Tag Archives: Ellen Page

Daily Juice: Tegan & Sara Tease New Single, Ellen Page’s Gaycation Season 2 Underway, and The Dinah Shore Weekend

Hurrah, we’re finally getting to hear some of Tegan and Sara Quin’s new album, Love You to Death (out June 3), and their single Boyfriend (available April 8).

The duo have once again partnered up with producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Kelly Clarkson) for their latest material.

Get a look at the titles of all 10 tracks appearing on Love You To Death below, and, if you’re in the Los Angeles, Toronto or New York areas, don’t forget to check out Tegan And Sara’s upcoming intimate shows in the cities.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkFYSHmFbD/

According to a new study underserved bisexual students are more likely to binge drink. Researchers found that while binge drinking by their heterosexual and homosexual peers decreased as school support for LGBTQ students increased, bisexual students were left unaffected, suggesting that their needs aren’t being adequately addressed by policies and programs.

Out filmmaker Anna Margarita Albelo (HootersWho’s Afraid of Vagina Woolf?), documented her first trip to The Dinah in the 2006 film A Lez in Wonderland, and results are both hilarious and sexy.

https://vimeo.com/73036235

Wanda Sykes is in a new TV series Dream Team. In an interview with the Windy City Times she explained.

We just wrapped the pilot last night. We will see and hopefully get good news about it. My lesbian character is married to a woman. I am an OBGYN and our daughter is on the soccer team.”

wanda-sykes-ima-be-me-1024

Salon says Hollywood super heroes should be shutting down Georgia’s anti-LGBT bill. (and we agree)

Veteran lesbian reporter Karen Ocamb, 66 says she was fired by prominent queer publication for being too old.

2156449.t-1 (1)

Martha Plimpton admits her Catholic character on TV’s ‘The Real O’Neals’ is a homophobe.

Martha-Plimpton

And finally Ellen Page’s Gaycation is set for second! And according to recent Instagram posts Page and Ian Daniel are already shooting new episodes of their Viceland series.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDi1tatwQ1M/

Has It Really Been A Great Year for Female Film Characters?

Although we’ve seen many male-led movies such as The Martian, The Revenant and The Big Short garner a lot of attention, many critics say the past year was good for fans of films with female characters too.

They point to films like Carol, Room and Mad Max: Fury Road as prime examples of films where the women were the stars of the show, and of media where leading ladies kicked ass first, taking names later in their own way.

Some critics argue that it hasn’t just been a great year for female characters, numbers wise, but in how they were presented as well.

The characters in these films, including Inside Out and Grandma, don’t necessarily fit into the typical ‘strong female character’ mould either, as they’re flawed and messy and imperfect in the same way that actual, real-life women are.

grandma 01

But does that mean that we’re in a new era of movie-making, where women get to take the lead in more pictures, and are written in ways that won’t make us want to throw the nearest piece of pottery?

Not necessarily.

We may have made some real strides in terms of both numbers and the actual depictions of these female characters, but the work is far from over.

For example, although we are quick to praise the diversity of movies like Grandma, Freeheld and Carol for starring lesbian characters, it‘s also important to consider that these three movies, like many of the others being praised for positive representation of women, star white women. (All three films were also massively snubbed at the Oscars, with misogyny being blamed).

Freeheld-08

Also important to note is how the 2016 Oscars featured no nominees of colour in any of its acting categories, sparking a revival of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag.

While this is incredibly frustrating, it’s both an ugly symptom of the Academy’s massively lopsided voting pool and of Hollywood itself and it was massively disappointing to see films like Tangerine (a movie about two trans women of colour) get shut out.

Tangerine 02

It’s also worth noting that one film that has been praised for its black female ‘heroine’ character, Chi-Raq, has also been criticised for its own misogyny, as it involves ending gun violence via the means of women withholding sex.

Straight Outta Compton, another movie starring people of colour that many felt should have been nominated by the Academy, also overlooked the violent acts committed by Dr. Dre against women.

Whether we will see the trend of female-led films (hopefully with more diversity) continue into 2016 and beyond is unclear.

Although Hollywood blockbusters make far more at the box office when starring female characters, who’s to say that Hollywood will pay attention when it’s been ignoring that factoid for years?

Additionally, with so few female film-makers holding Hollywood’s top jobs, decisions of these female-focused films are largely in the hands of men.


[interaction id=”568fa3a794a522de057902d6″]

Ellen Page: “Being Closeted Hurt My Career More Than Coming Out”

Talking as the keynote speaker at South by South West (SXSW) in Austin, actor and producer Ellen Page, who came out in 2014 during a speech at a Las Vegas conference for counsellors of young LGBT people, discussed why publicly disclosing her sexuality has reinvigorated her career.

Being in the closet hurt my career way more than being out and being happy and feeling inspired again; being able to fuse my authentic self with my creative interests.”

Since publicly disclosing her sexuality, Page has made a concerted effort to reflect her fight for LGBTQ rights in her work: on top of producing in and starring in Gaycation, she performed the same role on last year’s drama Freeheld, which told the true story of a woman who fought to have her pension benefit left to her female domestic partner.

freeheld-22

Asked whether coming out has affected the roles offered to her, Page said she’s chosen not to focus on it, and stressed instead how fulfilled she feels.

The differences I see are these little things like, ‘oh, you’re doing this thing that’s gay and this thing that’s gay, so now you’re doing these [gay roles].’ I’m like, you would never bring that up with a straight person; you would not say, ‘oh, you’re doing another movie where you’re playing a straight person, are you a little worried about it?’ No judgment, I’m just saying these are the double standards, and this is the conversation that needs to change.”

The Oscar-nominated actor was also on hand to discuss her new TV show Gaycation, alongside co-creator Ian Daniel. In the series, the pair travel the world to shed a light on the struggles of LGBT communities face abroad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fToW-5r07qg

We can’t just be telling stories about one group of people. People need to have opportunity, and that’s what’s going to make the whole industry grow and blossom. It’s just something I’ve been reflecting on as to, ‘Oh, what if I hadn’t come out?’”

gaycation

Page shared that Gaycation was born out of a desire to increase LGBT visibility in the media. She cited a pivotal moment in her life when she came across a lesbian comedy, But I’m a Cheerleader, on TV while growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

When Natasha Lyonne’s like, ‘I don’t get it,’ about French kissing that guy, I was like, ‘Neither do I!’ And that meant something to me.

There can be such loneliness and isolation when you’re living in a society that has this view of you’re different, or something’s wrong, or you’re sinful.”

Page acknowledged that unlike many of the LGBT people featured in Gaycation, she leads a “privileged” life, being able to live as an openly gay person in Los Angeles.

I have done a job that has given me money, and I can walk down the street and kiss my girlfriend.”

She added that she thinks often of “those who are much more vulnerable than me all around the world and in the United States.

And here’s an opportunity to go make something that allows voices to be heard that you sometimes never hear, and hopefully reflect struggles that a lot of people go through and I think a lot of people simply don’t know about.”

Gaycation airs Wednesdays at 10pm ET on Viceland.

Ellen Page On Coming Out: “I wish I’d made the decision sooner.”

Since Ellen Page coming out at an event for the Human Rights Campaign(HRC) two years ago, she says she feels “like a different person.”

Explaining to HuffPost Live’s Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani, Page said she still unsure how coming out has affected her career, but she said her creative life is getting to “blossom” because she’s “actually getting to interact with it as the authentic person that I am.”

It really wasn’t until the moment that I did it and I was living even those days afterward where it was really like, ‘Wow’ like just thinking of the, maybe, the old things or the shame or all the feelings that at that point you might not even be necessarily as cognizant of, quite frankly.

And just the feeling of such a massive shift and then it makes me think of all the people who, particularly young people, who come out and don’t receive that support, [who] don’t get a standing ovation and an outpour of love… get kicked out of their homes or hurt and, you know, we need to change that. “

ellen_page_huff_post_live_march_2016

Page says, she felt the need to publicly address her sexuality – going so far as to say she was tired of “lying by omission” in her 2014 HRC speech – she said it’s not necessarily a blanket responsibility for every public figure.

