Cast of ‘Orange is the New Black’ On Being Part of the LGBT Movement
Our favorite ladies of Litchfield attended a TCA panel where they discussed Season Four of Orange is the New Black and the show’s impact on the LGBT movement. It’s no secret that media plays a big role in affecting people’s opinions, and with a growing presence of queer characters and stories for a mainstream audience, social change has been rapid.
(L-R) Actors Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Natasha Lyonne, Selenis Leyva, Lea DeLaria and Taryn Manning speak onstage during the “Orange Is the New Black” panel discussion at the Netflix portion of the 2015 Summer TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Lea DeLaria (Big Boo) shared her personal experience with this change:
“I live in Bushwick, a ghetto in Brooklyn, and an 80-year-old woman came up to me pushing her teenage granddaughter toward me. Five years ago, that would never happen. It’s an amazing turn of events, and I give it completely up to Orange in that respect … What we’ve done is a large part of the LGBT community getting rights, fighting for rights and achieving our rights. It’s been about winning the hearts and the minds of people, and Orange Is The New Black has been an important part of what has happened in our community.”
Natasha Lyonne (Nicky Nichols) said:
“It’s an extraordinary, profound show to be on that human level; we’re thrilled that we got to be part of this moment and time, being these proxy representatives of things we believe in.”
Selenis Leyva (Gloria Mendoza) spoke about a particularly intense scene with Laverne Cox and the extra care she took:
“I have a transgender sister myself. I had to say things that might be in a fight on a daily basis. It was a hard scene to do, particularly so that I didn’t offend her. The scene had to be done in a way as to educate, rather than foster more hate. I had a conversation with [OITNB creator] Jenji [Kohan] that I didn’t want Gloria to be the villain … We’re showing the world that it’s OK to have different women and people represented. Netflix has been bold. We started a trend, and that trend is to be diverse — to be a butch, to be a Latina — we started something.”
One reporter observed that in the wake of OITNB, more TV shows are adding LGBT characters. Added Leyva about the series’ impact:
“We’re showing the world that it’s OK to have different women and people represented. Netflix has been bold. We started a trend, and that trend is to be diverse — to be a butch, to be a Latina — we started something.”
The cast mentioned that they’ve been in production on Season 4 since June 15 and it will premiere in summer 2016. Also appearing on stage today were Taylor Schilling (Piper Chapman), Uzo Aduba (Crazy Eyes) and Taryn Manning (Tiffany Doggett).
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14 Comments
Absalom
August 01, 07:26I’m a rabid fan of these women!
masonkz
August 01, 07:33I hope Poussey (hope I spelt it right) was there. I love that gal…so fragile, and yet so strong…. and handsomely beautiful.
Big ups to the transgender lady also..Sophia.
Pink Panther
August 01, 07:51She wasn’t. 🙂
Sinnex
August 01, 07:34I am sure it won’t come as a surprise to anyone when I say I haven’t seen this series.
Pink Panther
August 01, 07:52Lol. Not at all, Sinnex. We are finally coming to terms that AIT is basically all you watch on your TV. 🙂
Brian Collins
August 01, 10:12LWKMD. Let us see if Nigerian series producers are going to follow suit.
Watched a few episodes of Desperate Housewives Africa while i was at home and i wondered what they would with the Andrew Van De Kamp character considering that the production is staying true to the original DHW plot.
Pink Panther
August 01, 11:55You mean am? The DHW Africa is following the original plot? Lmao. Please when it’s time for their Andrew Van De Kamp to be gay, be sure to lemme know how they’d pull it off. Lol
Tiercel de Claron
August 01, 10:20He watches tv,at least.I don’t
kacee
August 01, 11:36hehehehehe PP u’re so wicked, sinnex I haven’t seen the series too o.
#Chestnut
August 01, 08:02Started watching this series recently and I’ve become fuckin’ obsessed! Almost done with season 2…
Wait,Boo got a make-over? #Spoiler *rme*.
OAN: so these ladies fit fine like dis? Even Nichols wey be like wall-gecko? Wondahful! They clean up nice…(And I still can’t get over how much Piper looks like Katy Perry). I just wish they could bring “Oz” back…
(Hey Masonkz…*coy smile*)
Pink Panther
August 01, 08:29AHA! That is it! I was wondering who Piper reminded me of. It IS Katy Perry.
#Chestnut
August 01, 08:59Aswear! Dye Katy’s hair blond, and they could pass for sisters!…or cousins,at least.
Peak
August 01, 13:05Thsi show is breaking boundaries that a gay themed story wouldn’t easily do, so I commend the producers for their work. But I need the writers to step up their game. Piper and her katy perry looking ass bores me. Red and big boo are my bitches though, and those latino squard are everything on that show. I love my mean girls.
beryl04
August 02, 14:33the best series i’ve watched since desperate housewives .they should have brought Laverne Cox to speak cos to me she is really doing tremendous work in the community, especially where the issues of trans people is concerned.
i love that Pensatucky lady,the way she carries Jesus matter for head goes to show a lot of what’s wrong with christianity.