OUTSIDE THE LINES: Where Are the
Black Lesbian Roles?
by Linda Villarosa, November 9, 2006
A monthly column exploring entertainment on the East Coast

Gabrielle Union is a lesbian, y'all. Sanaa Lathan is bi.

All right, already. Not in real life (that we know of), but both are now playing gay onscreen. In the movie Running With Scissors, which opened nationwide last weekend, Union stars as Dorothy Ambrose, the love interest of Deirdre Burroughs (Annette Bening), the over-the-top, Valium-popping mother of the film's main character. In the vibrant colors of the '70s, Union looks ravishing during her very brief eight minutes on screen.

Lathan has a 12-episode run as Michelle Latham, Larry Hagman's much, much younger girlfriend, on FX's Nip/ Tuck. On Oct. 3, Jacqueline Bisset stroked Lathan's breast, just before the two engaged in a juicy lip lock.

Union doesn't tip the velvet in Scissors or kiss or even hug Bening. But when she drapes her silky brown arm lightly across the back of Bening's chair or softly rubs her back, it feels big. And Lathan and Bisset's vinegary dalliance is only one of several lesbian-themed story lines dreamed up by Nip/Tuck's gay creator, Ryan Murphy (who also directed Scissors).

But seeing Lathan kiss another woman feels very, very big.

Playing a lesbian shouldn't be a big deal for a straight actress anymore, for God's sake. As we know, nearly every actress on The L Word is straight, as is Jennifer Connelly, Catherine Deneuve, Salma Hayek, Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman and Kate Winslet, as well as Bisset, Bening and other A-list actresses who have played bisexual or lesbian characters. A love scene with another woman is no risk anymore; in fact, it can enhance a Hollywood career, demonstrating award-bait edge. Look at Oscar winners Hilary Swank and Charlize Theron.

But maybe not for black actresses. Rarely have black women played gay. You can count the number on the fingers of one hand. There was Queen Latifah in Set It Off. (Hush up — I know what you're thinking!) Jennifer Beals, of course. Nicole Ari Parker (Soul Food, Remember the Titans) early in her career in The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. Whoopi Goldberg's controversial onscreen kiss two decades ago in The Color Purple and 10 years later in Boys on the Side. Kerry Washington (Ray, The Last King of Scotland) and Nia Long desperately seeking sperm in She Hate Me and The Broken Hearts Club, respectively.

The saucy girl next door of black film, Long has starred in hits like Big Momma's House, The Best Man and Are We There Yet? But her career-turning role in 2000's mainstream movie Boiler Room has been largely forgotten. She most recently appeared in Alfie with Jude Law and Susan Sarandon, receiving limited screen time and forced to wear an unbearably hideous afro wig.

So are Union and Lathan destroying their images by being lesbians onscreen? Hell no. In fact, it might help both of their careers, which have fallen far short of the enormous potential of each of these actresses.

Both are members of Hollywood's African-American elite, an extremely small sorority of successful young actresses. These are the women who are on the covers of Essence and Ebony, and have flashy lead roles in black movies. But after Oscar winner Halle Berry and nominee Latifah, the list starts to dwindle. And most have had few appearances in mainstream movies — starring or otherwise — the kinds of roles that can propel an actress into the Hollywood stratosphere.

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