Everyone is on their own journey or their own path and might even be navigating how they feel about their own identity.”

All I can say is I wish I’d made the decision sooner. It’s the best decision I’ve personally ever made, but everybody’s sort of on their own path, I suppose.”

Since coming out, Page has played a lesbian opposite Julianne Moore in Freeheld and co-hosted Gaycation, a 4-part docuseries that looks at what’s it like to be LGBT around the world.

Watch the full interview with Ellen Page and Ian Daniel here.

Catch The First Episode Of Ellen Page’s ‘Gaycation’ Here (Video)

The first episode of Ellen Page‘s new show Gaycation, has just been release VICELAND.

ellen_page_gif

In Gaycation, Pageand her best friend Ian McDaniel travel to different areas of the world to find out what it’s like to live there as an LGBT person, and how their culture perceives them.

In this first episode, Page and McDaniel visit Japan, where Page goes to a lesbian bar.

You can watch the official premiere of Gaycation on VICELAND Wednesday, March 2nd at 10PM.

Ellen Page: “I Used To Be Depressed Hiding My Sexuality

Ellen Page has spoken numerous times about how much happier she is now that she’s come out of the closest as a gay woman, but in a new interview reveals just how bad things were when she was still inside.

In a new interview with Elle, reports Pink News, she admits:

When you’re on that track you’re a racehorse, going and going with these blinders on. You don’t stop to address how you feel.

I’d get panic attacks and sense an incredible discomfort because I didn’t relate to the conformity that comes with my gender [such as wearing feminine dresses on shoots].

ellen-page-and-ruby-rose

I was doing something I love and also wondering, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ You hate yourself for feeling bad, so you pretend you’re happy.

I’d ask myself, ‘Can’t you just flip a switch, be a character, play the game?’”

Page says she has now much more relaxed since coming out.

She added:

I do interviews [now] with a sense of, ‘Oh, this is what it’s like’. A photo shoot used to only represent discomfort, I felt guilty for lying. Fashion once meant dresses and heels, and I didn’t know why I’d want to be dressed that way.”

Earlier this month, the actor turned LGBT advocate urged fellow Hollywood stars who may be in the closet to be honest about their sexual orientation.

Page – who recently finished filming a new documentary exploring homophobia around the world – said she hopes that one day “coming out” is no longer an issue.

Ellen Page On Hollywood’s Double Standard: ‘Now I’m Gay, I Can’t Play A Straight Person?’

In a recent interview with Elle magazine, once Oscar nominated actress Ellen Page spoke out against Hollywood’s double standards against gay and lesbian actors, and how she is now being ‘pigeon holed’ in gay roles, after playing a series of heterosexual females in all of her previous films.

I have four projects coming up – all gay roles. People ask if I’m concerned about getting pigeonholed. No one asks: ‘Ellen, you’ve done seven straight roles in a row – shouldn’t you shake it up and do something queer?

There’s still that double standard. I look at all the things I’ve done in movies: I’ve drugged a guy, tortured someone, become a roller-derby star overnight. But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?”

ellen-page-436

Ellen goes on to point out the absurdity of what people can and can’t accept from LGBT actors in their roles.

There’s still that double standard. I look at all the things I’ve done in movies: I’ve drugged a guy, tortured someone, become a roller-derby star overnight. But now I’m gay, I can’t play a straight person?”

Page, who came out in nearly 2 years ago, has been incredibly vocal about her experiences as a gay actor, says she credits her film Freeheld – the true story of lesbian partners fighting for equal rights after one of them is diagnosed with cancer –  in many ways for encouraging her to come out to the public, telling Elle UK:

It was part of it. What blows my mind is how my own personal journey paralleled the development of that movie. It felt wildly inappropriate to be playing this character as a closeted person. Coming out was a long process, though.”

Since coming out in February, 2014, Page has been incredibly vocal about her experiences as a lesbian actor, the challenges she’s faced, and her personal life with her girlfriend, Samantha Thomas.

ellen-page-435

She says she still won’t let Hollywood’s expectations steer her away from projects telling LGBT stories, and shortly she’ll be releasing Gaycation, with her friend Ian Daniel. In the show the two travelled the world learning about all different types of LGBT cultures for Viceland’s.

 

 

 

Ellen Page Discusses The Continued Oscars’ Diversity Problem: ‘How Could You Not Feel Angry?’

Ellen Page has joined a host of other actors and actresses, and said the Oscars diversity controversy extends far beyond just Hollywood.

May of Hollywood’s elite have issued voiced their concerns about the lack of actors of colour being considered for an Academy Award,

Talking to PEOPLE at the Sundance Film Festival, Page said that the issue “means a lot to me as an audience member and as a human being.”

Page, who was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in 2008 for Juno, says that the Academy’s sweeping new guidelines, designed to address that lack of diversity among its voting body, are “crucial.”

It means a lot to me as someone who does this job. I think the issue is much more systemic and I hope that’s what changes, hearing more diverse stories, but I feel like finally there’s some steps going in the right direction.”

Page – who was at the annual Utah festival to promote her new drama Tallulah – also issued some suggestions for the continued implementation of positive changes across Hollywood.

There needs to be more diversity behind the camera, and more people getting hired in every aspect of the business, and more support for those stories and more opportunity. You look at something like Orange Is the New Black, and how many actresses we were introduced to who we may not otherwise have seen because they had no opportunity.”

ellen Page Sundance 02

That makes me feel like, how could you not feel angry at that, you know? And I hope that is what is going to continue to happen, and just as an audience member I want to go see more stories from different perspectives. We do this job, sure to entertain, but also to reflect aspects of what it means to be a human.”

Netflix-Tallulah-Ellen-Page-Allison-Janney

Netflix Buys Distribution Rights For Ellen Page’s New Film ‘Tallulah’

According to sources at Variety, Netflix has snapped up worldwide streaming video on-demand rights to Tallulah.

tallulah-sundance

The movie – starring Ellen Page as a young drifter who takes a baby from a negligent mother – is expected to be a Sundance Film Festival hit.

The film reunites Page with her Juno co-star Allison Janney – who plays a woman who mistakenly believes she’s the child’s grandmother in what is being billed as a dramatic comedy.

Tallulah was created by writer and director Sian Heder, who previously worked as a writer and producer on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.

Heder moved on to make the her first short film, Mother, which was honoured at Cannes Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and Florida Film Festival.

The purchase comes as Netflix is moving aggressively to build up its feature film offerings, having scored by backing original television shows such as House of Cards, Daredevil, and Jessica Jane.

Upcoming movies include War Machine with Brad Pitt, Jadotville with Jamie Dornan, and a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Ellen Page To Interview Cop Who Claims To Kill Gay People For Her New ‘Gaycation’ Series

Ellen Page’s new doc-series Gaycation premiers on Viceland next month.

In the show Page explores LGBT life all around the world, and has her confronting a variety of people about their anti-gay views.

gaycation

The scariest one interviewee has to be a Brazilian who says that he has killed those who were gay.

Talking at on the Viceland Panel for the 2016 Television Critics Association winter press tour, Page said.

It was probably one of the more scary, nerve-wracking moments I’ve had.”

A clip from Gaycation shows Page asking Ian Daniel (her best friend and documentary partner), “I want to say I’m gay, do you think it’s safe?” Daniel said that hearing the cop say stuff like “I’ve killed people like you” and “I’m going to do it again” as “hard to hear.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCNJKGhQXM

Since coming out on Valentine’s Day 2014, Page has been a champion for LGBT rights.

Also, in Freeheld (the movie that inspired her to come out), she and Julianne Moore play a lesbian couple fighting for spousal benefits after one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Last year, Page confronted politican Ted Cruz at the Iowa State Fair for supporting LGBT discrimination on religious grounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEb_ZAFgR-s

That incident will also air on Gaycation.

