Tag Archives: Lesbian characters

Netflix’s lesbian comedy ‘Everything Sucks!’ has been cancelled

Netflix has announced that it will not be commissioning coming-of-age lesbian drama Everything Sucks! for a second series.

The series was set in the real-life town of Boring, Oregon during the 90s. It starred Jahi Di’Allo Winston as Luke O’Neil and Peyton Kennedy as Kate Messner.

Luke develops feelings for Kate, but Kate ends developing a crush on Emaline Addario, played by Sydney Sweeney. However, Kate struggles to come to terms with her sexuality, as her father is the principal of the school that they all attend.

During its run, the show earned praise for its lesbian representation. However, some critics said that the show relied too much on tropes, and didn’t develop its supporting characters enough.

The series holds a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its critical consensus read: “A flawed series that ticks off all the nostalgia boxes, Everything Sucks! still manages to tug at the heartstrings.” The site reported that audience approval of the series was 89%.

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, one of the executive producers of the show, Jeff Pinkner said: “We’re super proud of the show we made — and very proud that it found an audience of very passionate fans, for many of whom it became an important personal touchstone: either reflecting their current life, or an echo of their own teenage years. We are grateful to Netflix for the opportunity, but are very disheartened we won’t be continuing to tell these stories.”

Many fans were disappointed with the announcement, and took to Twitter to voice their annoyances.

In a promotional interview for the series, Petyon Kennedy said that there’s “barely any representation” of queer teens in high school.

“There’s barely any representation for girlfriends in high school,” said Peyton Kennedy, who plays Kate in the series, to Buzzfeed.

“There’s a bit of representation in older generations, but I think for the teens who are watching it who identify with these characters, they will be able to feel comfort and hopefully acceptance at the end of the show.”

Kate’s love interest Emeline (played by Sydney Sweeney), also voiced how the programme “embraces” love in its many forms.

“Kate knows what she wants and Emaline doesn’t,” Sweeney said. “For Emaline, love is just love. It doesn’t matter if it’s between a girl and a girl or a guy and a girl, so she just embraces that.”

However, it’s not all doom and gloom in the world of renewals, as Netflix recently announced that Queer Eye has been renewed for a second season.

On its renewal, vice president of content at Netflix, Bela Bajaria said: “These series are indicative of what we’re trying to accomplish for Netflix unscripted: working with world-class producers to create the best unscripted shows on television.”

Lesbian Period-Drama ‘Shibden Hall’ In The Works

Sally Wainwright, creator of several well-known and successful series such as Last Tango in Halifax, To Walk Invisible, and Happy Valley, is currently working on a new lesbian-centered period drama series that will air on HBO, in partnership with BBC.

Wainwright has included lesbians before in Tango in Halifax, resulting to complaints and criticism by fans after one of her characters was killed. However she apologized and called it a mistake, after she realized about the “extraordinary numbers of lesbian characters [that] end up being killed off” on TV.

The eight-episode drama she’s working on, called Shibden Hall and set in 1832, tells the story of one of the most prominent modern “lesbian” figures in history, that of West Yorkshire landowner Anne Lister.

Anne Lister (1791-1840) was a wealthy landowner, diarist, and traveler. She kept diaries throughout her life, narrating everything that happened to her, including her concerns about her finances, her ideas on renovating Shibden Hall that she had inherited from her uncle, and her lesbian relationships. The latter were written in a secret code, a combination of algebra and Ancient Greek, which was eventually decoded between 1988 and 1992 by Helena Whitbread. She was also harassed for her sexuality in a conservative age and social context.

Her diaries are rich in lesbian experiences that could feel strongly relatable to many queer women even today. She declares: “I love and only love the fairer sex and thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any love but theirs.” What she loved to use as a “gaydar” with other women, was giving them books she had read and found rich in male or female homosexual subtext, and wait to see if they would catch the allusions and say anything about it.

Another period drama called The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister aired in the UK by the BBC in 2010, directed by James Kent, written by Jane English (using Anne’s diaries for a source) and starring Maxine Peake as the protagonist. Therefore, it isn’t the first time Anne Lister’s story makes it to the TV.

As for Sally Wainwright’s creation for HBO, there is a release explaining the upcoming show’s grasp of the story: “Charismatic, single-minded, swashbuckling Anne Lister – who walked like a man, dressed head-to-foot in black, and charmed her way into high society – has no intention of marrying a man.

“True to her own nature, she plans to marry a woman. And not just any woman: the woman Anne Lister marries must be seriously wealthy.

“Every part of Anne’s story is based in historical fact, recorded in the four million words of her diaries that contain the most intimate details of her life, once hidden in a secret code that is now broken.”

“The drama will explore Anne Lister’s relationships at home with her family, her servants, her tenants, and her industrial rivals, who will use any dirty tricks they can to bring her down. At its heart is her relationship with her would-be wife, the wealthy heiress Ann Walker.”

Wainwright says: “Anne Lister is a gift to a dramatist. She is one of the most exuberant, thrilling and brilliant women in British history, and I can’t wait to celebrate her.

“Landowner, industrialist, traveler, mountaineer, scholar, would-be brain surgeon and prolific diarist, Anne returns from years of travel to her ancestral home, determined to restore it to its former glory, and determined to marry Ann Walker.

“It’s a beautifully rich, complicated, surprising love story. To bring Anne Lister to life on screen is the fulfillment of an ambition I’ve had for twenty years. Shibden Hall is a place I have known and loved since I was a child.

“I’m also delighted to be working with Faith Penhale again and the wonderful team at Lookout Point after our collaboration on To Walk Invisible, and of course thrilled to be working with the BBC and HBO.”

The show will begin shooting next year.

 

Black Mirror Takes on Lesbian Legacy

If you’re not yet aboard the Black Mirror train, then surely you’re missing something spectacular and very oddly cryptic. It hasn’t made enough rounds on the internet as the talk yet, but Season 3’s delivered quite an impact since being part of the Netflix family.

Black Mirror is an anthology series that features a modern take on speculative fiction. It focuses on dark – or rather, satirical themes – examining our society. It’s an exciting ride for the average Joe, but it’s sure to pique the interest of theorists and aspiring scientists alike.

Also, every episode is jam-packed with techno-paranoia and just the right amount of drama (and not in the sense you’re thinking, nope).

It takes on something entirely different (at least in creator Charlie Brooker’s sense) and experimental (non-traditional Black Mirror way, that is) in its episode San Junipero.

We don’t want to give away too much (just in case you wanted to see the episode for yourself – which, by the way, you totally should), but it is set in a party town where people go to have fun, by nature of definition, of course.

Free-spirited Kelly meets new-girl, conservative Yorkie and well, they fall in love.

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Brooker recalls telling Vanity Fair.

It was another decision where I just thought, Well, OK, let’s question that. Is that the best version of this we could do?

It is a simple love story in a not-so-simple world. Also ironic is how it is set in 1987 – an era where most of these things aren’t really socially accepted (yet).

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It gives you twists and turns you wouldn’t imagine, delivering an absolute thrill to the LGBT Community in a very positive light. Safe to say, it’s a job well done to Brooker and the team for taking a different, yet still familiar route.

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He says,

I wasn’t consciously reacting to other things in the culture, so much as thinking. This makes it a more interesting story.”

What Does The Future Look Like Queer Female Characters In TV And Film?

Queer female characters have been appearing on our screens for at least 15 years and the progress up to this point has changed dramatically. For example, around 15 years ago gay female characters were only given bit parts in TV, they were very rare in films and if they did appear it was usually in independent films.

Then, a few years on, as queer female characters began to appear more often, they were given roles that played up to male fantasy or the roles were quite negative. They were the sexy femme fatale characters that would be cat-burglars or sexy spies. Or they would be a bisexual bunny boiler out to take revenge or ruin some poor innocent’s life. If the queer females were a couple most would be trying for a baby. In films they were always the ‘quirky’ one or a bit ‘whacky.’

Next came Hollywood’s interest in teens and young adults struggling with their sexual orientation. Many T.V shows that were aimed at young adults would have a main character who was struggling with their confusion over an attraction to someone of the same sex. They would all go through the same sort of crisis, identifying their feelings, acting upon them to then coming out to family and friends and the aftermath of that.

For the past seven years or so queer female characters have started getting diverse roles. We’ve had two TV shows where all the characters have been queer females. We’ve had detectives, surgeons and even a succubi who are openly gay. Queer female characters have recently been found in every role that straight females have.

GLAAD’s 2015-2016 Where Are We on TV report discovered that queer women make up 2% of TV characters. Somewhere between 1.5-8.8% of women globally identify as non-heterosexual, the average is probably close to 2%. Additionally, only about 1.5% of women at any time are actually in a same-sex relationship. GLAAD’s 2016 Studio Responsibility Index reported that 17.5% of major studio releases had queer characters.

23% were women, meaning that about 4% of all characters were queer women. We mustn’t forget the 1 in 3 mortality rate for queer female characters on TV either. This issue gained a lot of press and criticism as many main queer female characters all suddenly started to die in many different TV programmes.

So, how will they progress in the future, given the firm trends that film and TV appear to follow? It will probably continue to be the same as it is now, but, the problem is that many showrunners, scriptwriters and producers are heterosexual and it doesn’t even occur to them to have lesbian or queer females in leading roles.

