At this point, Orange Is The New Black probably features one of the most diverse casts in television history. Luckily, this includes a handful of characters from all over the LGBT rainbow. So when certain actresses were asked about the importance of queer people on TV at a panel for the Television Critics Association, their responses were expectedly delightful.

Lea DeLaria (Big Boo) had this to say:

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.

Selenis Lyvia (Gloria Mendoza) added:

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.

And Natasha Lyonne (Nicky Nichols):

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.

OITNB season 4 is currently in production and will be released on Netflix (in full) next summer, which is far too long to have to wait. But, look on the bright side: at least we won't have to hear that god damn theme song for a while.

h/t: Out