Stay in the know with our roundup of this week’s top stories (1/11/14-1/17/14).

‘Orange is the New Black’ Co-Star Laverne Cox to Publish Memoir

Transgender actress Laverne Cox, best known for her role as Sophia on the Netflix show “Orange Is the New Black,” has announced plans to publish a memoir. Harlequin, the Toronto-based publisher of romance fiction, will release the book in 2015.

Cox said in a statement, “By sharing my full, unvarnished story, including details of my life and family history I have never before revealed, I hope to provide a voice and safe place for those who have suffered because of their race, class, gender, abuse, violence and trauma.”

More on The Washington Post.

Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano Pleads for Tolerance for LGBTIs

Joaquim Chissano, president of Mozambique from 1986 to 2005, has pleaded for African leaders to be respectful of the human rights of sexual minorities and move away from discriminating against them.

Chissano, the current co-chair of the High-Level Task Force for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) made the comments in an open letter published by The Africa Report as African leaders finalize a document that will replace the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for Africa after 2015.

See more at Gay Star News.

Federal Judge: Oklahoma Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Unconstitutional

A federal judge ruled [Tuesday, January 14] that an Oklahoma law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples violates the U.S. Constitution, giving yet another victory to same-sex marriage supporters.

U.S. District Court Judge Terence Kern said the court would not immediately enforce this ruling — therefore not opening the doors right away to marriages of gay and lesbian couples in Oklahoma — pending appeals. Still, he delivered a clear opinion on how the voter-approved Oklahoma state constitutional amendment relates to the U.S. Constitution.

Details on CNN.

Trans Woman Pumped By Armani Nicole Davenport Dies

Accused silicone pumper Armani Nicole Davenport’s case in Louisiana which a trans woman she pumped ended up in a coma with a less than 50/50 chance of survival just took another serious turn.

On New Year’s Day 25 year old Brenisha Hall, who has been in a coma since being pumped October 24 by Davenport with a still unknown substance, died after her body shut down.

More over at TransGriot.

Because of You: An Open Letter to CeCe McDonald on Her Release by Janet Mock

Dear CeCe,

I’ve started and stopped many letters to you, never knowing what to say. I sent books, instead. Books you requested, books that could probably impart more joy and wisdom and strength than I ever could. What exactly does one write to a woman who has influenced them during such a pivotal shift in their life? I could never find the words. Now, I wake to the news that your body has left the confines of that prison. The one that has housed you for the past year and a half. Activist and community members around the world have chanted, “FREE CECE.” But I know you have been free this entire time.

Continue reading on Janet’s blog.

Meet Kordale And Kaleb, The Gay Black Fathers That Have Outraged Twitter

It’s been nearly four months since Kordale and Kaleb, a gay black couple, began posting photos of their beautiful family on Instagram, but their honest depiction of a new modern family has finally gone viral.

The photo above showing Kordale and Kaleb’s morning routine with their two daughters sent the ever-progressive users of Twitter into an outraged, downward spiral yesterday as hateful people began spewing vitriol over the fact that two gay black men were tagging themselves as #proudfathers, #blackfathers and #gaydads.

Full story here.