It’s probably likely that we will see a few great lesbian pairings, a couple of strong queer females in diverse roles and an unusually high death rate for queer female characters over the next decade or so. But, again, that will depend on what starts to trend across TV and film studios. It will be interesting to see if the GLAAD reports will increase or decrease in figures of gay female characters and we can hope that a few more all queer female TV shows come our way. It’s a funny old world, showbiz.


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17 Fictional Characters That Helped Us Confirm Our Queerness

Buzzfeed asked their readers what fictional character helped them realize they were queer and here are some of the most popular characters nominated along with the best reasons why.


Xena Warrior Princess

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Best reason given by a reader:

The opening credits where she fondles her boobs had me hooked at 5.”


Willow Rosenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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Best reason given by a reader:

I remember thinking how I wanted a girl in long witchy skirts to hold my hand. (Not much has changed.)”


Dana Scully, The X Files

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Best reason:

I hope Gillian Anderson knows how many people she helped. National freaking treasure, that woman.”


Shane McCutcheon, The L Word

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Best reason:

No other words needed except for: HOLY HOT DAMN.”


Spencer and Ashley, South of Nowhere

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Best reason:

It was watching Spencer and Ashley’s relationship develop on South of Nowhere that made me realize that you can have relationships with other women and it’s perfectly normal and amazing.”


Jules Paxton, Bend It Like Beckham

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Best reason:

Jules was just so hot and so good at football and one of the reasons I actually begged my parents to let me start playing. Honestly this is one of my favourite movies for lesbian subtext, and in my head this film ended with Jules and Jess getting together.”


Brittany and Santana, Glee

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Best reason:

I feel like we went through a journey together because when Santana got married to Brittany, I finally started feeling comfortable with myself and came out to the people closest to me.”


Susanna Kaysen, Girl Interrupted

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Best reason:

I realised how not into her relationship with Toby I was and how much I wanted Susanna and Lisa to, basically, do more kissing.”


Lara Croft, Tomb Raider

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Best reason:

I’d always been curious about other girls, but this confirmed to me that I liked girls as well as boys. She just oozed confidence and strength and I wanted to be her! That gave me the confidence to be myself. My husband thinks it’s pretty cool that we had the same teenage crush!”


Megan and Graham, But I’m a Cheerleader

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Best reason:

I sat two inches away from the screen with the sound on mute at 2am (this was in the dark ages before on-demand), and while I didn’t have all the words for it, I knew that Clea and I had more than a rocking bob in common.”


Jillian Holtzmann, Ghostbusters

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Best reason:

Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters makes me wish I was a sexually confused 9-year-old just figuring it out.”


Lucy Diamond, D.E.B.S

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Best reason:

I still crush hard on her character to this day. I could watch her lip-synch ‘A Little Respect’ endlessly.”


Emily and Naomi, Skins

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Best reason:

The Naomi-and-Emily storyline in Skins took the wind right out of me – why couldn’t I stop thinking about this silly TV romance? I was randomly introduced to another fan who supported me through that short roller coaster of revelations. By chance, she turned out to be the absolute love of my life and if it wasn’t for that show and that storyline I wouldn’t be married to the most amazing woman. The past six years have been the best years of my life. Thanks to Skins. I owe Skins so much.”


Jenifer, Jenifer’s Body

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Best reason:

Literally anything with Megan Fox in it got me thinking, Well, maybe I’m bi, and here we are today.”


Alex Vause, Orange is the New Black

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Best reason:

Watching that episode where she puts her glasses on top of her head and tells Doggett, ‘I will fuck you’ – I was all, ‘Yes, please. Where do I sign up!’”


Callie and Arizona, Grey’s Anatomy

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Best reason:

Arizona Robbins and Callie on Grey’s Anatomy. Don’t get me wrong, I guess I always kind of knew I was into girls, but seeing these two characters’ together kind of made it click for me. Forever my favourite couple on Grey’s.”


Missy Pantone, Bring it On

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Best reason:

I was like 5 years old when I saw it, and to this day, I still want her to bring it on.”

12 Fictional Lesbian Couples That Changed Attitudes, Inspired Us And Made TV History

Television is now finally getting to the stage in which lesbian characters are appearing in mainstream programmes, being portrayed in a positive way and are embraced by all audiences. But that has been a long time coming.

So how did TV reach that point? Well, over the year’s television networks have dipped their toes in the water and given us lesbian couples that viewers have endeared to. Here are 13 of those couples that helped make positive changes in television and attitudes.


Willow and Tara (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

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How cute were these two? Yes, OK, Tara died, but while they were together they were a pretty awesome couple. They were also one of the first lesbian couples that had prominent airtime on a primetime American TV series, which in itself is quite cool.


Bette and Tina (The L Word)

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Well, they had their ups and they had their downs, but boy, they were an awesome couple. Both successful career women, both very much in love, they split up, they reconnected, they had a baby and they remained together until the end of the series. These ladies did a lot for lesbians the world over and helped set a benchmark for other lesbian TV characters that appeared when the L word had finished.


Paige and Alex (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

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This teen soap Canadian drama introduced Paige and Alex into the show in 2005 and explored queer relationships in a positive way, helping many teens accept and embrace their sexuality. Paige and Alex were a very popular couple amongst viewers and the show portrayed their relationship in a very realistic and positive way.


Madame Vestra and Jenny (Doctor Who)

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Doctor Who has occasionally had the odd queer character but ‘Lizard woman from the dawn of time and her wife’ appeared in quite a few episodes and they were such a popular couple that Doctor Who showed them in even more episodes because the fan base asked for it. A lizard lady and a female human is just great.


Santana and Brittany (Glee)

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Glee also had a few gay characters while it was on TV, but these two girls had such a positive relationship that they outshone the other queer characters shown. They communicated with each other so well, they were very much in love and even sang to each other. Glee had a very wide audience and Santana and Brittany were adored by many.


Carol and Susan (Friends)

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Carol and Susan made history when Carol gave birth to Ross’s baby while she was in a relationship with Susan. These episodes were aired in 1995 and Friends was aimed at heterosexuals. These episodes brought about a lot of discussions surrounding queer relationships and parenthood which is not bad going as the series didn’t have much of a queer following.


Cosima and Delphine (Orphan Black)

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Cosima and Delphine have had their share of ups and downs, but they have an intense attraction and love for each other which is very real. There have also been some issues between them both as Delphine has kept secrets from Cosima, again something real that does happen in relationships. Another positive is they haven’t killed them off yet either, as TV do have a habit of killing off queer characters. So, these two are obviously doing something right to still be with us.


Lauren and Bo (Lost Girl)

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Lauren and Bo have done a lot for Lesbians in the way that they surround themselves with, and get support from, the people they call family. It’s a bit like our lesbian community. A strong network of people that care about you and understand you. These girls are also sex positive, a unique attribute in TV, especially around queer characters.


Steph and Lena (The Fosters)

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This married lesbian couple with children are portrayed so realistically. They argue, kiss and make up, they talk things through, flirt and play fight. They are very multi-dimensional and are a great inspiration to other lesbian couples as well as showing the hetro community that lesbian couples are just the same as they are.


Jeri and Wendy Ross/Pam (Jessica Jones)

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What is so great about Jeri is the fact she was changed from the comic character of a man into a lesbian female for the TV version, but she has the same complex, twisted and ambiguous character traits as her male comic book character has. This is also a great thing as women can be just like that, lesbian or straight, and it helps again to show that lesbians are just women after all, regardless of their sexual orientation.


Nomi and Amanita (Sense8)

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In this show Nomi is a trans lesbian woman living with her bi-ethnic girlfriend. That’s fantastic in itself, but the past revolutionary difference? Nomi is played by a real trans actor and this is a first on TV. Usually trans characters are played by cis actors so this is ground-breaking stuff.


Waverly and Nicole (Wyonna Earp)

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These two are great characters as they are such opposites. Nicole is a cop and Waverly is part of a family that are cursed. What an unlikely pairing! They’ve also both escaped death on numerous occasions which hopefully means there are no plans to kill them off any time soon. Another great positive.

15 Most Annoying Lesbian Couples On TV

Lesbian relationships on television are generally love-hate. Whether we love one character and hate the other, we love the representation but hate both characters, or whatever the exact storyline is, it’s hard to find a lesbian couple we actually like and want to learn more about.

What is it that has us hating these women so deeply? Well, no two are exactly alike, but generally, they’re relationships we wouldn’t really want to see in our own lives: The women break each other’s hearts in such terrible ways and still stay together? WTF? No one wants to admit that happens in real life, so we don’t want to see it on TV, either.

How many of these couples make you angry, too?


Shane and Jenny (The L Word)

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Truly, The L Word brought us so many relationships to hate – but Shane and Jenny is one of the most universally hated ones. Realistically, we couldn’t picture Escape Artist Shane hooking up with someone with so many obvious attachment issues – ahem, Jenny – or crazy narcissistic Jenny just completely getting over the fact that Shane literally just hooked up with Jenny’s girlfriend.

No matter how much Jenny might be a clinger or a hypocrite, she wouldn’t forgive Shane that fast. And the only way that Shane would have been able to pick Jenny after everything that her friends constantly told her would be if she was still picturing Season One Jenny, the sweet and innocent one.

But Shane and Jenny barely even knew each other back then – Shane had to have been able to see the crazy hanging out.


