BE SERIES: Jade Fox

EUGENE, Ore. – Jade Fox, comedian and content creator, spoke on intersectionality and diversity as the keynote speaker for the BE series at the University of Oregon on Tuesday, May 17.

Fox discussed her experiences as a Black, queer woman – touching on topics such as intersectionality, comedy as coping, hypermasculinity and the need for diversity and representation.

“I really wanted to be a voice that could speak to those people that were experiencing the same issues that I was,” Fox said during her talk. She advocated for people to use their voices, especially those who are not in the majority.

Fox, 30, has been creating content for more than 10 years. She has a YouTube channel where she examines pop culture, politics and the nuances of the LGBTQ+ community. She also has another channel for masculine-presenting women to explore fashion and style.

May 17 is the observed international day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. This day was created to shed light on the violence and discrimination experienced by the LGBTQ+ community, according to may17.org.

“Being Black and queer is such a niche experience to have, especially in this country and climate, and I really appreciated her energy,” Kass Weeks, 1st year UO student, said.

Weeks heard about the event through Instagram. She spoke to Fox before the presentation, and they were able to share similar experiences with each other.

Fox’s speech was hosted by the BE series for the international day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. The BE series was created and is advised by Suzanne Hanlon.

“I’ve been here for a really long time and I saw we had a lack of staff, faculty, advisors and mentors of underserved identities,” Hanlon said. The BE series’ mission is representation and creating a refreshing, validating space for underserved minorities.

The UO is a predominantly white campus with 61.1% of undergraduates classified as white in 2021-2022, according to the Office of Institutional Research and the Provost’s Office Data Dashboard.