Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (October 3, 2008)

DID FOX KNOW THEY HIRED A LESBIAN TO STAR IN A HIT SHOW?
Last week's Sunday New York Times had a story called out "Out in Hollywood," focusing on the roles available for gay and lesbian actors in film and television. The usual suspects were included — Neil Patrick Harris, T.R. Knight, Ellen DeGeneres — but there was also an interview with Fringe star Jasika Nicole, who said she doesn't find it difficult to be open about her relationship with her girlfriend, Claire Savage.

"There’s no way I can keep quiet. I want to be clear this is my partner," Nicole told the Times. "I don’t want to make that shameful in any kind of way."

Jasika Nicole and her girlfriend, Claire Savage,
pose for The New York Times

Photo by Jacob Silberberg/The New York Times

Nicole, who plays an FBI agent on the new Fox series (which just picked up for a full season), is one of the few positive voices in the article, and a shining example of being out, proud and having a career. She's also one of the only openly gay women of color on a primetime network TV show.

Prior to Fringe, the Brooklyn-based actress (who is also an illustrator) has been on Law and Order: Criminal Intent; the short-lived Parker Posey series, The Return of Jezebel James; and in the 2006 film Take the Lead. Her drawing work is very queer, featuring sweet autobiographical images of her in bed with her girlfriend and going about her daily routine. She recently penned a guest blog for MTV on "The Science of Comics," writing on her love for the art.

We're working on interviewing her for AfterEllen.com soon (though we can't promise cuddly girlfriend pictures).

STRIKE WHILE THE CHEF IS HOT
What would a season of Top Chef be without a lesbian contestant? Less hot, that's for sure — which is why the news of Top Chef: New York featuring out chef Jamie Lauren has us saying bravo to Bravo!

Lauren is originally from New York City but now lives in San Francisco, where she is the executive chef at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar. She also enjoys tattoos, dancing in the kitchen and Marc Jacobs, according to various interviews on the internet. I could not, however, locate information on her marital status so that remains a mystery (at least to me).

The chef will be heating up the kitchen on the new season of Top Chef when it premieres on Nov. 12. Until then, New Yorkers can try their luck at locating the production house in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and report back on Lauren's whereabouts filming locations for upcoming challenges.

— by Trish Bendix