Dawn Denbo and her lover Cindy (The L Word)

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It’s not too often that you can predict the catastrophe that is a particular relationship right from the onset. One of these rare examples is Dawn Denbo and her lover Cindy from She-Bar in The L Word. These two are obviously deranged from the very beginning – I mean, who wants to be constantly referred to as someone’s lover? Not only does this set a precedence of ownership, but it also implies that Cindy is only good for one thing – and Dawn isn’t the only one she’s getting it from.

Then again, Dawn isn’t exactly a peach either. Would I say she deserved to be cheated on? Probably not – but she definitely deserved to have some bad stuff happen to her.


Camilla and Mimi (Empire)

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This is a relationship that literally only exists to fulfill a possibility once marriage equality was legalized in the United States. Literally – this was confirmed by series co-creator Danny Strong. These two don’t love each other, and they belong to that portion of the (hypothetical) queer community that anti-equality advocates say will destroy the fabric of “traditional marriage” – and as such I’d like to formally reject them as representatives of lesbians and bisexual women.


Samantha and Maria (Sex and the City)

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Who would have ever pictured Samantha with a woman? Answer: No one, because the writers didn’t let us believe there was a chance. Then, suddenly, plot twist – she likes the ladies, too. To prove this, she ends up with a woman she has nothing in common with – no chemistry, even. We just don’t like that. And then when Maria has to basically turn crazy before they break up? Yeah, I don’t buy it – there wasn’t even anything there to start with.


Tammy and Sarah (Transparent)

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This is one that was pretty much doomed from the start, even if fans didn’t want to admit it right away. Realistically, if you leave your husband for your girlfriend, it’s probably not going to work out too great. When Tammy reveals her “true colors” and basically refuses to even acknowledge Sarah’s kids – hello, they’re part of your life now, too – Sarah gets out before things get too horrible. Of course, if Sarah had just left her husband before hooking up with someone else, maybe this whole situation could have been avoided. I guess we’ll never know, since the two both ended up bitter and single and alone.


Emily and Sara (Pretty Little Liars)

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Okay, so these two were never really a couple, but the writers let us think they were going to go there for just a little too long. (Shame on you for intentionally queerbaiting a seriously believable queer character, by the way – not nice!) Anyway, the writers let us think that Emily and Sara were actually going to become a thing – and then had Emily knock her upside the face. You go, Emily.


Emily and Paige (Pretty Little Liars)

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This is another one that had me yelling at the TV – but Em hadn’t learned yet. I mean, would you be able to form a relationship with someone who legit just tried to kill you a few episodes back? I couldn’t, but maybe that’s not a deal-breaker for our Emily. There are more than a few times when Paige royally screws up and I just wanted her to move away or get taken by A or something. Sigh. At least things finally ended – even if it did take just a little too long.


Adriana and Gia (90210)

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Maybe I’m just a little bitter about seeing someone “try out lesbianism” as a way to deal with their boy problems, but Adriana and Gia’s relationship was a mess of stuff we don’t want to deal with. It even spawned a music video – a terrible, terrible music video. Seriously, if you haven’t heard the song, take a listen and see how much angrier you are at the couple afterward.


Tess and Lou (Lip Service)

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It’s rough to be with someone who refuses to come out of the closet, and while it’s a completely respectable choice to stay in the closet, it’s not fair to force someone else back into the closet, essentially, to suit your own needs. It’s not her fault you’re not out of the closet, and it definitely wasn’t her choice. These two weren’t bad people, but they weren’t right for each other – no matter how cute they were together.


Nikki and Dutch (The Strain)

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I love Dutch so much – even if she is a bit wishy-washy in her relationships. But I’d rather see her with Fet than Nikki. Hello, Nikki completely abandoned you for a long time, and stole all your stuff. Why would you even consider getting back together?! Stick with Fet – he’s good for you, and he’ll actually step up and help save the friggin’ world. Nikki would rather fight with you than fight next to you. You deserve so much better!


Leslie and Clarice (Chicago Fire)

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Call me crazy, but the trope about an ex coming back pregnant and the two getting back together for this new family is… Strange. Maybe it actually happens, what do I know – but this couple showed why it’s probably not the best idea – at least not for everyone.


Willow and Kennedy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

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Lesbians aren’t just interchangeable – and the pairing of Willow and Kennedy definitely lacked the depth that Willow and Tara shared. This whole relationship seemed like an excuse for gratuitous onscreen canoodling, and it really didn’t feel like Willow gave a rat’s ass about Kennedy. (Not that she should have been in love with her or anything, but there should have been some chemistry somewhere.)


Jeri and Wendy (Jessica Jones)

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This couple basically exists to remind us that rich person + rich person does not automatically mean their relationship will be happy and successful and magical. In fact, these two are pretty messed up right from the start. This is what happens when you cheat on your wife – be the bigger person and break up before pursuing the side chick! Come on!


Dana and Tonya (The L Word)
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Tonya might just be the most horrible girlfriend on this entire list – I mean, she allocated Dana’s money to herself, and killed her cat. Who in their right mind would get engaged to someone like that?! You mess with animals, you get an immediate “no” from me, and how about a little autonomy in finances, too? If your woman wants to give you some money, she should feel free to do so without any pressure from you. Especially if you’ve already got your own decent paying job. Buh-bye, Tonya, we won’t miss you.

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Lindsay and Melanie (Queer as Folk)

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These two are basically the epitome of lesbian negative stereotypes – from their clothes, to their infidelity, to their man-hating ways (we’re looking at you, Melanie). It was one of the first lesbian relationships openly shown on TV, so we really wanted to like the couple. But it’s obvious that this show was written to cater the gay men and not the lesbians. It’s almost as if it’s denying the existence of lesbians in the Pittsburgh gay scene entirely.


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Natasha Lyonne Talks Being A Lesbian Icon, Who Is “Straight”

In an interview with The New York Times, Natasha Lyonne was asked about being a lesbian icon, who is straight.

I never want to feel like I’m taking ownership of an experience that’s not my own. But it seems like a lot of the female experience is in response to men. And when I play a lesbian character, it means that she’s on her own ride. I love men. I want to sleep with as many as possible. But I don’t want my whole life, and certainly my creative experience, to be in response to always just being “the girl.” Like, who needs it?”

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But she does go on to say she has slept with women,

Mind you, when I say I’m not gay, it doesn’t mean that I’ve never tried sleeping with women. Of course I have. I’m not a dumb-dumb.”

So a not-so-straight lesbian icon then.

‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ Director Jamie Babbit Discusses The Lack Of Feminine Lesbian Characters In Film

In the latest episode of Queerty’s Going Places director Jamie Babbit discusses the lack of feminine lesbian representation in film and how that issue inspired her to create the lesbian cult comedy But I’m A Cheerleader.

FYI, did you know it’s been 17 years since But, I’m A Cheerleader hit theatres.

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Since its release, Babbit has focused mostly on television in recent years, directing episodes of shows like GirlsLooking, The L Word and Orange is the New Black.

However, she did reunite Natasha Lyonne for a new film, Addicted to Fresno.

The 12 Cutest Fictional Queer Female Couples

Admit it: When you see an adorable queer couple in a TV show, you feel a little bit of extra love for that show. Sometimes, we end up watching these shows just for the OTP we see – and it’s because they speak to what we want out of our own relationships. Whether they remind us of the relationships we want or the relationships we’re actually in, these couples really hit the nail on the head.

(Note: There may be spoilers within, so if you haven’t seen the movie or show that the couple is in, be warned.)

Which is your favorite? Do you have more to add? Don’t forget to comment and let us know!


Adele and Emma (Blue is the Warmest Color)

This is one of the biggest lesbian movies to come out in the past few years, and it’s not hard to see why so many people identify with this movie. Not only is it a believable lesbian love story, but it also intertwines the feelings involved with being a young adult – brilliantly portrayed in an artsy way that will send feelings of nostalgia to pretty much anyone. Although the movie has been criticized for the use of artificial vaginas in the sex scenes, what’s more important here – a realistic story, or actual sex? We’d prefer the first, thank you!

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Betty and Helen (Masters of Sex)

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However you might feel about the whole “marriage of convenience” idea, this movie – like Carol – deals with the difficulties of same-sex relationships in the middle of the last century. At the end, they end up coming out in the open anyway, and you can’t help but say “aww” as their relationship blossoms into something else. (Plus, who hasn’t wanted to see Sarah Silverman as a lesbian?)


Brittany and Santana (Glee)

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These two opened the door for those who might be afraid to come out because of their social status in school – how often do you hear about lesbian cheerleaders?! (Porn excluded, of course.) These two shared a love that covered a whole range of emotions, and they even helped to bring a non-sexualized view of lesbian relationships to mainstream media – with these two being the most prominent example of a lesbian couple that isn’t just targeted at lesbians. (Although we probably love them just a little more.)


Carol and Therese (Carol)

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Personally, I love historical looks at lesbian life, and these two are a great example of what lesbian life looked like in the ‘50s – including all the secrets, all the hiding, and all the complications involved. What’s even more impactful is that there are still so many people who are wrapped up in similar situations, even with the world’s “more liberal” leanings. Everything these two went through was so heartbreaking, not only for the pain they felt, but because it serves as a reminder that we really haven’t made that much progress in the last 60 years.

(*Note – We have made a lot of progress, in general, but there’s still so much more to be done.)


