The Human Rights Campaign awarded openly Orange is the New Black actress Samira Wiley with its Visibility Award last weekend during HRC’s 2015 North Carolina Gala. Known for her role as inmate Poussey Washington, Wiley reflected on her public image and coming out experience at the gala.
“I believe that being visible truly is a huge part of the battle. Some days it isn’t about moving mountains, but rather about waking up every day and choosing to live my truth as authentically as I am able. It is about holding my girlfriend’s hand when I walk down the street. It’s about doing something as small as posting a picture on Instagram that might teach a queer teenage girl in a small town that she’s going to have a beautiful life too. That it’s possible, that anything is possible. It’s about emanating pride and love rather than shame, and hate.”
Samira Wiley
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