Yesterday, Laverne Cox returned to Katie Couric's eponymous daytime talk show for the first time since her now-infamous January appearance. Tuesday's interview highlighted Couric's own willingness and ability to learn from past mistakes in a manner fitting for a 35-year veteran of journalism.
Couric's interview focused on Cox's career and recent success. She later brought ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio and GLAAD media strategist Tiq Milan out to discuss social issues and struggles among transgender individuals, looking at things from a macro perspective.
"I learned that [questions relating to one's genitals are] very, very upsetting to the transgender community because they feel that people are too often fixated on this, and that your anatomy actually has very little to do with your gender identity," Couric explained to her audience.
A lot has changed in the more than five months since Laverne Cox and Carmen Carrera sat on Katie Couric's couch in the now-infamous "teachable moment" interview. Carrera answered Couric's invasive question about her genitals in her own way, and has gone on to become an increasingly vocal trans rights advocate. Cox wrapped up work on the second season of the Netflix hit Orange is the New Black, produced a documentary about trans activist CeCe McDonald, and recently became the first out trans person to grace the cover of Time magazine.
Cox's appearance on Couric's show came just one day after being interviewed on the Wendy Williams Show. While it's clear Couric learned from her mistakes, Williams -- who earlier this year hosted a transphobic panel discussion about CrossFit athete Chloie Jonsson -- demonstrated less poise, referring to Cox as "a transgender," and asking invasive questions about Cox's breasts. Even so, Cox handled the questions like a true professional.
Yesterday's interview will no doubt prove to be far less controversial than the first take, and with any luck, have a far more educational lasting impact. Watch the interview below.