Dana and Alice (The L Word)

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Maybe it’s just the sexual tension that was building up for so long by the time they actually got together, but Dana and Alice were definitely one of the cutest couples on The L Word. We were rooting for them from the start, and then when they finally became an item, it’s like all our cute little romantic prayers were answered.


Delphine and Cosima (Orphan Black)

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While their relationship might have been a bit weird at first, it’s always nice to know that your partner knows you inside and out – and, truly, these two have a scientific connection that all of us who don’t live in a sci-fi world will probably never understand. More than that, Delphine represents the straight-girl-crush-turned-true-love that we all kinda wish happened more often.


Jules and Nic (The Kids Are All Right)

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While much of this movie is a bit uncomfortable, the way the movie shows the lesbian moms in this movie is raw, believable, and honest – something that we don’t often see. These two will work their way into your heart and ensure that their relationship isn’t one you’ll soon forget. Even if you hate the rest of the movie (as some people do), Jules and Nic are the older lesbian couple we all secretly wish we knew.


Lena and Stef (The Fosters)

Ah, another set of lesbian moms that we all wish we could be – or have! Lena and Stef have their fair share of problems, but that’s what makes them realistic, and it melts our heart the way they manage to balance their “problem kids” with their love for each other. Their relationship could be strained or full of resentment, but it’s not, and we’re grateful for that.


Luce and Rachel (Imagine Me & You)

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It’s hard to not love Piper Perabo or Lena Headey by themselves, so the two in a relationship together? Extra loveable, for sure. Not only is this one of those rare tales where the “bi-curious woman” doesn’t end up going back to her man, but they’re also super adorable together, even right from the start. There’s even a pretty believable almost-sex scene, where the ladies have that awkward first-timer sex that most lesbian films pretend is perfect. Hello, the first time is usually not perfect – so kudos to the director for making this one realistic.


Pauline and Victoria (Lost & Delirious)

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Ah, boarding school love – one of the dream fantasies of the lesbian community (and also one of the biggest fantasies of the straight male community, but that’s not what we’re talking about here). These two learned about themselves, and each other, and ripped at our heartstrings as they did it. The movie might seem a little dated now, but it’s considered one of the classics of lesbian cinema. Just try to watch it without crying – I dare you!


Shane and Carmen (The L Word)

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However you personally feel about Shane, I can pretty much guarantee that you were royally pissed off when she left Carmen just because her dad told her she’d do it eventually – and “might as well be now” or whatever stupid words he actually used. Carmen brought a sense of balance to Shane, and we were really, really hoping they’d end up together. Shame on you, Shane, for throwing away the best thing to ever happen to you. Shame! (It also doesn’t hurt that Carmen was my #1 favorite character from the entire show, but hey… That’s just how things go sometimes.)


Syd and Ali (Transparent)

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It’s always a little rough when you are dealing with a character who didn’t come out prior to the start of their same-sex relationship, but season two of Transparent handled it the best way they could – and I, for one, am thankful for that. There might be some who doubt the authenticity of this relationship, but we can’t help but hope that they’ll figure everything out in the end. (Fingers crossed!)


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13 Queer Female Characters I’d Hate to Hang Out With

Is it just me, or is there some unwritten rule somewhere that queer characters are either loved or hated, and rarely in between? Don’t get me wrong – I always love when there are queer characters in the first place, but some of them make me incredibly disappointed.

Sometimes I wonder – who makes these people up? Some of these characters are so unlikeable that I can’t imagine anyone being friends with them, let alone dating them. To each their own, I guess, but I really don’t understand it.

How many of these characters would you hate to hang out with? Do you have more to add? Let us know in the comments!


1.     Shana, Pretty Little Liars

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I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I’m a near-obsessive PLL fan. I love their inclusion as a not-bumbling-idiot lesbian character literally as one of the main crew. It’s pretty sad that’s so groundbreaking, but hey – at least I get it somewhere. They’ve included quite a few queer characters already – and even though a few of them have now been killed off or sent away, most of them have been pretty… Normal. It’s so nice to see normal representation that doesn’t feel forced.  Hallelujah!

Unfortunately, one of the pretty normal characters is the terrible, terrible Shana. She’s not exactly hate-inducing, for the most part, but she is a manipulative, back-stabbing wench who seriously did some emotional damage.


2.    Tori, Lost and Delirious

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I haven’t actually seen Lost and Delirious yet (it’s on my list), but every account of Tori makes me not want to like her. She might have her own problems, and in some ways we can all sympathize with having problems – but her character leaves Piper Perabo’s character, and no friend of mine would ever dump Piper Perabo!


3.    Jessica, Kissing Jessica Stein

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Of course, the idea of girl-meets-girl, girl-kisses-girl, boy-gets-girl-in-the-end automatically aggravates lesbians to no end. I know you can’t help who you fall for, but did you have to fall for him? Jessica’s character sounds a bit like me in some regards, so I’d probably get over my dislike eventually, but my heart would be broken the whole time.


4.    Piper, Orange is the New Black

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I feel like I’m supposed to want to hang out with Piper, and that’s probably why I wouldn’t want to. She seems like a younger, more homo-naïve version of myself (which is weird, because I’m pretty sure she’s older than I am?) but I can’t get over the fact that she’s just immature about so many things.


5.    Kennedy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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This might be a little unfair, because it’s not Kennedy’s fault that I don’t like her. But she’s not Tara, and we’re pre-programmed to reject anyone who isn’t our favorite character’s OTL. But that doesn’t change the fact that Kenny definitely isn’t Tara, and she’s just distracting Willow from the appropriate mourning process. I mean, hello… She lost the love of her life and you’re just trying to get some? How rude.


6.    Marissa Cooper, The O.C.

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I can’t stand selfish people, and Marissa is a huge offender in that regard. She’s the pretty embodiment of every worst ex-girlfriend any lesbian has ever had in the history of ever and that would make her off-limits as a friend in my book. I could deal with her sad story if she wasn’t so hung up on herself all the time.


7.     Maureen, Rent

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At first I thought I was alone in hating Maureen, but it turns out she bugs the hell out of other people, too – as she rightly should. She’s pretty, but she uses her beauty to manipulate and use people. I wouldn’t be able to hang out with her because I just know I’d fall for her charms, and I really can’t be involved with someone like that.


8.    Tamsin, My Summer of Love

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Anytime someone is toying with someone else’s emotions, it’s an automatic “no” from me. I don’t tolerate my family members who do that, what would make me tolerate it in a friend? Tamsin was such a terrible person, and it really is a shame, because she’s so beautiful – don’t let the beautiful ones be evil!


9.    Jenny, The L Word

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I must admit: I had a pretty fat crush on Season One Jenny. But as she started to find her success, she let it warp her into this really awful person. She was manipulative, deceitful, narcissistic, cheating, animal abusing troll of a woman. Seriously, what the hell happened – and how do I make sure it never happens to me?!


10. Ashley, South of Nowhere

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I feel like I’m alone among SoN fans on this one, but – despite my tremendous attraction for Mandy Musgrave as an actress, I absolutely hated her character. I feel like Spencer could have ended up with better, and as much as I didn’t care for her to be with Aiden, either, Ashley was just so… spoiled, and she felt spoiled, too. Can we have some bisexual ladies who aren’t rich snobs?


11.  Ramona, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

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There’s another bisexual character I’m not too terribly pleased with, too: Ramona. While she didn’t exactly do anything too terrible, I think that her dry humor and “let’s not make a big deal out of it” attitude about everything would put me off a bit if I were to try and hang out with her. I think the part of it that’s the worst to me is that I really, really wanted to like her – her crazy hair is fun and exciting… But I think I’d rather be friends with Julie.


12. Tina, The L Word

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Call me crazy, but… I was not happy that Bette and Tina ended up together. Tina was a complete troll about the whole Angelica thing, from the very beginning, and I think I would have the hardest time being friends with someone who acted like that. Where the women on the show often ended up hurting one another, Jenny and Tina are the only ones who set out to hurt the people they loved, and that makes me not want to be friends with either one of them.


13. Paige, Degrassi

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I had a crush on Alex for a long time, so when they first showed her kissing Paige, I was super happy. But then the more I thought about it, the more I really couldn’t stand Paige. She went crazy, and she totally took advantage of Alex’s love for her. Sure, Alex wasn’t exactly easy to be with, but Paige essentially grew to hate all the things she originally loved about Alex, and that never really sat right with me.


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15 Times Tumblr Nailed Televisions Rampant Killing Of Lesbians

Three prominent lesbian characters have been killed on three beloved TV shows over the past month, and we’re upset.

So are these Tumblr fans, but they have some some seriously creative ways to respond.

Take notes, class is in session:

1. Be prepared

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2. Save them now

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3. Reality sucks

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4. Shhhh, she’s not really gay

https://aerials-creampuff.tumblr.com/post/140914872743

5. Straight vs. gay

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6. Top tips

http://pasteljongins.tumblr.com/post/141404780192/how-to-survive-as-a-television-character

7. Plot twist

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8. We’d be rich too

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9. Predictable

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10. New anthem

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11. Will they ever listen

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12. Men’s man pain

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13. Writers block

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14. Queerbiat

https://ithelpstodream.tumblr.com/post/141446673452

15. Walk away from the shows

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The good news is that there are still several lesbian, bi, or fluid female characters on TV: Annalise on How to Get Away with Murder, Tara on The Walking Dead, and Nora and Mary Louise on The Vampire Diaries, to name a few.

