Orange Is the New Black star Samira Wiley hopes Bruce Jenner will inspire more LGBT celebrities to come out.
"I think people are so afraid to do it, rightfully so, because of history," Wiley, who is openly gay, told me while promoting her guest role on tonight's Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. "But I think people sometimes think we're still in that time. I find more and more when celebrities come out it's like, 'Oh, gosh, I didn't know that person was gay,' but as quickly as the next day it sort of becomes obsolete because that doesn't change who the person is.
"I think more and more people are starting to realize that," she said.
Even so, the 28-year-old actress still never expected to see someone like the former Olympian reveal he was transgender. (At this time, Jenner is choosing to not live publicly in the media as a woman and will be referred to as Bruce Jenner and with male pronouns until he specifies otherwise.)
"I really didn't, especially not this soon," Wiley said. "But I don't know how anyone could look at that and honestly say anything but, 'He is a beautiful human being.' People are always judging, but we never what life is like being in someone else's shoes."
Wiley knows first hand what an impact LGBT visibility can have. As cliché as this sounds, it's true—people like Jenner and Wiley are saving lives.
Holding back tears, Wiley talked about hearing from young people. She recently received a tweet from a gay fan in Nigeria who felt like she "didn't belong anywhere," but seeing Wiley "inspires her and gives her hope."
"Knowing I could do that for someone? It's still hard for my mind to grasp," Wiley said.
Wiley was named Ingénue of the Year by Out magazine last year. In February, she received the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign at the gay rights group's gala in North Carolina. She has been dating OITNB writer Lauren Morelli for over a year.
"I'm happy I'm living in this time," Wiley said. "It's such a great time to be living in. I'm just looking forward to seeing the progression of where this is going to go."