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Last year during Sweeps, for example, the world was given an actual relationship between two women. This wasn't just another “let's have a bisexual or lesbian woman kiss a straight woman so we can talk about it afterwards,” scene. This wasn't just two straight women kissing for some reason no one can remember now. Fox's The O.C. actually showed its viewers two young women, the regular Marissa and the recurring guest star Alex, having a relationship with one another.

It was still a ratings stunt, no matter how much they deny it, but it was a long way from the days of sensationalized lesbian kisses that went nowhere on L.A. Law, Picket Fences, and Roseanne.

Former GLAAD Director Joan Garry, while talking about Alex and her storyline on The O.C., summed it up when she said, “To see a strong, confident, well-adjusted bisexual young woman--particularly one who's navigating the rocky terrain of relationships--on a show like The O.C. can be a lifeline for teens and young adults who are asking the same questions and dealing with the same issues."

Granted, Alex wasn't exactly the most well-adjusted bisexual woman around. But in the world of The O.C., she was practically a poster child for normal. In the context of that particular television show, Alex was an amazing role model for the young girls that were tuning in every week, just by existing as a bisexual woman who wasn't portrayed as sick, disturbed, or homicidal.

This year on cable, South of Nowhere concluded its budding lesbian storyline with the hottest kiss in its entire run, and an allusion to something more afterwards. Spencer and Ashley weren't two-dimensional characters that randomly started hooking up with each other. They were two best friends who finally acted on feelings that had blossomed over several months and the entire run of the series. It may not have even been a ratings stunt: though the finale was pushed into February by an overly-long hiatus over the winter, the scene wasn't hyped anywhere to draw in new viewers (in direct contrast to The O.C.).

Television isn't just a medium that entertains and serves no other purpose. Every once in lesbians or bisexual women appear in a consistent role on a television show, and every once in awhile they date someone. But during November, February, May, and July there are more depictions of lesbians and bisexual women than the rest of the year. They're not perfect representations, but they're getting better, and they're out there for people to see, digest, discuss, and learn from.

Think of it this way: for every stereotypically lecherous straight male viewer that Fox is hoping to reel in every Sweeps Month, there are young girls watching television and finally seeing something that they can relate to, even if it's imperfect. No publicity is bad publicity--if one family sits down and talks frankly about sexuality because of The O.C., then at least one good thing has come from sweeps lesbians.

Imperfections or not, sweeps lesbians have evolved in the past decade and a half since C.J. and Abby kissed on L.A. Law. Alex and Marissa ended in a blaze of not-so-much glory, despite the episode's title, but there's nothing to suggest that when Spencer and Ashley return in October, they won't be going strong well into November Sweeps and driving the next evolution of sweeps lesbianism.

For an alternate take on this issue, read
“Sweeps Gives Distorted View of Lesbianism on TV”

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