Justice

Here Are Ruby Rose's Amazing Words On Gender Fluidity

June 17th 2015

When "Orange is the New Black" debuted its third season, fans almost immediately started talking about Ruby Rose, who portrays a new inmate at the fictional Litchfield Prison.

Rose, whose presence is a source of temptation for main character Piper Chapman, is also receiving praise for her recent comments about gender fluidity in an interview with Elle. The Australian actress explained she doesn't fully identify with one gender. As ATTN: previously reported, the gender spectrum is complicated.

"Gender fluidity is not really feeling like you're at one end of the spectrum or the other," Rose said. "For the most part, I definitely don't identify as any gender. I'm not a guy; I don't really feel like a woman, but obviously I was born one. So, I'm somewhere in the middle, which -- in my perfect imagination -- is like having the best of both sexes. I have a lot of characteristics that would normally be present in a guy and then less that would be present in a woman. But then sometimes I'll put on a skirt -- like today."

Rose, who is launching a gender fluid clothing brand, noted that her character on "Orange is the New Black" is also gender fluid, adding that there's a lot more discussion on gender identities these days.

"She's not the only androgynous girl on the show, but she's the only person who really identifies publicly as being 'gender fluid,'" Rose said. "People are talking about gender fluidity more and more now because once someone opens a door to something like that, people put their hands up and say, 'That's me! That's my friend! That's my sister! That's my mom!'"

Last year, Rose tackled gender fluidity for a video titled "Break Free" in which she sheds her feminine look in favor of a more masculine appearance.

When the video was released, Rose issued a statement on Facebook regarding gender and sexual fluidity, "You know what needs to stop just as much as homophobia, bullying within the LGBT Community... A 'bisexual' isn't just greedy.. 'Pansexual' exists and isn't a cop out.. 'Straight' people can be gay huge advocates and blessings to the community... you can identify as trans without surgery, you can be gender fluid... in fact guess what... you can be whoever you are and like whoever you like and WE should spread the love and acceptance we constantly say we don't receive."

The model and DJ divulged to Elle magazine that she thinks "Orange is the New Black" has been such a hit and so relatable because it's mostly run by women.

"I think part of the reason the show is so successful and the actors feel so comfortable to take huge risks and build up these characters for themselves is because they are in a comfortable environment," she said. "That just so happens to be, in this case, female protagonists, female writers, female producers, and a female creator. It's been a wonderful way to show that it can work. It doesn't have to be traditional old Hollywood. We have a show that men and women relate to – old, young, gay, straight, bi, transgender, whatever. Everyone can relate."

Rose commended Vanity Fair for putting Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of its July 2015 issue, saying it's wonderful for the transgender community. She also applauded "Orange is the New Black" for giving trans actress Laverne Cox a strong storyline on the series.

"I think it's amazing that Caitlyn got the cover of Vanity Fair and there are media outlets that are willing and wanting to put her on the cover; to put her in the magazines, on the shows, in their brands, however they're supporting her," she said. "And by supporting her they're supporting that whole community. It's huge. Between 'Orange' with Laverne, the show 'Transparent,' and Caitlyn Jenner, obviously we're in the middle of something enormous – a transgender movement. I'm just proud to be alive during this massive shift in the world."

Related: Why the "Born Straight" Argument Is Not so Simple


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