Top 11 Lesbians And Bisexual Women In Hollywood Right Now

There has been a huge shift in the dynamics of Hollywood lately. Where once it was quite taboo to come out of the closet, now there are many men and women who are embracing their sexuality and being honest with their fans. It’s nice to see how successful and happy they are.

Read on to find the top 11 (out) lesbians and bisexual women who are active in Hollywood. These women might not represent the rest of us and our “real world problems”, but they have their own set of problems associated with coming out.


11. Amber Heard

Amber Heard 02

Amber Heard is a beautiful young woman from Texas who rose to fame with such movies as Zombieland, Pineapple Express, and The Rum Diary. Contrary to some statements that have been publicized, Amber herself has said that she is not “out” – because she was never “in”. She also adds that she is “totally open” to love, and doesn’t want to be labeled one way or another. She’s just a woman trying to make it in Hollywood, and she doesn’t want people to focus on whether she’s with a man or a woman.


10. Clementine Ford

Clementine Ford 02

Clementine Ford is the daughter of Cybill Shepherd, both in real life as well as in The L Word. Their on-screen chemistry shows just how much the two have in common; they work so well together! But she admitted she hated growing up with a famous mother: “It was horrible. I had friends in high school who wanted to have sex with my mother. I’m not going to blame her for being beautiful – but it’s still gross.” Clementine herself is an out bisexual woman.


9. Anna Paquin

anna-paquin-01

I’ll admit that I’ve had a big fat crush on Anna Paquin since 2000, when she played in X-Men. There was a brief period of time that I fell out of my crush with her, but it was recently reinvigorated with her response to body shamers. She stands up strong for the LGBT+ community and is herself a proud bisexual woman.


8. Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan

One of the most prominent child stars of my generation, Lindsay Lohan has had her fair share of struggles with fame, family, and addiction, but her relationship with the DJ Samantha Ronson gained her a fair share of publicity on its own. She has stated that she is not exclusively a lesbian, but she embraces her bisexuality and doesn’t let the negativity bring her down.


7. Ruby Rose

ruby rose

Ruby Rose has sort of come crashing onto the scene lately after her role as Stella on Orange is the New Black. The truth is, she’s been active for much longer than that, but it took the wide-reaching audience of OITNB to catapult her into the sights of a bunch of women who instantly began questioning whether they were really straight after all. She is an androgynous lesbian who identifies as “gender fluid”, and caused gender fluidity to be much more of a mainstream discussion than it ever was before.


6. Tila Tequila

There are likely to be many people against Tila Tequila being on this list, because she used her bisexuality to fuel the fame that was fleeting after she stopped doing nude photoshoots. However, she has recently come out as not bisexual, but rather a lesbian, and in some ways she is inspirational as a testament of what a woman can accomplish. She owns several businesses, has been featured in a number of TV shows, and even featured in an all-female sex tape. And yes, she’s a lesbian.


5. Kristanna Loken

Kristanna Loken

Kristanna Loken is a model-turned-actress who burst her way into the lesbian limelight with her role on The L Word, playing Shane’s brief love interest, Paige. She has also been in a myriad of other movies and says she loves when people recognize her from her earlier works – but her role in Terminator 3 certainly catapulted her out of “anonymity”. She was quoted as saying “If the person with whom I connect happens to be a female, that’s just the way it is. That’s what makes my wheels turn.” This cements her position as a proud bisexual actress, paving the way for those who may be struggling to come out.


4. Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez 99

Most lesbians and bisexual women see Michelle Rodriguez as one of the hottest women to pine over in Hollywood. She’s been a prominent action star, rising to fame with the Fast & Furious franchise, but she has also starred in such movies as Turbo and Avatar – although she is typically cast as the more handy type. Some sources say that she is a lesbian, but she prefers to keep her options open. “I’ve gone both ways. I do as I please. I am too fucking curious to sit here and not try when I can. Men are intriguing. So are chicks.” Well, Michelle, that’s a solid way to look at it.


3. Evan Rachel Wood

Evan-Rachel-Wood-2

Evan Rachel Wood is another actress that I’ve had a bit of a crush on for a long time. In 2011, she came out as bisexual in one of the simplest ways she could: “I’m for anything. Meet a nice guy, meet a nice girl.” This has proven to be one of the easiest ways to get Hollywood to stay off your back about who you’re seeing, as we’ve seen from many other actresses – and although we have not uncovered any images of Evan with a woman, I’m certain they’re out there somewhere.


2. Chely Wright

Chely Wright

Unless you’re a fan of American country music (or a close follower of celebrities coming out), you likely haven’t heard of Chely Wright. She was a huge name on the country music scene during the 90s, and she was one of the first country singers to come out publicly as being gay.  She has spoken up for the gay community on many occasions, including her coming out speech: “I hear the word tolerance – that some people are trying to teach people to be tolerant of gays. I’m not satisfied with that word. I am gay, and I am not seeking to be ‘tolerated’.” Way to go Chely!


1. Ellen Page

ellen-page-436

Ellen Page has been a celebrity crush of mine since I first saw her in Hard Candy. She’s gorgeous, intelligent, and just a bit awkward, which of course had lesbians all over the world thinking that she was playing for our team, right? Well, she did end up coming out publicly in 2014, although she had been out of the closet to friends and family for much longer. She has been in a number of high-profile roles, where she usually plays a witty, lovable characters.

In Review: Lesbian Film Highlights Of 2015 And What We Can Expect From 2016

Did you notice that this year you actually got to see lesbian films outside of the LGBT film festival circuit? And that several of them got nominated for (and even won) awards? And they even had big names attached to them?

That’s right, 2015 was a really interesting (and important) year for LGBT movie-goers as more LGBT-themed films got accepted and publicised by the mainstream.

While that meant that we heard about some duds (such as Stonewall, which was rightfully ripped to shreds by critics), it also meant that some true cinematic diamonds got the spotlight they deserved.

Yes folks, 2015 showed that it actually pays to play gay.

So what were the highlights of 2015?

Carol

Just about everyone has high praise for Carol and with its leading ladies having both picked up Golden Globes nominations for their brilliant performances in the movie, but it’s being tipped for Oscar nominations as well.

Carol, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, is one of the most talked about films of the year. Not only does it star Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a May-December relationship (that also has a class divide) but it’s also beautiful shot and the depiction of 1950s America is absolutely exquisite.


Freeheld

Starring Ellen Page and Julianne Moore in a May-December relationship, based on a true story, Freeheld tells the tragic story about a police officer named Laurel Moore who is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

With the help of some friends, Moore and her domestic partner Stacie Andree fight to ensure that Laurel’s pension benefit get passed on to Stacie even after Laurel passes.

Prepare to shed some serious tears watching this one.


Grandma

Grandma is an unusual twist on the buddy movie genre. It stars out actress Lily Tomlin as the titular grandma, who, after the death of her long-time partner and having split up with her girlfriend after four months, has to help out her 18-year old granddaughter.

Her granddaughter is pregnant and needs money for an abortion, but, being broke and having had her credit card confiscated by her mother, the two women have to find the cash for the procedure, opening old relationship wounds and rehashing old arguments along the way.


Bessie

It’s a TV movie, but Bessie deserves its spot on this list. Out director Dee Rees’ film about blues singer Bessie Smith was nominated for a ton of Emmys and won several, including the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. Great acting, amazing music and big names like Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique made for a splendid film. Any worries that Bessie Smith’s bisexuality would be underplayed are squashed after watching this film. And she’s not the only queer lady in this biopic either.


Bare

Dianna Agron’s queer drama about a young woman living in Nevada, who becomes romantically involved with a female drifter, played by Paz de La Huerta. It’s a small town girl – bored with life – story.

