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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Interview with Sarah Rice from "The Real World: Brooklyn"

AE: Have you been able to see any of the show yet?
SR: I did see the first episode, and I love it.

AE: Do you think you come off as how you really are? It's still early, I know.
SR: The camera doesn't lie. If we said something, we said it. Sure, everything is up for interpretation. Some people might interpret something as mean, some people might think it's not.

AE: Did you have as hard a time in Brooklyn as the New York press has made it out to be? It seemed like some of the people who live in Brooklyn were not too keen on having you living there.
SR: I don't think that it was us, so much. They have their spots in Brooklyn that — it's kind of a "locals only" kind of thing. It's the same reason they don't want people from Jersey or other places in there.

Coming from San Francisco, I have places like that of my own that I wouldn't want a camera crew showing up and then everyone starts going there. I bet people move to Brooklyn so they don't have to deal with that. That's the scene there. We threw a little pebble into it.

But some people got to know us. Places we'd go, people got to know us, if only one of us was in there without a camera. There was no, "Hey, Real World people, get out of here!" It was mainly people on the street who probably sent in audition tapes.

AE: What are you doing now that the show is over?
SR: I'm back home in San Francisco. I'm moving from my house into my boyfriend's house. We've been living together. I've played a lot of video games. I'm just hanging out. I'm still in school.

I worked with a great non-profit while in New York called Free Arts and they do not have anybody representing them in San Francisco. I would love, if I could, to start my own non-profit to bring art to inner city or underprivileged kids.

AE: Do you foresee yourself being part of any of the Real World challenges in the future?
SR: If they asked me to, I would. I'm definitely a competitive person, for sure. Anything I have the opportunity to win at! They ask you to do that, so, yeah I'm up for anything.

AE: And then you could use the money to start your own non-profit.
SR: The most important thing is finding funding for your non-profit. Once the money's there, it's easy. I mean, if there's anything I'm going to use my, I don't know what you want to call it, "fame, notoriety," whatever, for, it's for hopefully getting funding to start it up, and to put money where it should go.

AE: One last question about your sexuality: Because you have dated mostly women, have you felt like you've faced any scrutiny from the lesbian or bisexual community now that you're dating a man?
SR: I felt really ostracized when I first started dating guys. It was like all the friends I had that were part of the lesbian community didn't want anything to do with me anymore. They thought it was just a phase. I hope people would want you to be happy with someone you are happy with.

For the same reason I am a huge supporter of gay rights and the right to marry. I think we should all be able to love who we want to love and just leave it at that. I definitely felt heat from the lesbian community.

AE: Do you fear any judgement of that from your being on the show?
SR: Not really. No, no. I don't care. I'm happy in the relationship I'm in. I know people are going to say things no matter what so you know, whatever. The people I lived with knew my boyfriend and met him. They liked him, got along with him. They really saw me as the girl with the boyfriend. The girl who used to date women and now has a boyfriend.

AE: They thought, "She's not going to get with any of us."
SR: Yeah, sorry! I wasn't interested in anybody on the show. I love them all, they're just not my type at all. We're all very, very good friends.

AE: Good, that makes it easy.
SR: Yeah it was like "Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope." They're all attractive people, just not my type.

AE: Is there anything else you want me to know about you?
SR: If anybody ever wants to ask me any questions or contacts me, they can visit iamonmtv.com. I read all of the comments and of the e-mails and everything goes straight to me.

Watch a clip of Sarah telling her Real World roommate about coming out

Ediana's picture

Interesting

Isn't she the same person that it was said was set up by her Mom with her current boyfriend?  I wonder did her Mom use to try to set her up with women when she was dating women?  Was she with a woman or leaving a romance with a woman when she was set up with a man?  How did her family feel about her dating women?  Just some questions because most women I know that date only women then fall for a man in their early twenties are under a great deal of familial pressure.  I was wondering if this was an exception to that (especially with her Mom having set her up with the boyfriend). 

I also found it interesting that she admitted shyness about being seen kissing a woman in front of others.

"If anything, I'll kiss a girl but behind a closed door because I was embarrassed and didn't want other people to watch."

Does she act the same with her current boyfriend would have been an interesting question.  I'm bi and a firm believer in being with who you fall in love with regardless of gender.  However I have just seen so many young self identified queer women making choices based on acceptance just as I know too many of these women later coming out later as having been with men because it was easier especially in regards to family.  These questions I pondered are simply wondering if this is yet another case of that.  

Lowell's picture

if you watch the video, she

if you watch the video, she adresses how she came out and there was no familial pressure.

 

 

 

 

Melissa Hsu's picture

well.. ms. rice, i am under

well.. ms. rice, i am under 30 and i have not seen a single episode of this show. not planning to either. hee..
Kiarra 's picture

She seems very mature and

She seems very mature and sweet. I cant wait to see her on the show!

It dosnt sound to me like she was pressured into anything. She had been with women all her life and from what Iv read (This is just my view haha I dont know the girl) she just happened to fall in love with a man... No big deal if shes not going to label herself im not gonna walk over and do it for her haha. But about the whole kissing women behind closed doors thing... maybe she is just modest and isnt going to be some guys entertainment kinda thing...

hehe idk 

 

Kimmaayy..!'s picture

I like her =)

She's a HOTTIE, and seems like a really well-rounded, humble person.

