9 Times The Stars Of 'OITNB' Were Badass Feminists Off-Screen

9 Times The Stars Of 'OITNB' Were Badass Feminists Off-Screen
The third season of “Orange Is The New Black” comes out on June 12, and we could not be more excited to spend a full weekend binge-watching it.

The Netflix drama, which follows the inmates of the fictional Litchfield Penitentiary, features an incredibly diverse set of characters and brings complex women’s stories to our screens. What makes it even better is that the actresses and actors on “OITNB” are just as dedicated to raising awareness for important issues off-screen.

The “OITNB” cast have spoken out about the importance of seeing different body types on screen, called for more mainstream television characters who aren’t young and white, supported the LGBT community and pushed for criminal justice reform. Laverne Cox, who plays trans inmate Sophia Burset, even landed on the cover of Time under the powerful headline “The Transgender Tipping Point.”

These women (and a few good men) have used their rising stardom to advocate for equality, independence, and inclusion.

Here are 9 times “OITNB” cast members were badass feminists:

1. When Samira Wiley told The Guardian about her dedication to representing all women on-screen:

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2. When Matt McGorry’s feminist Facebook post made us swoon:

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3. When Dascha Polanco told VH1 about learning to love her body in spite of restrictive beauty standards:

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4. When Danielle Brooks wrote a kickass, body-positive essay for Glamour:

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5. When Lea DeLaria talked about why “OITNB” is important to viewers on AfterEllen.com:

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6. When Selenis Leyva wrote an incredible blog post calling for more awareness about the barriers transgender people face:

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7. When Uzo Aduba told NPR about owning her “unusual name” and challenging whitewashing:

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8. When Laverne Cox spoke to DAME about what feminism means to her:

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9. When Lorraine Toussaint told IndieWire about the importance of helping non-white, not-so-young actresses smash the glass ceiling:

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We can’t wait to hear what else this amazing cast has to say. Slay, queens.

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Christian Couple Threatens To Get Divorced If Gay Marriage Is Made Legal

Christian Couple Threatens To Get Divorced If Gay Marriage Is Made Legal

Screen shot 2015-06-10 at 9.48.21 AMA Christian couple in Australia are threatening to get a divorce. And it’s all gay people’s fault.

Nick Jensen and his wife Sarah (pictured) have been blissfully married for the past 10 years.

“We were married at 21 after being high-school sweethearts for several years before that,” Jensen recently writes in a new op-ed published by the Canberra CityNews. “In fact, my wife is the only woman I have ever loved, the mother of our children, my perfect match.”

“But later this year,” he continues, “we may be getting a divorce.”

Related: AussieBum Drops Trou For Australian Marriage Equality

Jensen insists the reason for their divorce “has nothing to do with the state of our marriage.”

So what’s the problem then?

“As Christians, we believe marriage is not a human invention,” Jensen explains. “Our view is that marriage is a fundamental order of creation. Part of God’s intimate story for human history … My wife and I, as a matter of conscience, refuse to recognize the government’s regulation of marriage if its definition includes the solemnization of same sex couples.”

And this, Jensen says, is why they may be forced to legally dissolve their union.

Related: Christian Group Kicks Off All-You-Can-Eat Fast To Oppose Marriage Equality

“By changing the definition of marriage, ‘marriage’ will, in years to come, have an altogether different sense and purpose,” he claims. “We no longer wish to be associated with this new definition.”

Did you hear that, gay people of Australia? Your marriages will compel Nick and Sarah Jensen to end their own.

“This has been a big decision for my wife and I,” Jensen writes. “Some will accuse of us being bigoted or too hateful to share. But this couldn’t be further from our intentions. The truth is, ‘marriage’ is simply too important.”

“Here we stand,” Jensen concludes, “we can do no other, and I know we are not alone.”

Except, it seems, they are alone. The op-ed was not well-received by readers.

“I cannot believe that such ugly and selfish individuals exist in our society,” one person wrote.

“This is seriously the dumbest thing I’ve read in quite some time,” another person commented. “Or possibly the funniest. I really hope this was a satirical piece of writing.”

“Divorce then,” someone else said. “Talk about ignorant white trash attempting to guilt others.”

But our favorite comment is probably this one: “Well, you are brave to write an article and publish something like this…. This still doesn’t change the fact that you are deluded bigots.”

Related: 10 Bible-Based Reasons Why Christians Should Love Homosexuality

h/t: Gay Star News

Graham Gremore

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The Chemistry Of Gender Transition

The Chemistry Of Gender Transition
What exactly happens when someone undergoes hormone replacement therapy, especially as part of a gender transition?

Transitioning is in the spotlight because of the dramatic story of Caitlyn Jenner, who has publicly discussed her transition. And now, a new video from the American Chemical Society (above) explains the chemistry behind transitioning.

“This essentially puts a patient through a second puberty,” Elaine Seward, the video’s writer and producer, says. “While the new hormones can’t totally reverse the effects of the first puberty, it’s the development of the secondary sex characteristics, which makes a person begin to physically appear as the gender they identify with.”

To learn more about how hormone therapy works and what it does to the body, check out the video.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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Take The Queerty Survey: How Do You Really Feel About The Arrival Of The Freedom To Marry?

Take The Queerty Survey: How Do You Really Feel About The Arrival Of The Freedom To Marry?

gaymarriage_2245445bThe freedom to marry has been a long time coming. Although there have been various socially accepted forms of same-sex cohabitation since, well, Adam & Steve met up, marriage equality was nothing more than a gleam in the eyes of advocates until the 1980s. That’s when Mary Bonauto, Evan Wolfson of Freedom To Marry, thousands of same-sex couples, and legions of others worked tirelessly together to put it on the national agenda.

Now we are on a roll, with a staggering 60 percent of Americans behind our cause and — we hope and expect — the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court.

So Queerty wants to know what you — the people who made this happen — really think about same sex marriage. We’ll let you know the results before the Supreme Court rules on the question near the end of June.

Take The Queerty Survey Now…

 

 

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Chris Bull

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