The film, is written, produced and developed by Purple Milk aka Natalia Leite and out producer Alexandra Roxo, two independent filmmaker from Brooklyn. Together they have worked on documentaries, like the upcoming Serrano Shoots Cuba, and the web series Be Here Nowish (which you can watch on KitschMix.tv), which they wrote and also starred in.


Liz In September

Despite autumn being the best season of the year, this one doesn’t offer much to smile about as the titular ‘Liz’ is a lesbian who has terminal cancer. Things aren’t going much better for her love interest either as she has lost her son to cancer.

It sounds pretty miserable on paper, true, but Liz In September has gotten a warm reception from critics at least, especially for the performance of Patricia Velasquez (who came out this year) so it’s worth a watch.


All About E

Romance! Criminal hijinks! A queer woman of colour triumphing over a racist buffoon! All About E has got it all, as it stars the titular ‘E’ and her gay best friend as they get into trouble after accidentally steal money from the club where E works.

A gay Mission Impossible this is not, but it is a great deal of fun and you’ll really enjoy seeing E and her ex-girlfriend rekindle their relationship.


7. Summertime

Blue Is The Warmest Colour take a seat; Summertime (La Belle Saison) is the best gay, French film on the block. Featuring farm girl Delphine as she leaves her parents place in the countryside to come to the city, the movie follows her as she meets a feminist named Carole who she promptly falls in love with.


The Girl King

There are (and this is a rough approximation) 1 billion and one films about heterosexual historical figures getting married, cheating and dabbling in royal politics. So why can’t queer characters get the same movie tropes? Lucky for us, The Girl King solves that problem, focusing on the (very real) Queen Christina of Sweden as she assumes the throne at a young age following her father’s death.

A true rebel, despite her title, Christina is pretty fond of peace (despite everyone around her wanting war), wearing men’s clothing and sword-fighting too, but you’ll mostly likely be interested in her romance with Countess Ebba Sparre who becomes one of her ladies in waiting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z65cdquVuMU


Skin Deep

Yes, this is another movie where a lesbian and straight girl become friends and there’s some sexual tension, but Skin Deep is a lot more than that. The film is about two women – with their own dysfunctions – meeting at what should be the worst time ever, yet somehow its not.


The Summer of Sangaile

Seventeen-year-old Sangaile is fascinated by stunt planes. She meets a girl her age at the summer aeronautical show, near her parents’ lakeside villa. Sangaile allows Auste to discover her most intimate secret and in the process finds in her teenage love the only person who truly encourages her to fly.


Girlhood

Oppressed by her family, dead-end school prospects, and the boys’ law in the neighborhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of free-spirited girls. She changes her name and dress, and quits school to be accepted in the gang, hoping to find a way to freedom.


Tig

This documentary explores comedian Tig Notaro’s extraordinary journey as her life unfolds in grand and unexpected ways, all while she is battling a life-threatening illness and falling in love.


The Same Difference

When you’re part of a marginalised group, ‘there’s a high chance of discrimination’ is almost inked in small print at the bottom of the sign-up sheet, as is the nature of the thing.

The Same Difference by first-time director Nneka Onuorah, sheds light on an issue we rarely see discussed in this medium: hypocrisy in the black lesbian and bisexual community. A code of behavior and appearance exists and it’s strong, but as the movie shows us, there are women living outside of these boxes and they often aren’t received well. The film also looks at the judgment bisexual women, pregnant aggressive, and stud-on-stud couples face.


So what films should we being looking out for in 2016?

About Ray

About Ray tells explores the questions of identity and family ties. With Malificient actress, Elle Fanning, playing a New York City teen Ray, who is transition from female to male. Naomi Watts will play Ray’s single mother, Maggie, who must come to terms with raising her only daughter as a son. Long-time LGBT ally, Susan Sarandon will play Maggie’s mother Dolly – a music manager who lives with her lesbian partner and has a hard time understanding her grandchild’s decision.

The release date for About Ray has been pushed around, but it finally looks like Dec. 31 will be the day. Give me a break–most of you will be watching Susan Sarandon play gay in 2016.


First Girl I Loved

In short, First Girl I Loved is about a 17-year-old who falls in love with the most popular girl at school. The backstory about the lives of three young girls from Phillip Island and follows their trip to Hawaii — the first step on their journey to making a break as professional surfers.

Discover the trials and tribulations of training, competitions and injury whilst gaining an insight into life on the tour through the eyes of three girls. With magic footage and stellar photography, First Love will surprise, entertain and inspire a generation of female surfers.


Almost Adults

Almost Adults, starring Carmilla favourites Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis, is also set to come our way in 2016. The film is about a platonic love story between two life long best friends struggling to keep their friendship together as their lives head in different directions.


Also, look out for out actress Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters, and hearing Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Dory.

How Female LGBT Characters Were Represented in the Media in 2015

Once upon a time, the discussion surrounding LGBT representation in the media was a numbers game and all we wanted to know was how many LGBT identified characters were depicted on the big and small screens.

But now, as more and more networks and studios have begun to feature LGBT stories in their works, the question is all about how those LGBT character were represented, rather than how many we could count.

With this said, Hollywood movies did well on both fronts in 2015. LGBT characters weren’t just main characters in a fair handful of movies  but there was nothing particularly eye-rolling or offensive about any of them either (we’ve come a long way from 2010’s The Kids Are All Right and 2013’s Blue Is The Warmest Colour).

Carol (which features Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as two women who fall in love in the 1950s), Grandma (a lesbian poet accompanies her granddaughter as they try to drum up funds for the teen to have an abortion), Tangerine (two trans women go about finding their pimp) and Freeheld (a true and tragic story about a lesbian couple’s fight for benefits) have all gotten serious mainstream attention.

Freeheld-03

Admittedly this is a small handful of films out of the hundreds released this year (we’ll have to wait until next year for GLAAD’s full breakdown on LGBT characters in films from major studios) but as mentioned, it’s a long way away from a few years ago.

TV also made some strides particularly in terms of queer women of colour and establishing queerness with younger audiences. On Orange is the New Black, Poussey and Soso seemed to be on the verge of a romance, as did Suzanne and Maureen.

OITNB-24

Meanwhile, How To Get Away With Murder’s lead character, Annalise Keating, rekindled her romance with her college girlfriend, and notable mentions go to Person Of Interest‘s Sameen Shaw who kissed Samantha “Root” Groves after episodes upon episodes of subtext and two of FOX’s new shows Grandfathered and Rosewood both featured black lesbians.

Viola Davis

Then, when it came to cartoons, Adventure Time got an entire miniseries that focused on queer vampire Marceline (and her canon relationship with Princess Bubblegum) and Steven Universe revealed that Garnet is actually a big lesbian up of two little lesbians who are so in love they can’t bare to separate.

Steven_Universe_Ruby-03

Also on SU there are Pearl’s (seemingly non-platonic feelings) for Rose, Amethyst and Peridot’s crushes on each other and the fact that Steven and his best friend Connie joined together (fused) to become ‘Stevonnie’, a character of colour who uses ‘they’ pronouns.

And not to forget The Legend of Korra, with the show ending with two bi women of colour (one of whom being the show’s main character) holding hands, signifying their canon relationship.

The-Legend-of-Korra-11

That said, overall, TV was a mixed bag (though this is perhaps due to TV having LGBT women leading to a higher probability of TV writers mucking it up).

Although Faking It‘s writing team have said that Amy is a lesbian, they still decided to use Amy’s portrayed bisexuality as a chance for her girlfriend to be biphobic. And less offensive but still unsettling is the fact that of the characters on shows being portrayed as bisexual (such as Annalise Keating, Sarah Pfefferman on Transparent) you’d be unlikely to hear them actually say the word ‘bisexual’ .

faking-it-99

And while there’s a case to be made about TV showing that labels don’t matter,there are too many examples of this happening to suggest that that is always the case.