 

http://kiiimmmaaayyy.blogspot.com/ CHECK IT!

confuzzled's picture

I have neverrrr seen an

I have neverrrr seen an episode of the Real World, but I may just watch it this season just to see Sarah. She seems like such a great person....very intelligent and compassionate. Plus, she's gorgeous. ;)
pecola's picture

Well

That was strangely...uh...thoughtful. Not something that you'd expect from someone who was just cast on a reality show for MTV.  

----

"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use — of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public." -- Robert F. Kennedy

LadyPussycat's picture

Might be a nice change of pace

for what seemed like a dead show. If I remember right the first season had people of all ages, which made it a bit more functional, then they made you be 18-24 or somesuch since that's when all the dramadramadrama seems to go down.

She seems very intelligent and cute. I like the ideas she has for her non-profit and what whe has to say about stereotypes, etc. I was a preschool teacher for 11 years and was frequently judged by looking younger than I am and for having tattoos. It made it harder to prove myself.

I don't have cable currently, so I can't watch, but in the future when I do I'll keep it on for the re-runs.

Truth be known I love trashy TV and love sorority chick drama. Now I can just go to work and watch it unfold under my nose, so a more mature Real World is OK by me!

Jules's picture

I cannot wait...

She definitely seems to be one to look up to. I'll be watching tonight!!

 

 

www.babyj22.blogspot.com

jaggedfem's picture

I remember watching the

I remember watching the first seasons when I was a teenager...I loved it, especially the first season in New York. Haven't had much interest in the show over the years.  Everyone always looks so plastic anymore...but I have to say, I'm a bit intrigued by this season if it's gonna be like she says.. I might have to check it out.
Emmanescence's picture

Lame show

This show sucks....SUCKS, but she seems interesting and from what she says about this season it may actually be worth watching a few episodes.  It would be nice not to see a bunch of party girls who I don't relate to in the slightest on this show.  It's so unlike MTV though to put people with DEPTH on their channel...hmm..I'm suspicious.  

 

www.myspace.com/emmahuntermusic

My indie record label:

www.myspace.com/greentruckrecords

www.greentruckrecords.blogspot.com

Katiria **Kat**'s picture

Tattoosss.....

i love when girls are covered with tattoos...and look at her arm! i LIKE HER ALREADY!
Veasty's picture

recap?

would anyone mind giving me a breif recap of the video at the bottom...

"copyrights restrict us from playing this video outside of the U.S."

Vanessa's picture

Real World, right.

First of all any name other than "the Real World" would be better suited for this show.  Putting together a group of sexually confused 20something kids in a bad ass house with nothing but time money, booze, temptation and a video camera for three months is not 'real world' to me. Also, I am confused as to her comment about kissing women, she used the term embarrassed.  I am curious if that is just on camera or off.  Embarrassed to kiss a woman publicly, or anyone...hmm?  This would explain why she is with a man, would'nt it?  As she was explaining the way locals were not thrilled about them being there, I get it.  When they filmed it in Denver, it was horrid.  Asshole kids on a drinking binge for three months in my town.  No thank you.  Maybe someday they can cast an actual gay person.   That'd be neat.  Until then, I will continue to watch the sexually confused adolescents of the 'real world'. boo.
SallySeton's picture

Ugh

Please, at least on this surprisingly thoughtful interview, do not imply that people who resist pretending complex things are simple are confused or not authentically queer.

The rigid categories of your post are positively suffocating, and Sarah Rice sounds anything but confused...

Veasty's picture

mhmm

I agree completely!

Human beings are extremely complex animals, yet we have this tendency to try to simplify everything. To put everything and everyone into little boxes with particular labels and connotations of those labels attached to them. When I see someone trying to break free from that, I can only applaud them. She's obviously not hiding (from) her sexuality, she's just not simplifying it merely for the comfort of others.

Sarah also commented on breaking free of the whole "all these people do is binge drink and free load" theme that had previously branded the show.

she seems pretty legit to me.

GThang's picture

She is adorable

I am actually watching the first episode right now and she is the sweetest person I have ever seen on MTV. She has a really great voice and is really adorable. I loves her.
LilyJadeRose's picture

i say we get an interview

i say we get an interview with katelynn!... the mtf transwoman.  i love that chick.  i think she's awesome and brave.  and i have the high hopes that mtv is FINALLY doing something to shed light and understanding on the queer community...i just hope they don't murder my hopes. 

"I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one." ....... "I've been on a calendar, but never on time." ~Marilyn Monroe~

Crystal's picture

Interesting

She sounds very mature, and I like the fact that is really about nonprobit charites. She is so far the most interesting one, besides Kat. I like what she stands for and she doesn't label herself just because she dated women in the past. Looking forward to this season of Real World.

akiraj's picture

Katelynn is one of my fav

Katelynn is one of my fav characters. AE should definitely interview her as well!
amandalesbian's picture

boo

mtv needs a gold star
Briitt_says's picture

I abssolutly love her :D I

I abssolutly love her :D I love what she said bout not labeling her self Wickd good for young girls that still not so sure bout them selves lik i once was Not only that but shes xtremly nice n gorgeous Thx Mtv for the eye candy :D