TV Shows Are Still Killing Lesbians Off

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Merely weeks ago on the CW sci-fi drama The 100, Lexa (played by Fear the Walking Dead star Alycia Debnam-Carey) died shortly after consummating her relationship with series lead Clarke (Eliza Taylor).

This event sparked massive outcry from the The 100 fandom who accused the show’s writers of falling back in a well-established trope known as “Dead Lesbian Syndrome.”

Now TV land is at it again, and sadly in the latest episode of  The Walking Dead has killed off one of their two lesbian characters, Alexandria’s doctor Denise (played by Merritt Wever), who died from a nasty arrow through the eye (mid-sentence, no less) fired by returning villain Dwight (Austin Amelio).

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Sadly, this is third lesbian character to die across three different TV shows – The 100 and Jane the Virgin being the other shows – in as many months.

Fans expressed their frustration via social.

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Wever herself addressed potential backlash telling The Daily Beast:

I understand if viewers watching the show really identify with the character or like seeing themselves or some part of the world that they know is real and true and valid and prevalent represented.

And then to have that taken away, I definitely see how that would be disappointing in the broader scheme of things. I’m not sure that that’s what was going on here but I understand the sentiment very well and I am familiar with the [trope of] black characters or gay characters getting killed off because [they’re considered] less human or less real or less important and people aren’t gonna care as much. From my end, it didn’t feel like that’s what was happening though. But I certainly understand the concern in the wider culture.

But adding fuel to the fire is how the death scene plays out exactly as it does in the show’s graphic novel counterpart – the difference being the comic kills off male character Abraham (played in the series by Michael Cudlitz), not Denise.

It’s also being argued that this trope – also known as “Dead Lesbian Syndrome” – is heightened by the way in which Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) managed to survive a bullet to the eye in episode nine while the arrow to Denise’s eye kills her instantly.

Denise’s death now leaves her partner, Tara as the show’s sole surviving lesbian.

The show features a gay couple, Aaron (Ross Marquand) and Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson) and while they still remain alive in the series, their relationship has never really factored into the overarching plot.

So there we have it another show, another dead Lesbian.

 

 

Fans Of ‘The 100’ Launch Successful Fundraiser After Core Character Killed Off

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Season 3 of The 100.

A death on The 100 prompted a huge backlash against the show, but this anger has sparked a social media campaign and a fundraiser for The Trevor Project.

Lexa, played by Australian actress Alycia Debnam-Carey, was a fan favourite on the show set in a post-apocalyptic world. Her relationship with Clarke, played by Eliza Taylor, starts as a rivalry between two clans but eventually becomes romantic causing the fandom to create the ship name Clexa.

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In last week’s episode, Lexa was killed off after being hit by a stray bullet in front of her on-screen partner, Clarke. This happens mere minutes after Clarke and Lexa had sex for the first time, a culmination in several episodes of teasing their relationship.

The death caused the birth of a social media campaign with the hashtag #LGBTFansDeserveBetter trending on Twitter with more than 250,000 posts.

A more tangible effort was also made in a fundraiser for The Trevor Project, which has raised more than $43,000 of its $45,000 goal with over 1600+ donating.

The fundraiser reads;

The passion behind this collective disbelief and the sheer callousness of those involved in selectively elevating the Queer representation of its character(s) only to backtrack in the most disingenuous of manners, has left many with a feeling of emptiness and betrayal. This is not something ‘sorry’ can fix,”

There is not much we can do in the way of changing what’s already been written. What we can do however, is unite to help those who are hurting and despondent through this. We now have the means to reach a large audience, individuals who need to be heard, who need to be understood and who ask for our help,”

The 100 creator Jason Rothenberg responded to the outrage by saying he loved Lexa’s character, but she had to be written off the show.

Talking to IGN, Rothenberg explained

I adore [Lexa], I think she’s amazing, I miss her more than anybody else. I only had the use of her as an actor for seven episodes, six really. There was a date for certain at which we were going to lose her and after that it would be very difficult to arrange to see her again and that definitely played a big role in my decision to have the story go in that direction.”

Rothenberg continued that Carey’s starring role on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead possibly affected his decision.

Were she not on another show, would I have not had this story play out? It’s hard for me to say yes or no … this is a world where, we’ve done it before, no one is safe … there are no happy endings in the sense of easy way outs.”


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Another TV Show, Another Lesbian Character Death

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Season 3 of The 100.

Last Thursday, a major character death sent shock waves throughout the fandom for the popular CW sci-fi series The 100.

Loyal legion of fans of The 100 erupted with outrage when Lexa, Commander of the twelve clans, was killed off in a thoroughly rushed, ruthless fashion.

But while The 100 has long been known for its brutal, no-one-is-safe approach to killing off main cast members, this character’s death hit especially hard – not just for members of the fandom, but for all of us queer women too.

The 100 is a unique show, in many ways. It’s not just another teen drama, its political themes, gripping plot, complex female characters, and deep study of a post-apocalyptic survivalist future have earned it major critical acclaim and an intense fan following.

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And last season, fans were thrilled when the main character, Clarke, began to develop feelings for another young woman named Lexa.

The show was heavily praised for its representation of bisexual characters on television.

It presented this same sex relationship between two women – who are powerhouses in their own right – wonderfully, and the coupling added a complexity, depth, and importance to the plot of story.

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And this is why so many of us are shocked and dismayed when – in this milestone episode -the writers decide to tear down the foundation they’ve built and discard this romance altogether with one pull of a trigger.

The backlash over Lexa’s death is not just about the fact that The 100 killed off Lexa, but the manner of her dying. The stray bullet that killed her is eerily similar to the stray bullet that killed Buffy, the Vampire Slayer‘s Tara, famously ending one of the few recurring lesbian relationships on TV in a maelstrom of tragedy and fandom backlash.

In the annals of cinema and queer history “the dead lesbian” trope can be found it in notable film, theatre, and literature dealing with queer characters, from tragic lesbian ground breaker The Children’s Hour to many of the most famous and influential lesbian novels.

There’s an entire Tumblr devoted to chronicling the dead lesbian trope on television, which stretches back decades.

In an episode of The 100 podcast The Dropship, the episode’s writer, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, explained that the creative team had to write the character of Lexa out of the show because her actor, Alycia Debnam-Carey, had become a lead on Fear the Walking Dead:

We considered a lot of different options, including the possibility that killing her would make a political statement that we were not comfortable with.

But ultimately when you’re talking about this world and the stakes we’re dealing with, we genuinely came to the perspective in the writers’ room that this death would be the best way for us to, not only write the character out of the show, but protect ourselves against the possibility that we might never see the actor again ….

And honestly I think that in terms of the epic quality of the show … we honestly look at the story as an epic tale of shocking fate and destiny. And, you know, kings tend to not retire from being kings.”

Grillo-Marxuach acknowledged that fans would be “very unhappy” with Lexa’s death, but argued that the show’s narrative is “the struggle for love and humanity in an atavistic world that only understands conflict” and thus dictated the mode of the actor’s departure.

I can’t control or dictate how people are going to react to a character death on the show, and obviously there’s a huge spectrum of, outside the narrative bubble of the show in terms of the LGBT representation and all that, that has to be addressed.

The hope that these characters are going to find happiness and joy halfway through the series is a very poignant one, but is in no way borne out by any of the events of the show.”

So, the argument in favour of killing off Lexa is that there should be room on television for a multiplicity of portrayals of queer characters, including characters who endure tragedy.

This season, perhaps in anticipation of killing the Clarke/Lexa shipThe 100 did introduce another queer relationship in the form of the character Miller and an off-screen boyfriend, as well as another potential love interest for Clarke in the form of Niylah, a female character she’s already hooked up with once.

But as always, the pattern of Hollywood killing off lesbians and ending happy lesbian relationships is still here. Perhaps the most heartbreaking responses to Lexa’s death also underscore just how rarely happy queer female relationships appear on our screens.

Hit Lesbian Web Series ‘Starting From Now’ Will Return In Spring, Sizzling Trailer Released

The excellent Australian lesbian web series, Starting From … Now clocked up an amazing 20 million views since it’s first release, and proved popular with queer audiences around the world.

Season Four, is now on its way, with a new trailer being launched this week.

The shows creator, Julie Kalcef, says she created the series in direct response to a lack of diversity on Aussie screens, and the show features a talented cast who have come together to deliver the lives and loves of four women living in inner-Sydney.

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Starting with an illicit attraction between Steph (Sarah de Possesse) and her friend’s girlfriend, Darcy (Rosie Lourde – Felony), the series has rapidly grown across three seasons to touch on topics such as familial estrangement, drug and alcohol abuse, infertility and the desire to start a family in a lesbian relationship.

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Kalceff explains,

The focus of this series was never about sexuality and what it means to be a lesbian. From the beginning, the intention was to portray complex female characters that happen to be lesbians. The series is about what it means to be human and the diversity of issues we’re confronted with on a daily basis. It just happens to be set in the LGBTI community.”

Watch the first seasons online at www.kitschmix.tv. Season 4 will be available in March, 2016.

Jessica Jones’ Carrie-Anne Moss On What It’s Like Playing The Show’s Lesbian Lawyer

When Jessica Jones debuted on Netflix towards the tail-end of last year, it was (rightfully) praised by just about everyone.

