This summer, everyone, or at least everyone who watched The Netflix original series: "Orange is the New Black" was head over heels for the actress who played new character Stella, Ruby Rose.
The internet was all aflutter about how attractive she was, and many jokingly claimed on social media that they were now changing their sexual identity because of her. While this was, ultimately, just a crazy internet fad, that did receive some backlash from the LGBTQ community, Rose has remained in the eyes of the media, being labeled a badass, and becoming a successful EDM DJ.
She just hosted the MTV EMAs with Ed Sheeran, and in doing so very subtly reminded the world her greatest and most badass feature: her activism in the promotion of the discussion of gender.
Recently, when the topic of gender comes up, it has been one of gender equality, but it does not, typically, address those gender identities that exist outside the gender binary. Of course, I want gender equality as much as the next gal, but, for true equality, doesn't that mean we need to fully understand the spectrum of gender, too?
Rose thinks so, too.
Rose identifies as gender-fluid, which she said in an interview with the Huffington Post is "not really feeling like you're at one end of the spectrum or the other...For the most part, I definitely don't identify as any gender....So, I'm somewhere in the middle, which — in my perfect imagination — is like having the best of both sexes."
In July 2014, before she had really broken into the spotlight, Rose released a short film about gender fluidity, "Break Free," and what it's like to accept your identity. Not only is this an incredibly beautiful, well-made film, wrought with emotion and power, it is a delicate yet overt portrayal of her own identity, and what it is like to break free and come to terms with yours.
She wants nothing more than for people to find comfort within themselves, and for the rest of the world to be OK with it.
When she hosted the EMAs, she said one very subtle thing that carries great importance: "Ladies and Gentlemen and everyone in between."
Because this came from Rose, an outward advocate for gender issues, this was not some joke, this was a very powerful sentiment of acceptance. With this remark, she gave recognition to all of the viewers and audience members of the award show who normally go unrecognized because of their gender identity.
Rose is changing the game. She is slowly nudging us more along the path of not only acceptance, but recognition of identities outside the binary.
The world should be keeping an eye on Rose, because she's changing it.
