Kate McKinnon The SNL comedian wears a black custom Narciso Rodriguez dress for the Emmys.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Greta Lee The Russian Doll actor opts for a bright shade of green, wearing an eye-catching ensemble by Christopher John Rogers.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Jameela Jamil Jamil wears a mint blue Monique Lhuillier creation.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Steven Canals The Pose co-creator dazzles in a sequinned ombre Viktor Luna kimono sleeve jacket.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Catherine O'Hara The actor wears a black and white checkered dress for the Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Brittany Snow Snow stuns in a princess-esque J. Mendel dress on the purple carpet.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Melanie Liburd The actor opts for a dramatic look, wearing a white and black ensemble by couture fashion label Azzi and Osta.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Chris Sullivan The This Is Us actor wears a bold striped Stile Latino suit.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Ego Nwodim The SNL star stuns in silver on the purple carpet.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Patricia Clarkson The actor dresses in a dark red sequinned off-shoulder gown.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Betty Gilpin The Glow star wears Jason Wu for the Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Milo Ventimiglia The This Is Us star wears a light grey jacket and black trousers on the purple carpet.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Vera Farmiga The actor wears custom Ryan Roche for the awards ceremony.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Daina Reid The Handmaid's Tale director carries a purse which reads 'Praise Be', in reference to the television show.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Eris Baker The actor is a vision in a gown by Tadashi Shoji.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Sterling K. Brown The This Is Us star wears a Brioni suit for the Emmy Awards, completing his smart look with a suave pair of shades.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Kelly Osbourne The television personality wears a cutout Brandon Maxwell dress.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Sharon Osbourne The television host dons Alexander McQueen for the Emmy Awards.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Kathryn Newton The actor displays her floaty yellow Ralph Lauren dress for photographers.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards Giancarlo Esposito The actor wears a dark blue suit for the Emmy Awards, completing his look with a smart black hat.
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Best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards James Van Der Beek The actor wears a red velour Brioni suit for the prestigious awards ceremony.
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Cox attended the Emmy Awards alongside Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union staff attorney and transgender rights activist.
Prior to the awards ceremony, Strangio explained the significance of the Supreme Court hearing to television reporter Giuliana Rancic.
“October 8th, everyone should be aware that the administration is asking the Supreme Court to make it legal to fire workers just because they are LGBTQ,” the attorney said .
“And this is actually going to transform the lives of LGBTQ people, and people who are not LGBTQ, anyone who departs from sex stereotypes, like all the fabulous people here, for example. So we really need to show up October 8th, and pay attention because our lives are really on the line.”
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