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10:  Krysten Ritter filming "Jessica Jones" on March 10, 2015 in New York City.  (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

While some were eager for more episodes of the show (the Marvel series is just 13 episodes long), its first season featured a heart-warming female friendship, it centred on abuse victims getting justice for the crimes committed against them and it also gave us lesbian lawyer Jeri Hogarth.

Jeri Hogarth’s inclusion in Jessica Jones was monumental and not just because she’s the first lesbian in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Hogarth is also noteworthy because she’s not perfect and in fact, for most of the series, her actions make her largely unlikeable.

But after the show’s villain (Kilgrave) mind-controls Hogarth’s ex-wife Wendy into giving her a thousand cuts, you might just feel sorry for her. Or, she’ll give you something to debate at least.

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During the TCA press tour, AfterEllen asked Carrie-Anne Moss, who plays Jeri Hogarth, whether it was Hogarth’s “morally ambiguous” character that drew her to the role:

Yeah, I was just excited about playing an interesting woman, right? An interesting character. And I loved that there was no cliché. I hate characters that are a clichéd or an idea. And ultimately that’s my job to not play it that way but the writing–it can be written that way. So that was very clearly put to me, it’s a human story and not any cliché.”

Moss also revealed her surprise when she read the script and found out that Wendy would be killed:

That was kind of like “Oh!” Because I kept kind of thinking maybe they’ll get back together, you know? That Jeri was leading with sex and maybe she’s gonna find–”Oh my god, what did  I do? Take me back!” I kept thinking that in my mind.”

While Moss also calls her character “honest”, “fierce” and says that that “she’s not bullshitting anybody”, the actor wouldn’t reveal her wishlist for Jessica Jones season two, explaining that she “wouldn’t want to limit myself by my thinking”.

Unfortunately, we have no idea when the second season of the show will be released or even filmed, as another Marvel/Netflix show, The Defenders, is also in the works. Watch this space.

Monica Raymund Explains Chicago Fire’s Lack of LGBT Characters

When it premiered in 2012, many queer female viewers started watching firehouse drama Chicago Fire.

While the show intrigued and excited with its tragedy and drama and the friendships between the emergency workers, lesbian character Leslie Shay (played by Lauren German) was also a huge draw to the NBC show.

Unfortunately, Shay was killed off as season three began, with the EMT being hit in the head with a pipe as Firehouse 51 went up in flames, and her colleagues were unable to save her.

Despite Shay’s death providing the emotional punch that the show’s writers were aiming for, many fans were upset and frustrated that once again, a lesbian character had been killed off on a television show.

Leslie Shay

That’s not the only thing leaving LGBT fans unhappy though, as since Shay’s death, none of the Chicago franchise shows (including Chicago Med and Chicago P.D) have featured LGBT characters. During a TCA panel, AfterEllen asked the franchise’s creator, Dick Wolf, why:

The Shay character was written that way from the beginning. We don’t go out of our way, and we never have on any of the shows, to integrate specific groups. I think that that’s shortsighted. I think that if it’s a natural story development, it should be utilized, just like I’ve never counted heads in any of the shows and said, Oh, black, Hispanic, white.’ It doesn’t work that way.

You cast actors who you think are going to bring a new color to the palette, but I honestly  it has certainly not been avoided, but it is not something that the writers feel that they have to include. If there is a character who lends itself to any designation, we have absolutely no objection to using them or to developing characters who have that as part of their makeup.”

Out bisexual actress Monica Raymund, who plays Gabriella Dawson on Chicago Fire also offered her opinion on it, saying that:

I think that once you start trying to fulfill boxes to meet quota, you’re not operating from a place of artistry, you’re operating from a place of business. So I’m an artist, I will put my ticket in his hat, and say that if it happens organically that’s the way it should happen. I mean, we’re not on Showtime doing The L Word here, that storyline was about that community and those humans.

This is about first responders where some are straight, some are gay, and some are queer. So I think those characters will happen organically. But to put that as a priority, it’s like saying, ‘You need to cast more Latin actors!’ Maybe that conversation is better for the entire industry not just for our show. “

While many fans will agree that media needs to be diverse (both in terms of race and in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity), Raymund and Wolf’s words will do little to salve concerns.

With the Chicago franchise being made up of three shows, the lack of LGBT representation does stick out and many will argue that in order to reflect the diversity of those professions and represent its viewers, the show will have to do better in future.

Cartoon Network UK Censors ‘Steven Universe’ To Make It Less ‘Gay’

Steven Universe is the story of a boy that helps protect the universe with his gem powers alongside his three female sister/mother role models and superheroes Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl.

The show – which has already won praise for including a number of strong, female characters in a comparatively male-dominated genre – confirmed last year that characters Ruby and Sapphire are a lesbian couple, who are so in love they can’t bare to separate. The two female-presenting also combine to create the super-powered kickass warrior Garnet.

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The show is now playing in the UK, but cartoon is being censored, which has angered many fans.

The show has been edited to alter a scene that previously showed the two female-presenting characters dancing together. The UK broadcast replaced this intimate moment with frames of a male character’s face.

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Sadly, Cartoon Network UK is taking much-needed role models away from vulnerable kids,’ a petition reads, which has already been signed by over 2,000 people so far.

Steven Universe is a beloved series acclaimed for its ground-breaking portrayal of queer characters. I’ve heard many young people say it changed their lives. In the UK and Europe, CN UK have censored a romantic dance between two female characters, Pearl and Rose Quartz. Queer youngsters treasure and cling to this moment. The same episode (“We Need to Talk”) has plenty of hetero dancing and kissing, so it looks like they’re censoring this because it’s two women.”

Ruby and Sapphire not the only characters, with a queer feel. There is also on 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.

When Cartoon Network in France did something similar, there was also outrage. The channel listened and let the original broadcast go out in future airings.

Cartoon Network UK has yet to respond to the petition.

8 Fictional Lesbians To Crush On

It’s a part of the appeal of any fictional series. We want to find people in the act who we feel drawn to, and for the romantic in us, we want to be able to picture ourselves with them. Sometimes these characters are in TV shows and movies, while other times they may come from different media.

As lesbians, it’s also in our nature to seek out media which shows us – something that, until relatively recently, was pretty hard to do. Now there are a ton of icons of the lesbian community that we can look up to and aspire to be with, or to be like.

How many of these fictional lesbians would make your own list?


#1 and #2 – Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova (t.A.T.u)

Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova

Okay, so these ladies aren’t “exactly” fictional, nor are they “exactly” lesbians.

The ladies of t.A.T.u rose to fame with the implication that they were lesbians – which, it was revealed later, was a bit of a marketing ploy. However, those who know me, know that music is a huge part of my life, so it would make sense that there would be musicians on this list. Even though the “lesbians” that they were in their videos was merely an act (and therefore they wouldn’t meet the criteria for real-life lesbian role models), the fact that they had international audiences convinced that they were really gay makes them a shoe-in for a “fictional” lesbian category.

It’s highly unlikely that you haven’t heard of t.A.T.u if you were interested in pop/electro music in the early 2000’s. They never really reached super stardom, but they stayed in the spotlight for years. Unfortunately, last year, Yulia made some anti-gay comments that caused quite a stir, but Lena spoke out saying she absolutely does not agree with the comments. Thanks for your support, Lena!


#3 and #4 – Spencer Carlin and Ashley Davies (South of Nowhere)

Spencer Carlin and Ashley Davies (South of Nowhere)

This couple was a part of the teen drama “South of Nowhere” – did any of you watch that show too? Anyway, in the show, Spencer has just moved to LA from Ohio (if I remember correctly) and she discovers that she might actually be interested in girls – something she had never considered before – and she begins this wild yo-yo romance with Ashley Davies. I’m not going to give anything away if you want to go watch it, but basically, this was one on-screen romance that I loved as a teenager.

In the show, Spencer and Ashley learn to explore the full extent of their feelings throughout the show, and is in the rare category of shows which examines sexuality being fluid – which is pretty monumental for a show aimed at teenagers. Watching this show, I was drawn to the innocence of Spencer as well as the freeness of Ashley. I highly recommend you check it out if you haven’t already.


#5 – Alice Piezecki (The L Word)

Alice Piezecki (The L Word)

The L Word fans will immediately recognize this name. Basically, as a writer, Alice sums up a lot of what I hope for in my own life – although she has some flaws, she’s able to find success and make decent choices in regards to her friendships and (usually) good choices in her relationships.

I think my crush on Alice is based on my own personal goals. After all, we’re attracted to women whose life plans mesh well with ours – and I could picture myself lining up quite nicely with Alice.

The popularity of The L Word tells me that I probably don’t have to explain much here, but for those few who haven’t seen it, it details the lives of several (fictional) lesbians in LA and the drama that’s intertwined with their lives. If you haven’t actually seen it yet, you definitely should – although it’s no longer in production.


#6 – Maggie (Better than Chocolate)

Maggie (Better than Chocolate)

Maggie is the leading character in one of my favorite “lesbian movies”, Better than Chocolate. In the movie, she is a less-than-out artistic lesbian who just wants to be accepted as she is – flawed and loving. Well, she’s also beautiful, and she deals with her many crises in the movie quite well. (She does have quite a few crises, though.)

If you haven’t seen the movie, I encourage you to check it out – it’s a beautifully poignant movie that tackles not only lesbian issues, but also the issues of other sub-sections of the gay community. It’s beautifully written and I’m consistently surprised that it’s not more popular.


