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Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (February 26, 2010)

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Cheaters, cats, dogs, and the rainbow twister – all of these topics and more were Tweeted about by queer women in entertainment this week.

Here are some of the highlights:

If you come across tweets that you think we should feature in “Tweets of the Week” or if you find (verified) Twitter accounts for out lesbian/bi women in entertainment who you think we should follow, please send us that info at [email protected].

– by Karman Kregloe

THIS JUST IN: WANDA SYKES SUPPORTS YOUR DECISION

Last week, I was surprised by a comment from out musician Stephin Merritt, the lead singer of accomplished indie rock band The Magnetic Fields. He said that he thinks queer artists should stay in the closet until after they are successful.

“Don’t come out,” he told The New Gay. “I think the outing movement and the general propaganda that everyone ought to come out – I think that damaged a lot of people, actually. I think it’s clear from the careers of gay performers that the way to be successful is to come out later, not beforehand.”

Then former NBA baller John Amaechi, who has since come out as gay, told The Daily Telegraph that he feels similarly about professional athletes:

I personally have spoken to 10, 12 current professional footballers who are gay, they exist, I promise you. As it happens none of them have asked me if they should come out. But if they did, I would tell them not to. I’m not a gay right activist. I don’t insist that they be a Joan of Arc. Why? Because that is what would happen: they would get burned at the stake. And how does that help anyone?

It’s certainly something that’s up for debate, and I’m here to debate you, sirs.

Considering the fact that my business is basically being the most lesbianish lesbian ever, I thought I’d ask a lesbian who is in the very public mainstream media, whose job it is to be a performer, and whose coming out made me very happy. (More on that later.)

On a conference call with Wanda Sykes this week, I asked her how she felt about celebrities coming out only after they become successful, and here’s what she said:

Wow. I think you should do it when it’s right for you. If you’re feeling spiteful and you want to come out – but you have to hide something, I think that hurts your creativity. So I don’t know if – I guess it depends on the person. It has to be about your comfort level and you’ll know.

As someone who didn’t come out until after she was successful, she probably didn’t want to discount her own path. But I also interpreted her comment to mean that she doesn’t want that for other people; she doesn’t want to advocate for LGBT people to stay in the closet because they are fearful of what will happen to them (like being “burned at the stake,” as Amaechi states). And being true to yourself over all? Very reaffirming, at least to me.

Wanda’s coming out made me happy – as every gay woman’s coming out makes me happy. Coming out, no matter who you are, what you do, or what situation you’re in, is the most progressive thing you can do, without even having to be, as Amaechi says, an activist.

Until those that are homophobic (on all personal, professional or corporate levels) begin to realize how many people are in our community – strong, powerful, talented, intelligent people who are in all occupations – we will be stuck with one foot in the closet. How will progress ever be made?

What if Ellen hadn’t come out, if Melissa Etheridge stayed quiet on her sexuality or Rachel Maddow femmed-up with heels and lipstick and said “Butch? Who, what, me?” Where would you and I and our girlfriends all be if lesbians hadn’t been coming out louder and stronger than ever in the last two decades?

As Sarah Warn pointed out in her Visibility Matters column a few months ago, the common factor determing how many lesbian characters are on TV, or the numbers of out musicians getting played on the radio, or how many gay authors are getting published is financial risk. And being gay can still be controversial. I’m not ignorant of that fact, believe me.

But Sarah also points out things are only getting better (Wanda has her own talk show – on Fox, nonetheless; Ellen has her own show and a huge job judging American Idol), things are never going to continue to get better if gay people are intentionally hush hush about their sexual preferences until after they’ve achieved the level of “success” they are seeking.

When you get to a certain point, don’t you feel like you have more to lose? And as we’ve seen in the past with so many closeted stars, it can be depressing and self-destructive.

So thank you, Wanda Sykes, for deciding it was important to come out when you did, and for maintaining a positive ideal that being out is a personal decision, and not one that you will dictate for someone else’s journey, based on financial gain and a fluid definition of success.