Moreover, Empire completely got it wrong as not only did lesbian billionaire Mimi Whiteman (Marisa Tomei) kiss Lucious Lyon (after showrunner and The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken hyped up the character’s arrival and her sexuality, no less) but it didn’t do (butch lesbian character) Freda Gatz justice either, seeing her get beaten in a rap battle just to further another character’s manpain.

empire-1

Also showing how TV got it wrong was Pretty Little Liars which, in addition to being a total story-writing trainwreck during season five, it was incredibly transphobic as well as the show’s main characters managed to misgender a newly out trans women and use her dead-name too.

So, if we had to rate the year in LGBT media (with LGBT female characters at least), then 2015 would get a solid 7: it’s pushing the boundaries and getting better, but clearly work needs to be done.

 

Top 10 LGBT Films Released in 2015

2015 was a really interesting (and important) year for LGBT movie-goers as more LGBT-themed films got accepted and publicised by the mainstream.

While that meant that we heard about some duds (such as Stonewall, which was rightfully ripped to shreds by critics), it also meant that some true cinematic diamonds got the spotlight they deserved.

So, to help you to sort the wheat from the chaff, here’s our list of the top 10 LGBT films released in 2015.


1. Carol

Carol-01

Carol, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, is one of the most talked about films of the year. Not only does it star Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a May-December relationship (that also has a class divide) but it’s also beautiful shot and the depiction of 1950s America is absolutely exquisite.
carol-13

Just about everyone has high praise for Carol and with its leading ladies having both picked up Golden Globes nominations for their brilliant performances in the movie, but it’s being tipped for Oscar nominations as well.

Long story short: if you can only see one film on this list, see Carol.


2. Freeheld

freeheld-22

Starring Ellen Page and Julianne Moore in a May-December relationship, based on a true story, Freeheld tells the tragic story about a police officer named Laurel Moore who is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

With the help of some friends, Moore and her domestic partner Stacie Andree fight to ensure that Laurel’s pension benefit get passed on to Stacie even after Laurel passes.

Prepare to shed some serious tears watching this one.


3. Grandma

grandma-01

Grandma is an unusual twist on the buddy movie genre. It stars out actress Lily Tomlin as the titular grandma, who, after the death of her long-time partner and having split up with her girlfriend after four months, has to help out her 18-year old granddaughter.

Her granddaughter is pregnant and needs money for an abortion, but, being broke and having had her credit card confiscated by her mother, the two women have to find the cash for the procedure, opening old relationship wounds and rehashing old arguments along the way.


4. Liz In September

Liz In September 04

Despite autumn being the best season of the year, this one doesn’t offer much to smile about as the titular ‘Liz’ is a lesbian who has terminal cancer. Things aren’t going much better for her love interest either as she has lost her son to cancer.

It sounds pretty miserable on paper, true, but Liz In September has gotten a warm reception from critics at least, especially for the performance of Patricia Velasquez (who came out this year) so it’s worth a watch.


5. The Danish Girl

danish-girl

While The Danish Girl has been controversial for casting a cisgender actor as a trans woman, the film tells the real-life story of a trans woman name Lili Elbe who was one of the first people to get sex reassignment surgery.

The film sheds light on the changing relationship between Lili and her wife Gerda.

The film also shows the love triangle between the two women and Lili’s childhood friend; though divisively it veers form the real-life turn of events and sees Lili and Gerda stay together.


6. All About E

All About E 01

Romance! Criminal hijinks! A queer woman of colour triumphing over a racist buffoon! All About E has got it all, as it stars the titular ‘E’ and her gay best friend as they get into trouble after accidentally steal money from the club where E works.

A gay Mission Impossible this is not, but it is a great deal of fun and you’ll really enjoy seeing E and her ex-girlfriend rekindle their relationship.


7. Summertime

Summertime 01

Blue Is The Warmest Colour take a seat; Summertime (La Belle Saison) is the best gay, French film on the block. Featuring farm girl Delphine as she leaves her parents place in the countryside to come to the city, the movie follows her as she meets a feminist named Carole who she promptly falls in love with.

Plot twist, Carole has a boyfriend and though Carole soon ditches him, there’s more drama when Delphine’s dad falls ill and suddenly she’s being forced to choose between staying with her heteronormative family (who want her to marry a man) and ditch her girlfriend or leave her family behind for the love of her life.


8. Reel In the Closet

Reel In the Closet 02

Stonewall, frankly, was a pile of rubbish and as mentioned, we don’t recommend that you watch it. At all. But, if you’re still looking for your LGBT history fix, Reel In The Closet is a brilliant alternative as not only does this documentary feature commentary from actual LGBT people who faced huge difficulties in the 20th century but it also features footage from the era too.

Admittedly, this one may make you well up as you learn exactly what struggles the older generation of LGBT folk had to face when they were younger, but it’s incredibly educational.


9. The Girl King

The Girl King

There are (and this is a rough approximation) 1 billion and one films about heterosexual historical figures getting married, cheating and dabbling in royal politics. So why can’t queer characters get the same movie tropes? Lucky for us, The Girl King solves that problem, focusing on the (very real) Queen Christina of Sweden as she assumes the throne at a young age following her father’s death.

A true rebel, despite her title, Christina is pretty fond of peace (despite everyone around her wanting war), wearing men’s clothing and sword-fighting too, but you’ll mostly likely be interested in her romance with Countess Ebba Sparre who becomes one of her ladies in waiting. It’s a bit over the top, and it’s not meant to be taken too seriously, but if you want to see a badass, queer queen, then give it a watch.


10. Tangerine

Tangerine 02

This list began with a critically acclaimed movie that’s been gathering up awards and so it will end with another; Tangerine, a comedy/drama about two trans women of colour who go about locating their pimp.

In addition to showing a great step forward in film-making (it was filmed entirely on an iPhone), Tangerine could also potentially result in Oscar nominations for its two leads, which would make them the first trans actresses nominated for an Academy Award. Watch this if you want to see ground-breaking movie making in action.

Ellen Page Graces American Way Magazine And Shares Details About Her Decision To Come Out

One of our favourite out ladies of 2015, Ellen Page is the cover of American Way magazine, and opens up about her film Freeheld and her decision to come out.

Ellen Page 98

Ahe told the magazine

I was just done. It’s so toxic to just be hiding; it becomes so consuming without you even knowing it’s consuming you. You become so complacent in this reality you create. It’s like a bucket, and it’s filling up and filling up and filling up — and finally it just spills over. And I felt guilty for not being out for the LGBT community.”

Since grabbing headlines by announcing she was gay on Valentine’s Day 2014 – on the podium at the inaugural Time to Thrive gay rights conference – the 28-year-old Canadian actor-producer who hit the mainstream with her starring turn in 2007’s Juno (and has since joined the X-Men franchise as Kitty Pryde) has become a cult hero of sorts.

I wanted to do it and not make it seem about myself. And I wanted to align particularly with something LGBT-youth-oriented. For me, it was a great opportunity to be honest, to share certain elements of the pain that I went through. Hopefully, that can connect with someone else. The reality is, there are very few young people out as actors, so I was hoping to speak to a lot of the issues so it wouldn’t just seem like, ‘Hey, look, I’m gay.’ ”

Page’s next project will be playing the lead in Tallulah – a movie about a woman who passes off another’s child as her own.

11 Famous Lesbians Who Inspire Us Every Day

Sometimes, when faced with the difficult task of coming out, we rely on the stories of other women who have found success even after being identified as lesbians.

It can be reassuring to know that we’re in good company, and we truly are.

There are many women in Hollywood and in history who have had success despite the oppositions they faced for loving other women.

Read on to find some of our top choices for influential lesbian role models.


Ellen DeGeneres, comedian

gty_ellen_degeneres_portia_de_rossi_mt_141017_16x9_992

Of course Ellen DeGeneres would make our list. She’s often considered the collective “mother” to the lesbian community, and for good reason – she was one of the first big Hollywood names to openly come out as a lesbian.