#7 – Sloan (Last Life)

Sloan (Last Life)

Last Life is something that I have just recently learned about, but I am enthralled in the story. The show follows two witches, who are soul mates – separated by a million factors, but destined to be together. Basically, she screws up somehow, and her most recent incarnation will be her last.

Something interesting to me is that Sloan isn’t “exactly” a lesbian – in her past life, she was a man. This is an interesting premise, as there is a belief in my family that those of us who are gay, may have been the opposite gender in a past life. It was very interesting for me to discover that my family is not alone in this theory.

There are a million other things going on here, and it’s hard to explain to those who haven’t seen the series. Sloan is inspirational to me as she represents power, mystery, and the pull between good and evil. After all, isn’t that something we all deal with? Okay, so maybe most of us don’t have magical powers, too, but that’s a minor detail.


#8 – Marisol Guzman (Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger)

Marisol Guzman (Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger)

This is a bit of a different subject for me. It seems that less people read books these days, which means that if a book doesn’t make it to the big times, it’s likely to be overlooked. Hard Love tells the story of an independent zine writer, Johnny, and his friendship with the complex Marisol. I happened upon this book before I came out as a teenager, and I have read it probably a dozen times since then.

Marisol Guzman is a writer, an adoptee, an honor student, and a lesbian. Of course, there are many other aspects of her personality, but these four separate characteristics help to shape a majority of her decisions throughout the book and helped to endear me to her character. If you have the chance to read this book, even as an adult (it’s a young adult fiction novel), I highly recommend it.

There are probably a hundred other fictional lesbians I could detail here, but I think it would be more fun to learn about yours! I’m always looking for new TV shows to explore, new movies to watch, new books to read… Especially ones with gay and lesbian themes. It’s absolutely exciting that they are getting more light lately, and I look forward to your recommendations of fictional lesbians to crush on.

Marvel Introduces Its First Queer Leading Character

The first episode of Jessica Jones doesn’t go public until November 20th — and though we avoid major spoilers, you should turn back now if you want to go into the series knowing nothing.

So, a few days ago Marvel and Netflix dropped a bomb on New York Comic Con on Sunday when they offered up a surprise screening of the entire first episode of the highly anticipated Jessica Jones series.

It was also confirmed that the new show gives the Marvel Cinematic Universe its first lesbian character – attorney Jeri Hogarth played by Carrie-Anne Moss.

Moss, who probably remains best known for her work in The Matrix films, is playing a gender-swapped version of the male character Jeryn Hogarth from the Marvel comic books.

Hogarth is a high-powered lawyer who hires the titular Jessica (a super-humanly strong private eye) to serve a subpoena to a heavily guarded club owner.

While the women discuss the job during a late-night phone-call, a young woman slinks up behind the glamorous Jeri and begins nuzzling and nibbling her neck.

Just a few scenes later, we find out that this encounter is an affair, and that Jeri’s cheating on her female partner.

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It has also be reported that eponymous hero Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is bisexual or sexually fluid, with hints of a previous relationship with best friend Trish ‘Patsy’ Walker (Rachael Taylor).

Later in the episode, Jessica is in need of cash and, after dark, drops in to see Trish. Neither character says it outright, but the brief interaction heavily implies that they used to be a romantic item.

There’s talk of how Jessica used to discuss her most closely guarded emotional struggles until she pushed Trish away, there’s a palpable and melancholy attraction in their gazes, and there’s a sweet surrender to financial kindness on Trish’s part that is usually reserved for concerned former lovers.

This is seen as a big deal, considering that every Marvel movie thus far has featured a white straight male lead.

To date, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has never shown us openly gay women. Indeed, the only depictions of non-straight characters in Marvel’s shared universe have been a recent episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that reveals a bit player to be gay and a regrettable, Blu-Ray-only short feature that shows Sam Rockwell’s Iron Man 2 villain alluding to having sex in prison.

Unlike those minor beats, Jessica Jones‘s queer relationship scenes are clearly integral to the internal lives of major characters, and are not played for laughs or for shock value. They’re sad, sweet, and subtle.

A Netflix series, of course, is a far leap away from a blockbuster film, but still, progress.

The new show is also raising eyebrows over its frank portrayal of sex in general, especially noting that Marvel TV and movies are generally pretty sexless.

Jessica Jones hits Netflix on Nov. 20.

Season 2 premiere: HTGAWM Gets Its Bisexual Storyline Right With Authentic Portrayal

The Season 2 premiere How to Get Away with Murder gave fans another plot twist, when Viola Davis’ Annalise Keating revealed that the superstar lawyer had a romantic past with guest star Famke Janssen (playing Eve Rothlow).

Talking to Access Hollywood, the Emmy winner said she was “very surprised” to discover her character was bisexual, and she didn’t want her mom to see her kissing a woman.

Viola Davis

I didn’t tell my mom. I said, ‘Don’t watch it. Go to the casino. Go over to a friend’s house.’ But I thought it was very apropos to have a past that’s not defined by anyone or anything. I don’t think that Annalise is a character who wants to be defined by anything. I think that she’s free-falling.”

The moments they shared weren’t awkward they were organic and steamy.

The backstory leading up to the kiss was excellently written and provided the opportunity for viewers to ponder about if Annalise and Eve could have been romantically involved. The moments both characters shared on screen were riveting and authentic.

The dramatic episode ended with (spoiler alert!) the sound of a gun being fired and a shot of Annalise lying in a pool of blood, but (spoiler alert 2.0!) it won’t prove to be a fatal injury for her character.


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When asked if she was concerned that her HTGAWM days were over when she initially read the scene, Viola joked,

No. I’m number one – I have a good contract. I wasn’t scared. I was just, very intrigued. You always want people to lean in to a show. That’s the power of a good narrative, so I liked it.”

The actress hinted at revenge for Annalise for whoever shot her though.

Someone’s gonna pay. Soon, at some point, someone’s gonna pay!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX41P6r_vCQ

 

Ellen Page: Straight Actors Who Play LGBT Characters Shouldn’t Be Called ‘Brave

Ellen Page has said it is ‘borderline offensive’ to call straight actors ‘brave’ for taking on gay roles.

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In an interview with TIME Magazine, Page said that when people call straight actors courageous for becoming a gay character for a film or TV show it’s “borderline offensive” to the LGBT community.

Maybe this is a bad thing to say, but I have a hard time when people call actors brave. I don’t really get that, because our job is to read something on a page.”

Page who portrays one-half of a lesbian couple in Freeheld opposite Julianne Moore — explained why such a characterisation is inherently insulting by way of contrast:

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When people are [called] brave in regards to playing LGBTQ people, that’s borderline offensive. I’m never going to be considered brave for playing a straight person, and nor should I be.”

She also discussed the growing level of diversity in entertainment that’s been cropping up lately — and what it could mean for the future of the biz.

It’s evident from what people are watching on television that people want diversity. They want it. Whether they consciously know it or not, I’m not sure, but look at Orange Is the New Black. You’re seeing actors that, if that show didn’t exist, we might not have ever seen — that are extraordinary.”

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This trend makes Page “excited,” she said,

because the whole reason to go to a film is to disappear into another world, and to have your humanity connect with someone else’s, who you might not ever meet in your life!

To be moved and have more compassion, that’s the wonderful thing all art can do, and particularly film!”

For Page, this goes well beyond a celebration of the LGBT community, too.

I want to see gay stories, of course, because I’m gay, and I want to connect to a reflection of my life on film, but I also want to see what it’s like to be a young Native person, African-American, African-Canadian. Hopefully that will keep changing.”

Page recently confronted Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz about his discrimination of LGBTI people in the name of ‘religious freedom,’ and she addressed the debate in the interview.

The tricky thing about religion is you can’t even have a conversation. You just cannot have a conversation. It doesn’t affect me: For me it goes in one ear and out the other. But when you think of young people who are potentially being preached to by said person and their parents believe it, and they happen to be gay or trans or what-have-you, they’re going to have a really, really challenging time.”

Page said she is often told that she will find God and be with a man.

And that’s what’s so sad about it. Getting infused with that amount of shame into your body and into your mind. Potentially getting kicked out of your house. Potentially in a place where you’re homeless and every night of your life is life-or-death. That’s when I have no time for this religious argument. I don’t understand being part of a religion where your religious liberty or your religious freedom is based on other people not being treated equally. I don’t understand that – I really don’t.”

Need Cheering Up? Well Scientists Say Watching Sad Films Will Actually Make You HAPPIER

Have you ever noticed that after crying your eyes out watching a real tearjerker, you suddenly feel slightly exhilarated?

Well, it turns out you’re not the only one. Scientists in the Netherlands tested the effect of crying during particularly emotional films, and they discovered that it can actually have a positive effect on our emotions.

A group of 60 adults were asked to watch two seriously weepy films, La Vita E Bella and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. The participants’ emotions were then charted for the hours after the films were switched off.

Those who shed a tear during the films (28 out of 60) felt sad initially, but experienced a positive change in emotion around 90 minutes later. As for those who didn’t cry, their mood remained unchanged.

Leading author Dr Asmir Gracanin of the University of Tilburg, explained

“After the initial deterioration of mood following crying, it takes some time for the mood not only to recover but also to be lifted above the levels at which it had been before the emotional event.”

So, if you’re in the mood for a good weepy film after reading this, here are a few lesbian classics we can always count on to have us in floods…


1. The Children’s Hour

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Really you just weep for all the lesbos in the 60s who had this as their one and only lesbian movie.


