Quotes About Representation

I can't be in an environment that is not conducive to me as a black woman.

I feel kind of like the black sheep in Congress, but here I am.

I would not have a woman go to Congress merely because she is a woman.

Congressional dysfunction is the logical result of closed primaries, too many gerrymandered one-party seats, and low-turnout elections.

I don't look like a normal congressional candidate.

It takes time for 700,000 people to get to know their congressman.

I am proud of the fact the community elected a congressman who was born and raised in the community. I am trying my best to be successful for the community.

My focus has been on being a good congressman, and there is so much other work to do.

Americans don't mind rich politicians. History is full of them. What they do mind are people who ask for their vote but don't connect with them.

I want to make democracy work not only for the rich and the well connected but for everyone.

When 'Joy Luck Club' came out, I kind of became a role model for the Asian acting community. I started to talk at colleges and emcee charity things. I'm much more connected to my sense of being Asian now.

I want a lot of people to see my movies. More black people. More white people. I want to make that connection.

Having done 'M. Butterfly,' I'm conscious of the choices women make with their clothes and makeup on screen.

I'm conscious of my race and ethnicity in the legislature - it's hard not to be.

That's something I've been conscious of and want to make true in all jobs I do. It's important we have women at the front and centre.

The entertainment industry has an effect on social consciousness.

I noticed in America that if you write a book of any kind, you're made to be the representative of all the issues that might surround it.

I really truly respect and honor the fact that the majority of my district is African-American and that I have to make sure that I surround myself with people with that lens.

When you surround yourself with white people, you continue to hire white people, and when you make an effort to hire people of color, that does bring in different stories and different people.

In my real life, both my bosses are gay. On the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' Andy Cohen is gay, everybody at Bravo is gay - we call them the gay mafia. Over at 'Glee' and 'The New Normal,' my boss Ryan Murphy is gay. On the show, my boss, played by Andrew Reynolds, is gay in real life. I'm surrounded by all my gay bosses.

I think growing up in skating, I was surrounded by the LGBT community, so I grew up very aware because I was around it so often, and some of the kindest people I know are gay figure skaters.

As of late, 'Boyz n the Hood' really impacted me because I grew up in that same neighborhood. It was the first time I saw a true reflection of me, my neighborhood and my surroundings.

I have, in some ways, saved characters that have been marginalized by society by playing them - and having them still have dignity and still survive, still get through it.

If screenwriters have to kill off a female character, they love to give her cancer. We've seen so many great actresses go down to the Big C: Ali MacGraw, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Debra Winger, Susan Sarandon.