Although many of Ellen’s fans are in the gay community, she doesn’t market herself “exclusively” to lesbians, and in fact she sees a strong following of gay, straight, and bisexual fans. She actually publicly said that she “never wanted to be a spokesperson for the gay community” – which is in part why she is so admired.

She didn’t come out in hopes of being a role model – it just happened.


Jane Addams, social worker

Jane Addams, social worker

You might not have heard of Jane Addams before, but she’s one of the pioneers of social work. She was born in 1860 and she found the Hull House in Chicago. Although the word “lesbian” wasn’t actually coined until 1890 and she wouldn’t have chosen to refer to herself as a lesbian, an analysis of her life would show that she would have fit the description by today’s standards.

Jane had a tough background that helped to make her relatable to others, and helped to define her interest in doing good. After all, those with the harshest pasts are often the ones who seek to make the brightest futures for others.


Jamie Babbitt, director

Jamie Babbitt, director

Jamie Babbitt is one of the lesser visible lesbians in Hollywood. She is a director who has been out for the entirety of her career, and she doesn’t shy away from making “typically” lesbian films. In fact, she’s the director of one of my personal favorites – But I’m a Cheerleader!

She likes to have mainly-women crews on her movies, and one in particular (Itty Bitty Titty Committee) had an entirely female crew. Her feminist and lesbian-positive outlooks make her a prime role model of what a lesbian can achieve.


Alison Bechdel, writer

Alison Bechdel, writer

As a writer myself, I find it fascinating to discover other famous lesbian writers. Alison Bechdel chronicles the life of lesbians in her comic strip, “Dykes to Watch Out For”, as well as her graphic memoir, “Fun Home”. She explores some deep issues through her comics and she helps to inspire those with similar experiences.


Gladys Bentley, blues singer

Gladys Bentley, blues singer

Gladys Bentley was a pioneer in lesbian visibility before it was cool. In the 1920s, she rose to fame by rewriting popular songs with dirty lyrics, and openly flirted with women in her audiences. At that time in American history, it was enough to be a butch lesbian – never mind the fact that she was a lesbian of color who had a very public relationship with a white woman.

Later in life, she claimed to have “cured” her lesbianism by taking female hormones and married a man. The man denied it, and the science behind her claims of “going straight” just isn’t there. Still, for a large portion of her life, she represented a willingness to be completely true to yourself and to put love first.


Michelle Bonilla, actress

Michelle Bonilla, actress

Michelle Bonilla certainly isn’t one of the “big names” in American television, but she has had some pretty big roles. You might recognize her from her roles in E.R., Star Trek: Enterprise, or even Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She admits that being out wasn’t even a conscious decision for her – it just sort of happened.

I was posed a question, are you gay? And why was I going to lie?”

It’s always reassuring to hear of people who don’t worry about “coming out”, but rather just being themselves. In a perfect world, everyone would just be free to be who they are.


Sara Gilbert, actress

Okay, I admit – Sara Gilbert made this list because I have a giant crush on her. I think I always have, actually, ever since her early days as Darlene on Roseanne (1988-1997). Of course, back then she was just “a tomboy” – but she has since come out as a lesbian. She supports a great deal of causes, including many animal rights organizations, and she is a vegetarian.


Barbara Gittings, activist

Barbara Gittings, activist

There aren’t too many people that have become famous based on their activism, but in some ways Barbara Gittings could be compared to the Martin Luther King, Jr. of gay rights. In the 1950s and ‘60s, she was a huge supporter of anti-discrimination legislation that would have put an end to workplace discrimination for homosexuals. She also helped to found her local chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (a lesbian social organization). She was a proud lesbian woman who felt that homosexuals should be judged for reasons beyond their sexuality. It’s a bit sad that we’re still fighting that battle 50 years later, but Barbara helped pave the way.


Gertrude Stein, writer

Gertrude Stein, writer

Gertrude Stein wasn’t exactly out of the closet while she was alive, but letters published after her death indicated that she had a lifelong relationship with Alice B. Toklas, which she referred to as a marriage. She was a well-received writer who even mentored some of the “greats”, like Sherwood Anderson and Ernest Hemingway. She continued writing and teaching until her death in 1946. In 1967, Alice was buried next to her – a testament to lifelong love. (Aww!)


Ellen Page, actress

ellen-page-436

When Ellen Page came out as a lesbian in 2014, there were many of us in the lesbian community who really weren’t all that shocked. But the fact that, in 2014, she still felt the need to come out publicly says a lot about the invisibility that we still face every day.

Her brave “coming out” speech was inspirational for many teenagers and young adults, and it paved the way for even more in Hollywood to come out. (Plus, if you haven’t heard her coming out speech, it’s pretty incredible.)


Sally Ride, astronaut

Sally Ride, astronaut

For any girl who grew up desiring to go to space, Sally Ride made that a real possibility. She was the first American woman in space, and she paved the way for many girls to grow up loving the sciences. Her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on her behalf after her death in 2012.

It was not widely known that she was a lesbian before her death, but her family said she made no attempts to hide her relationship with Tam amongst her private circle.

Ellen Page’s ‘Gaycation’ Set To Air Early Next Year

This week Spectrum reported that they had brokered a deal with A+E Networks to produce Viceland, a new TV channel.

The announcement came with the news that the under-the-radar, LGBT docu-series Gaycation with Ellen Page, which has been loosely talked about since the actress busted Ted Cruz’s chops over a grill in Iowa this summer, could air as soon as February 2016.

In Gaycation, Page travelled the world to speak with friends and foes of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

And now we have a little preview of what that show will look like.

https://instagram.com/p/5h90aPwQ0X/

On Wednesday, Vice debuted a preview compilation of Viceland on their YouTube account.

The show has been describe as something similar to CNN’s Original Series or Fusion’s Unreported World,

… [an] edgy, immersive dives into cultural and sociological anomalies, produced in engaging, informative and entertaining ways.”

Viceland will replace H2 early next year on cable and satellite TV.

Double The Ellen: Ellen Page Stops By The Ellen Show To Talk Freeheld, Falling In Love, And Surfing

Ellen Page stopped by The Ellen Show last week to chat with Ellen DeGeneres about Freeheld, falling in love, and surfing.

The two had a very honest discussion about Ellen P’s experience coming out, the effect being closeted had on her life and career, and how special her relationship with her girlfriend, surfer Samantha Thomas, is to her. 

Ellen Page On Coming Out, Matt Damon, And Being Gay In Hollywood

Over the last few weeks Ellen Page has chosen to address her difficulty of coming out, and the condescension of referring to actors as “brave” for playing LGBTQ+ characters.

In a interview with Metro Weekly, she had the opportunity to elaborate on all of the above at length, and discuss her own privilege and highlighting the experiences of other marginalized people both in North America and elsewhere.

Ellen-Page-by-Pamela-Hanson

The main quote making the rounds is her response to Matt Damon’s clueless comments on coming out in Hollywood:

Heterosexual actors and actresses do not have to go to great lengths to hide their sexuality. Yes, of course, keep your private life private. Protect yourself. Have boundaries. When you’re a public person, you need to think about your safety. But if it’s in relation to sexuality, then no — that’s an unfair double standard. Heterosexual people walk down the red carpet with their partners all the time, they talk about their children …

Earlier in the interview, Page had cited taking her own longtime girlfriend to the red carpet as a moment of particular pride.

ellen-page-435

To experience being in love and get to live my life, hold my partner’s hand, bring her to the premiere of the film, go down the red carpet — it’s all these firsts in my life. I’m like, “This is the first time I’m in an out relationship in an airplane!” That might sound so insignificant to a lot of people, but probably not to a lot of people in the LGBT community because they would understand. I can’t tell you how special it is. It’s really extraordinary, and I feel really lucky.

She also admits that in her youth, she internalized the aspect of Hollywood culture that discourages actors from coming out. Matt Damon’s comments reflect a background undercurrent in this field, not a one-off opinion only held by him.

