Most popularly known as Big Boo from the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black, Lea DeLaria is also a stand up comedian, LGBT activist, and feminist. Additionally she was the first openly gay comedian to preform on late night television. Her role in the show is one that she has wanted her whole life, because as she puts it, the only preparation for her role was that she was born the way she is. Her personality directly matches that of the bold, vulgar, and blunt Big Boo, and she doesn’t apologize for anything. Now these might not be qualities that you were raised to believe were important. But when we take a closer look at what she stands for, we can see that she truly resembles an admirable figure in show business. She doesn’t apologize for anything because she thinks that you shouldn’t have to apologize for being yourself. She believes that there is a beauty in “being who you are amongst the crazy world, no f***s given. You never have to apologize for being yourself”. Of course her bold and vulgar personality is clear in this quote, but so is the message of being who you are and not caring what others think.
I had the opportunity to watch Lea DeLaria speak at Chapman University on Wednesday, October 8th and I got more than a laugh out of her performance. I found meaning in her words on feeling unaccepted at times, and learning to do what you love because you love it and for nobody else. You don’t have to be a part of the LGBT community to feel like you can identify with DeLaria and to absorb her words of wisdom. Just remember that – you can do and believe whatever you want, as long as you let the person next to you do the same thing.
-JS xx
Tales Till Dawn 