'Orange Is the New Black' Season 3 Cast: Samira Wiley Receives Visibility Award & Talks Being Told 'I Am Enough' [VIDEO]
Orange Is the New Black star Samira Wiley was honored with a significant Human Rights Campaign award, with the actress giving a heartfelt acceptance speech.
Larry Not Returning To 'Orange Is the New Black' In Season 3
Wiley attended the HRC North Carolina Gala last weekend where she received the Visibility Award. The actress, who plays Poussey on Orange Is the New Black is an out lesbian and told her story of acceptance from both parents.
"I believe that our self worth and how we are taught to think about ourselves and the world around us almost always begins at home," Wiley said. "I have two parents that not only tolerated who I am, but accepted me and embraced me. They embraced me before I came out, and they embraced me after. They told me everyday that I am enough. I am enough just of being who I am and that that alone makes me whole."
Emmys President Suggests 'Orange Is the New Black' May Not Be Submitted As Drama?
Wiley was essentially an unknown before rocketing to success with a big role on Orange Is the New Black. The actress has over 163,000 followers on Twitter and said that she has been "overwhelmed" by how much she and her castmates have made a difference in visibility for LGBT issues.
"It's interesting to me that tonight I am here receiving the visibility award...Over the past few years since my own public image has increased tenfold, I have been overwhelmed to witness the profound ways that I am able to make a difference simply by living my life openly and with love," she said.
Orange Is the New Black has tackled homosexuality and transgender issues with sensitivity in its first two seasons, with Wiley's storyline involving her unrequited love for Taystee (Danielle Brooks). While Poussey has mostly come to terms with this, it remains to be seen what will be ahead for her in the upcoming third season.
Orange Is the New Black season 3 is set to be released in mid-2015 on Netflix, though the company has not yet announced a specific release date.