It’s just an idea that exists that you cannot be a gay actor, particularly a young, out gay actor. It’s this idea that, for some reason, I believed and listened to and participated in.

I felt guilty about not being a visible person for the LGBT community. And, quite frankly, personally, I feel like I should have felt guilty. I’m a very, very privileged person. Of course the right thing to do is to say I’m gay. For myself as a person and for the community, you know?

Page explained that she believed this sentiment comes from a “protective place” as opposed to a “negative” one — actors want to help their peers succeed within a bigoted system, and many may still believe that remaining closeted is the safest path to success. But it’s also a harmful path, and ultimately, Page says, it “makes our society homophobic, transphobic, biphobic.”

Ellen Page 05

By coming out, Ellen Page has been automatically cast in a role for which she never auditioned: an “advocate” role. Recently, when she appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he asked her if she ever felt like this new role was a “burden.” Page responded,

No, I feel so grateful for it. I feel so grateful to feel how I feel now, compared to how I felt when I was a closeted person … And, as a person, I’m a very privileged person. I’m a very privileged gay person. Those who are affected the most in our community are the most vulnerable.

Although Page seems to have taken to her new advocacy position like a fish to water, that isn’t the case for many other closeted people, including people within Hollywood.

Not everyone wants to play this role, and it seems to be a given that once a public figure comes out, they become a representative, even if they don’t feel qualified to do so. And yet, the reason that happens is because so few public figures tend to come out, so undue scrutiny gets placed on the few that do.

Perhaps Page’s discussion of these tough topics could chart a path for other more marginalized people to follow in the future — but for the moment, this still isn’t a path that’s available to most.

It’s still much easier for someone like Ellen Page to cross this ocean than it is for others, and that could still be a source of resentment for some, no matter how many times she acknowledges it.

 

What are Ellen Page’s Favourite Lesbian Films? We Have The Answers

Ellen Page and Julianne Moore are currently promoting their well-crafted lesbian movie, Freeheld.

In a recent video interview, Page names a few lesbian themed movies she loves – Desert Hearts, Blue is the Warmest Color and Fucking Amal (Show Me Love). Excellent choice!

However, Moore adds some other cool LGBT films to the list (including those she’s been in) and Ellen is quick to add A Single ManThe Kids Are All Right and The Hours.

Discover the best in Lesbian Films on demand over at KitschMix.TV

Ellen Page: ‘I’m Embarrassed To SayHow Closeted I Was’

In February 2014, Ellen Page stood on a stage at a Human Rights Campaign event in Las Vegas and told the large crowd that she is gay.

ellen-page-vogue-01

I’m here today because I am gay. And because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility…

It’s weird because here I am, an actress, representing — at least in some sense — an industry that places crushing standards on all of us. Not just young people, but everyone. Standards of beauty. Of a good life. Of success. Standards that, I hate to admit, have affected me.

You have ideas planted in your head, thoughts you never had before, that tell you how you have to act, how you have to dress and who you have to be. I have been trying to push back, to be authentic, to follow my heart, but it can be hard.”

Since then, the actress has become an outspoken LGBTI activist, attending pride events, and even recently confronted Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz on his anti-gay views.

ellen_page_jamaica_facebook-01

But for Page, who plays a lesbian in the new film Freeheld, it is still painful when she thinks of her former closeted self.

Talking to BuzzFeed News she said;

I’m embarrassed to say how closeted I was. I get sad thinking about it, honestly, because it was painful. And painful for people I was in relationships with. Just all-around destructive. Intolerance and closetedness is just a ripple effect of shit.’

Page, was still a teenager when she was thrust into the limelight with an Oscar-nominated performance in the 2007 film Juno.

After that, she made an effort to hide the women she was dating by, for example, leaving a hotel by a different entrance and ‘noooo public interaction.”

She remembers, with disgust, saying things like: ‘Go in the bathroom when room service comes’ or ‘This is my friend.’

She says now:

I feel bad about it. And I did start feeling really guilty about it. And I think that I should feel guilty about it.

Page came out shortly before filming of  Freeheld, a film close to her heart which she is also producing.

Freeheld-03

It tells the true story of police detective Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore) who finds out she has terminal lung cancer and seeks to leave her benefits to her partner Stacie Andree (Page).

The prospect of making the film helped Page come out publicly.

First of all, I didn’t want to be a closeted person anymore,’ she says. ‘But then also: “What, are you going to not be an out gay actor when you shoot a movie like that?” Of course not. And it is people like Stacie and Laurel that inspire you.”

Ellen-Page-Samantha-Thomas-03

She found making the film to be freeing.

It was a special experience for me personally: what it represented in my life. It was nice to play a gay person. I’m gay! It was nice to fall in love with a person onscreen who is the kind of person that you’d fall in love with.”

 

Ellen Page Promises To Create More Diverse Movies For Women

Ellen Page says she plans to promote diverse storytelling when producing films in the future.

I’m focusing mostly on stories that are meaningful to me and stories for women and supporting more gay characters. Statistically, there’s less women behind the camera, less women composing the music, less women writing the stories, less women acting particularly as protagonists.”

Page has said that she hopes to see more women – gay or straight – getting their stories told in Hollywood.

ellen-page-435

Talking to Screen Daily, she said

If you’re a woman and you happen to be an Africa American women, or a First Nations woman, then your chances are even more limited and your stories aren’t being told. I think what we’re seeing in television is a reflection that audiences do want more diverse storytelling, they want to see other stories and they are responding to that. I feel like the film industry is going to start following that path. Hopefully that will keep changing.”

She added that she hopes to see more women come out in Hollywood, in order to garner a true understanding of how gay women want to be represented on screen.

There are not that many out gay women [in Hollywood] so it’s hard to come to some sort of consensus about what that means. I’m feeling grateful for what options and opportunities I have.”

As well as acting, the actress has recently began producing films – including upcoming lesbian drama, Freeheld, which also stars Oscar winner Julianne Moore.

freeheld-22

She is also set to produce another gay love story, in which she will star opposite Fantastic Four actress Kate Mara.

The actress – who came out last year while working on Freeheld – went on to praise the diversity seen on television, but argued that Hollywood still has a long way to go, especially when it came to women and race.

Page will be honored for her LGBT rights advocacy during the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 19th annual National Dinner in Washington, D.C. At the Saturday, October 3 event, seven-time Emmy Award winner Allison Janney will present Page with the group’s National Vanguard Award.

Reed Morano To Direct Ellen Page In Lesbian U.S. Marine Drama ‘Lioness’

This summer is was announced that Ellen Page was attached to star in Lioness, a film about real-life US Marine Lance Corporal Leslie Martz who was a gay women stationed in Iraq for a time.

ellen-page-lioness-01

Her agenda there was to gain the trust of Afghan women and prepare them for independence, but Martz was also tasked with surreptitiously extracting intelligence from those same women about their Taliban husbands.

Now the film has a director, and it’s a very intriguing choice. Reed Morano, whose work as a cinematographer you have very likely seen in films like Frozen River, Kill Your Darlings, and The Skeleton Twins, will helm the film.

Reed Morano

It follows her directorial debut Meadowland, which hits theaters next month.

Rosalind Ross, one of the writers of the El Rey Network series Matador, wrote the script, making this a refreshingly all-female affair (unlike Page’s last film where she played a lesbian character – Freeheld).

The film is eyeing an April 2016 start.

Ellen Page Discusses ‘Freeheld’ and ‘Into the Forest’ with Julianne Moore and Evan Rachel Wood

It was a busy weekend for Ellen Page at the Toronto International Film Festival, but its been fantastic week too.

Not only did she attend the premiere for Freeheld with her girlfriend Samantha Thomas, but she was also busy walking the red carpet Evan Rachel Wood, who plays her sister in the dystopian flick Into the Forest.

