Of her colorful train (worn over a sharp suit), Laithe told onlookers, "It's like my skin. I'm proud to be in it and put the community on my back to make sure they know I got 'em all the time." As if sporting the official flag of the LGTBQ+ community on her back wasn't defiant enough, the The Chi creator added that she interpreted the event's Catholic theme as a message to "just be yourself. It's not about church or Catholicism — you were made in God's image. So, that's how we rockin' tonight." In 2016, Waithe attended the Essence Black Women In Hollywood awards and urged LGBTQ+ people of color to come out