Being private is different than being closeted, and Joan of Arc doesn’t come out looking to shabby in the grand scheme of life.

What do you think about Merritt’s advice?

– by Trish Bendix

WORKING THE POLL: MAKING THE BAND

As The Runaways fever continues to mount (have you seen the latest television spot for the film?), we can’t help but wonder what other legendary band is similarly deserving of the epic biopic treatment being lavished upon Joan Jett and company. While there are many female fronted (or even all-female bands) to consider, we’d prefer to focus on those that, like The Runaways, have openly lesbian or bisexual members.

<a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2760594/”>What band most deserves the Hollywood treatment?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com”>polling</a></span>

In our poll last week, we asked you Skins fans what grand romantic gesture Naomi should make in order to win back Emily’s affection. You thought that a car rooftop confession of love would do the trick. Well, if it worked for Luce…

– by Karman Kregloe

LESBIAN VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK

Jane Lynch talks about Sue Sylvester getting physical with Olivia Newton-John, and who she’d most like to see as a guest on Glee.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Bisexual writer, director and artist Miranda July talks to Dazed Digital about getting “weirder” in her new projects.

Samantha Ronson has been booked to spin at the Pure White Party on Friday, April 2 at Hotel Zoso Ballroom at Girl Bar Dinah Shore Week.

Writer/director Shamim Sarif‘s new book, Wrote the Book, Made the Movie, Raised the Kids, Now the Blog … goes to print this week. (Stay tuned for our new interview with Sarif, coming soon!)

In a new interview with Parade Magazine, news vet Diane Sawyer sings the praises of Rachel Maddow.

Brandi Carlile has released a video for her new single, “That Year,” and she’ll be performing on the live music TV series Austin City Limits, which tapes sometime in March.

The US Women’s Hockey team hearts Ellen DeGeneres.

Lindsay Lohan recently talked to the UK publication The Sun about her relationship with Samantha Ronson – past, present and future

Check out our Black History Month Spotlight profiles of Staceyann Chin and Wanda Sykes.

Comic Liz Feldman has a new blog!

This clip of the much-hyped kiss between Mariska Hargitay and Kathy Griffin in the next Law & Order: SVU doesn’t look too promising.

Joan Jett talks about The Runaways, Kristen Stewart and sexuality.

Out comic Claudia Cogan is up for Best Female Stand Up at the 2009 ECNY Awards (the Oscars of New York Comedy). Vote for her here.

Lady Gaga straps it on for “Q” magazine.

If you were wondering what Ke$ha meant when she said she “likes people,” she recently elaborated a bit on her bisexuality.

Canadian comedy Less Than Kind is moving from network TV to HBO Canada, and it features a character, Susan (played by Susan Coyne), who’ll be embarking on a lesbian relationship this season. The second season started this week, but we won’t see Susan and her lesbian lover until next week.

Holly Miranda’s debut album, The Magician’s Private Library was released on XL Recordings this week, and the New York Times recently profiled her in a piece in which she talks about being gay.

Batwoman has some competition! A review of comic book Angelus #1 clued us in that the superhero is an open lesbian and has a girlfriend named Finch. (Witchblade fans might already be familiar with Angelus, but now that she has her own title, it’s getting even better.)

Thanks to a tip from AE reader d_wlesbeau, we have the scoop on the upcoming Coronation Street lesbian romance between Sian and Sophie.

Check out the teaser trailer for the new lesbian web series Girl/Girl Scene.

Tegan and Sara‘s music video for the single “Alligator” features choreography and jumpsuits.

Everybody’s Fine, featuring Drew Barrymore as a lesbian with Kate Moennig as her partner, is out on DVD this week.

That’s it for this week! Got the inside scoop on a hot new lesbian/bi actor/musician/TV show/film? Tell us at [email protected]. Check back next Friday for another edition of Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever.

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