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AE: How do you think lesbian and bisexual women are portrayed in films and television today?
P: As white and fucked up. (laughing) No, that was flippant. I mean, there is definitely a lack of real people's lives in film and TV because it's fantasy. People want to escape, but I'm looking forward to The L Word, I just wish more women of color were on it. But I heard the beautiful Tammy Lynn Micheals was going to be on it!

I think TV has taken more risks than films with portraying LBT lives. It's much more interesting than most films that are about titillation only. I have to say, I loved when Fastlane did "Strap On"--that episode spawned a huge following for the show. Or maybe it was just me watching.

AE: Do you think visibility for black lesbian and bisexual women is improving in mainstream entertainment? In movies/TV shows aimed at the black community?
P: Ha. Oh man, no, I mean what was that horrid movie that came out a few years ago? Trois? Awful, awful, awful, but beautiful people in it. I love watching The Wire, not just for Sonya Sohn, but also for portraying some beautifully gritty black male sexuality--that's also pretty rare. The way black folks portray our sexuality is really dictated by money and making money so it usually comes of as very cartoonish and feeds into a lot of old racist stereotypes. I would love to see a movie like, let's see, Fire, about Black and Latina women.

AE: What trends in lesbian and bisexual visibility in American entertainment are you most excited about? Worried about?
P: I think that fact that more and more queer sexuality is being portrayed in different ways--i.e. not just coming out stories or getting pregnant stories--is a good thing. I'm kind of intrigued by heteroflexibilty and hasbians because I think it reaffirms the fluidity and spectrum of humanity and human sexuality. I went to Smith, so LUGS and BUGS don't bother me at all.

What I worry about is the rash of dykes being killed despite our visibility. I think visibility works two ways: it shows people aspects of our lives, but also some people really resent our existence. All these young women of color who were dykes have been killed this summer, Sakia Gunn, Amiri Baraka's daughter. That makes me more sad than any entertainment trend.

AE: You were one of the people interviewed on the VH1 special Totally Gay; what's your perspective on how that special portrayed gay people and gay culture? What was left on the cutting room floor that you would have liked to see included?
P: Well, I have to say, I really loved the director, Wash Westmorland, he was such a cutie. I felt like you know, Totally Gay was saying that we were all these happy, gay, rich, violence-free folks. No bisexuality, very little lesbianism and definitely no transgender representation. That made me sad. I know it was a show about pop culture, but I think it was about a certain sectors of pop culture.

But it was fun trivia! I talked a lot about how hip hop is always called homophobic and essentially, black folks are blamed for all of America's homophobia. I mean come on! Look at the guy who's in the White House. And John Ashcroft? It's not like anyone focuses on country music's homophobia. And I talked a lot about Buffy. I'm sad that didn't come through.

AE: You mentioned in Totally Gay that you really like the film Bound; what other films/TV shows with lesbian characters do you particularly like or dislike?
P: Ohh, let's see: When Night is Falling, Fire, All Over Me, of course, the best show ever, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What don't I like? Um, a lot of stuff, but I'll just keep it to my favorites.

AE: What projects are you currently working on?
P: Let's see, I'm in a Master's Program at NYU. BQE (my hip hop group) is mixing our demo, we are producing this semi-regular event in New York called "Word/Life Lounge" at Bluestockings in NYC. Uh, we are working on two compilations due out next year, from Phat Family Records, I'm working on a book of poetry, trying to put together a folk-rock-funk band with my little brother, and being a good wife.

More about Paradigm at bqemusic.com

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