2. Lost & Delirious

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This is one of the most depressing coming out films you’ll ever watch. Tear and tissues required.


3. Gia

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In my brain, the movie begins when she’s topless by the gate. If you start the movie there and stop it before she gets on the plane, you’d be a lot happier. She’s way emotional and needy. Like an orphan kitten. An orphan kitten who does drugs. There’s no greater hope in the end, just a beautiful woman who’s dead. And happens to be queer.


4. Monster

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Powerful film about a tragic life. After you watch this film, you’ll be left pretty blue.


5. Boys Don’t Cry

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The epic depression brought on by Boys Don’t Cry is multi-layered. If you know the story even before watching the movie and you think you’re prepared? No, you aren’t. Also, it’s CALLED Boys Don’t Cry! So even if you’re a girl or an otherwise-gendered-or-not-person, you’re already thinking about whether or not you’re gonna cry.

26 Unrealistic Expectations You Have After Watching Lesbians on Mainstream TV

Lesbians in film and on TV – hmmmm. Good thing or bad thing, when they’re on we have to watch them. But what are they really telling us about life.


1. You will be able to live alone in LA in your late 20s and eat/drink out every night.

Unrealistic Expectations 34


2. Your gaydar is always right.

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3. Kissing your female best friend will lead to either a doomed or prosperous relationship.

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4. Most lesbians are seductresses with vampire tendencies.

Unrealistic Expectations 04


5. The straight woman you fall in love with will leave her perfect husband for you.

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6. We kick-ass at sports.

Unrealistic Expectations 11


7. Makeovers change everything.

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8. Affairs are ok.

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9. Coming out is bad.

Unrealistic Expectations 16


10. There will be tears in every relationship.

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11. Leather jackets are a must.

Unrealistic Expectations 33


12. You must have one artistic talent – poetry, guitar playing, painting.

Unrealistic Expectations 32


13. That it is perfectly normal to get with woman, and still be good friends once you break-up and she starts dating a men again

Unrealistic Expectations 20


14. You will find the love of your life in school.

Unrealistic Expectations 15


15. Kisses are perfect in the rain.

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16. All straight women are bi-curious.

Unrealistic Expectations 17


17. You will make-out with your archenemy.

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18. The woman who becomes your boss will sleep with you.

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19. That wearing a small eye mask hides your identity.

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20. That women will make over the top public confessions of love.

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21. Most relationships will lead to death.

Unrealistic Expectations 27


22. Prison life is all about the lesbian romance.

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23. Some lesbians turn out to be serial killers.

Unrealistic Expectations 10


24. You will cheat on your girlfriend for a women you can never really have.

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25. Threesomes with guys are a must.

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26. All lesbians have fantastic nipples – ACTUAL FACT
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27. When you ditch your boyfriend at the altar for another women, everyone will be very happy about it.

Unrealistic Expectations 05

 

 

Pretty Little Liars’ Marlene King and Shay Mitchell Discuss Emily’s Love Interests

Living in Rosewood hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park for the characters of Pretty Little Liars.

As across the show’s six and half seasons, characters have been murdered and stuffed in boxes, they’ve been locked inside industrial freezers, they’ve been attacked with batting cage ball shooters and they’ve been kidnapped and implanted with tracking chips.

It’s surprising then that with all of this going on, the four titular liars have managed to have any sort of romantic relationships. All four of the show’s leads (Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Aria) have had various love interests, but it’s Emily’s love life that’s often talked about the most.

It’s become somewhat of a funny talking point amongst the show’s fans that Emily has had so many romantic partners: Maya, Paige, Alison, Talia, Samara and her latest love interest, Sara.

Fans have often joked about Rosewood’s multitude of queer women and it seems that Shay Mitchell, the actress who plays her, and I. Marlene King, who created the show, are in on the laughs.

In an interview with AfterEllen, the two women say that they discuss this a lot, with Mitchell suggesting that “maybe [Emily] is just turning [all of the women]” and King saying “who wouldn’t be gay for Shay, she’s so beautiful”.

As for who fans think that Emily should end up with, many fans support ‘Emison’, the portmanteaus for Emily and Alison’s relationship.

Alison was Emily’s first true love, so it’s unsurprising that there are many ‘die-hard’ fans, with Shay saying that sometimes when she does photoshoots, Emison fans will “superimpose [Alison’s] face onto whatever it is that [she’s] looking so lovingly at” and that when it comes to Emison, her motto is “never say never”.

King, on the other hand, says that “they don’t have to be sexually a couple to be ‘Emison'” and that “they always have that special connection”, noting that there is a cute Emison moment in the summer finale of the show which recently aired.

And what of Paily? The relationship of Paige and Emily? Paige and Emily have had one of the most well-supported relationships on the show, with Emily helping Paige discover her sexuality, but in season five they appeared to break up, with Paige’s family moving her to a different state to get away from Rosewood’s drama.

With Pretty Little Liars doing a five year time jump forward, however, there is a chance for them to reunite in some capacity. King notes that the show’s story does at least put them in the same state

Gotham Gets Rid of Gay Detective Montoya, Barbara to Get Bisexual Love Triangle in S2

One well documented problem with the comic book universe is its glaring lack of respect for its female, non-white and non-heterosexual and non-cisgendered characters.

Fans of The Avengers have been begging Marvel for a solo Black Widow movie for years, while DC Comics fans have become increasingly frustrated with offensive plot lines in its comics.

In The New 52 series of comics, DC Comics came under fire when the publisher wouldn’t allow Batwoman to get married to her partner, Maggie Sawyer, explaining that DC heroes have to put their relationships aside in order to do what they do (Superman and Wonder Woman were also dating at the time, it has been noted).

The publisher then followed this up with a controversial storyline in which vampiric villain Nocturna hypnotises and seduces Batwoman – an event that Batwoman then has nightmares about – with many fans calling the storyline out as a rape plot.

As unfortunate as those instances are (Batwoman’s run of comics was soon ditched rather quickly), many had hoped better for Gotham, a show that premiered last year and aimed to be an ‘origins’ story of sorts for Batman and co.

One huge draw for queer viewers was that it starred Renee Montoya, a lesbian of colour, who was caught up in a love triangle with (the then-fiancée of Jim Gordon) Barbara Kean and fans were keen to see them get together.

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And though they did reunite, the breakup was messy and Montoya was criminally underused on the show afterwards, leaving many queer viewers disappointed.

It comes as little surprise then that neither Montoya or her police partner Crispus Allen will be returning for Gotham season two.

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Gotham‘s executive producer John Stephens tells After Ellen that

… the show began as a police-centric show with a lot of cops, and as Season 1 evolved and definitely as Season 2 began to take shape, it became more of a Gotham supervillain-centric show”.

That will be hard to hear for many fans, but Stephens does say that the characters do still exist in the world of Gotham.

Even though they’re not series regulars anymore, if we need to, we can go back and see them again”.

As for what this means for Barbara’s love life going forward, her bisexuality isn’t suddenly being glossed over as Gotham season two will put her in the middle of a bisexual love triangle with the season’s two big villains, one of whom is a man and the other is a woman.

The love triangle will play out over 10 episodes, starting with the season premiere and although Stephens didn’t provide many details, some are speculating that Barbara’s female love interest will be Tigress, played by Jessica Lucas.

 

Cartoon Network Execs Confirms Lesbian Romance on Show

A Cartoon Network show has become the first on its network to confirm two of its lead characters are in a lesbian couple.

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Steven Universe is the story of a boy that helps protect the universe with his gem powers alongside his three female sister/mother role models and superheroes Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl.

The show, which has already won praise for including a number of strong, female characters in a comparatively male-dominated genre, has now hinted at further diversity.

Characters Ruby and Sapphire – who are shown to be incredibly close on the show – sparked curiosity among some of the show’s adult fans.

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Responding to a fan’s questions on Twitter, the show’s former co-executive producer Ian Jones-Quarterly said…

When asked whether it is fair to interpret the pair as “nonbinary femme presenting lesbians”, he responded: “by human standards & terminology that would be a fair assessment!”

This ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Teaser Will Make Your Day (Video)

Tomorrow is the day that Orange is the New Black hits our Netflix screens. And in the much hyped lead up, Netflix has dropped another teaser for Season 3 – excited?

In the new season, the depressing realities of prison are the subtext—but often only the subtext—of storylines played for laughs.

Piper’s lover Alex Vause (Laura Prepon) is despondent about finding herself back in prison, only to have her agony assuaged by love and hate sex.

Even-tempered Poussey (Samira Wiley) is so bored and lonely that she’s on the verge of alcoholism, which is staved off by some hijinks involving a raccoon and a shenis.

Also read: OITNB Featurette Hints at Ruby Rose’s Love Triangle With Alex and Piper (Must Watch!)

Former evangelical meth head Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning) and the butch lesbian Big Boo (Lea DeLaria) are so ostracised from everyone else, they have turned to each other, birthing a charming odd couple friendship in which they riff about whether or not Pennsatucky needs to brush her new, porcelain teeth.

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The new season has its share of bittersweet and even painful moments, but as new prisoner Lolly (Lori Petty) says upon arrival, “This place is amazing!” before adding, “We got off the van five minutes ago and we haven’t heard anybody scream. The walls are so clean!”

Friday can’t come soon enough.