Ellen-Page-Samantha-Thomas-02

Ellen-Page-Evan-Rachel-Wood

The Hollywood Reporter sat down with Page and her colleagues for both films. Watch below

Too Cute: Romance Blossoms Between Ellen Page and Julianne Moore In This Adorable New ‘Freeheld’ Clip

Watch Ellen Page get her flirt on with Julianne Moore in this sneak peak from Freeheld.

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page freeheld 02

The film, directed by Peter Sollett, is based on the true story about lesbian police officer Laurel Hester (Moore) who, after a cancer diagnosis, fights the government for equal rights so her pension benefits can go to her partner (Page)

In this sneak peak, Laurel and Stacie are just starting to connect, and their volleyball bonding is absolutely adorable.

Freeheld-01 Freeheld-02

It’s getting harder and harder to wait for the October 2nd release of Freeheld (October 9th for a wider audience).

For more Freeheld watch the full trailer here.

Ellen Page Brings Girlfriend Samantha Thomas As Her Date To Freeheld Premiere In Toronto

Ellen Page and her girlfriend Samantha Thomas made their red carpet debut as a couple on Sunday in Toronto.

Ellen-Page-Samantha-Thomas-02 Ellen-Page-Samantha-Thomas-01

Page, and the artist and surfer have been dating for several months and when asked why she decided to make their relationship public at this time, the Juno star said simply:

I’m in love.”

Freeheld has been a passion project for Page so the premiere seemed like the right time for their glamorous public debut.

Page told E! News

Walking down the carpet holding my girlfriend’s hand is pretty special. It’s pretty awesome.”

The actress, who came out in February 2014, stars in the true story of a lesbian couple who fight for domestic partner rights after one of them is diagnosed with cancer.

So it was perhaps only fitting that she would use the occasion of its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival to go public with the new love in her life.

Samantha also joined Ellen at the special party Vanity Fair threw for Freeheld which also stars Julianne Moore, Steve Carell and Michael Shannon.

The two looked awesome as they both wore tuxedo ensembles.

During the premiere event, close friend Ruby Rose couldn’t help but gush about her close friend’s latest project.

Writing on Instagram, she said

When your best friend is the most talented, funny, beautiful, generous, humble human being it’s hard to not smile until it hurts. Ellen, I am so proud of you and will always be grateful for everything you are and will always be to me.”

https://instagram.com/p/7l37hKsZTs/


She later posed with Page and Thompson, but not before talking about their chic looks.


https://instagram.com/p/7l5kqHsZW_


https://instagram.com/p/7mM0bRMZWk


Ellen Page on Freeheld: ‘How Can I Make This Film If I’m A Closeted Person?’

Ellen Page has told Out Magazine that she felt compelled to come out, after securing a role as a lesbian character in Freeheld.

Page came out in an emotional speech to the Human Rights Campaign in February 2014 – within weeks of casting for the drama Freeheld being announced.

In the film, based on true events, Julianne Moore plays Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police detective diagnosed with terminal cancer whose fight to leave her pension to benefits to partner Stacie Andree (Page) sparked a change in the law.

freeheld-22

I remember thinking, Ellen, how in God’s name could you make this film and not be out?

What’s interesting to me is how long it took to make the movie — for it to finally come together — and how my internal progression toward coming out was naturally in line with it.

Stacie and Laurel’s story is incredibly inspiring and did take a lot of courage, particularly in a time of such unimaginable difficulty.

It really did make me go, Dude, just tell people you’re gay. Just get over yourself, honestly, and support those who are not as privileged.

It’s like, You have fucking privilege, so do something with it.”

In the same interview her co-star, Moore says working with Page opened her eyes to how hard it is to be in the closet.

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page 03

 

Ellen had so recently come out, and this is going to sound silly, and hopefully not hurtful, but I don’t think I was aware of how painful it is to be closeted. It was all very eye-opening for me. She was so unprotective [of herself] – I was very touched by that. It definitely made me more sensitive to the nuances of our movie.”

Page also recently revealed Freeheld, directed by Peter Sollett was one of the reason she decided to come out. The 28-year-old, who came out last year, said:

I thought, ‘How can I make this film if I’m a closeted person?’ Keeping that part of myself hidden was affecting my work, my ambition, my relationships.”

The star of Juno, X-Men and Hard Candy, who is currently working on a Vice film about the most homophobic countries in the world, added: “It was a constant burden. It was so toxic.”

The actress has since become an ardent campaigner for LGBT rights.

Read the full interview in Out Magazine.

Freeheld is released on October 2. Watch the full trailer below:

‘Carol’ Features a May/December Lesbian Romance, Is an Oscar Contender

When it comes to TV shows, queer women don’t have it so great with representation as the few characters we do see are typically young, white and femme. When it comes to film, the picture is even worse as one the rare occasion that we see queer female characters in films, they almost always end up cheating on their female partners with men, or they barely get one line to say.

But as luck would have it, there will be plenty of lesbian representation to choose from in the run up to ‘Oscar’ season, where films are released with the best possible chance at being nominated (and eventually winning) an Academy Award. Several films are garnering Oscar buzz, including Carol, Freeheld and Grandma.

Carol, which stars Cate Blanchett in the title role, is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, The Price of Salt.

Set in 1952, Carol, who’s 46 and married, meets and falls for a shop clerk named Therese (played by Rooney Mara) who is 30 years old. That plot alone would be interesting to watch – the two women have a class difference as well as that age gap – and it seems that critics have really taken to it.

carol-poster-01

Not only did Carol win the Queer Palm awards at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (which is awarded to the best LGBTQ+ movie at the event), but reviews of the movie have also been incredible positive. One review suggested that Blanchett and Mara carry the film with ‘glamorous allure’ while another said that the film is a ‘masterpiece’ from director Todd Haynes. It’s also said that to be a strong Oscar contender.

And then there’s Freeheld which stars Julianne Moore and Ellen Page (in another May/December relationship), a drama based on a real story. In real life, a police officer named Laurel Hester was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and wished for her pension benefits to be passed on to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Not only is this film a real tearjerker (albeit a hopeful one) but the cast is made up of many actors who have won or have been nominated for Oscars – something which could positively influence Oscar voters into supporting the film.

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page freeheld 02

Grandma, meanwhile, stars Lily Tomlin (who is gay in real life) as a 75-year old lesbian grandmother who breaks up with her 40-year old girlfriend and goes on an adventure with her granddaughter as they try and raise $600 before sundown.

Stellar performances are presented throughout this movie but according to critics, Tomlin really shines, which is why some are quite certain that she’ll get an Oscar nomination too.

grandma-01

Unfortunately we won’t know which films are nominated until sometime in January, but the fact that these three movies are in the running at all is brilliant.

As mentioned, queer female representation in Hollywood is abysmal – especially when it comes to older women (and older women in relationships with younger women too) – and so it’s incredibly uplifting to see that some some filmmakers are bucking a trend. Roll on 2016.

 

Ellen Page And Julianne Moore’s Sizzle In New Cover For Out Magazine

Take a look at the new Out cover with Julianne Moore and Ellen Page.

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page 03

From Page

I remember thinking, Ellen, how in God’s name could you make this film and not be out? What’s interesting to me is how long it took to make the movie – for it to finally come together – and how my internal progression toward coming out was naturally in line with it. Stacie and Laurel’s story is incredibly inspiring. It made me go, Dude, just tell people you’re gay. Just get over yourself, honestly, and support those who are not as privileged. It’s like, You have fucking privilege, so do something with it.”

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page 04

Moore plays a New Jersey detective, Page stars as her lovestruck mechanic spouse, and Steve Carrel as a “middle-class Jewish homosexual from New Jersey” in Freeheld.

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page freeheld 01

Based on Oscar-winning documentary short of the same title, Freeheld tells the true story of Laurel Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page), domestic partners fighting to ensure that Stacie will receive Laurel’s pension benefits after Laurel is diagnosed with lung cancer.

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page freeheld 02