Archive

Best. Lesbian. Week. Ever. (April 16, 2010)

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Lindsay Lohan asks the tough questions, the benefits of Nyquil and what happens when a volcano ruins travel plans – all of these topics and more were Tweeted about by queer women in entertainment this week.

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].

THIS JUST IN: MELISSA ETHERDIGE AND TAMMY LYNN MICHAELS SEPARATE

Though readers of Tammy Lynn Michaels‘ blog Hollywood Farm Girl have suspected (and sent in tips to AfterEllen.com) for months, it wasn’t confirmed until yesterday by Melissa Etheridge‘s publicist that the actress and musician have decided to separate after nine years together. While it might not have been a shock to their fans, it still gives pause to most of us in the lesbian/bi community.

Melissa Etheridge is an icon, and her marriage to Tammy Lynn, who came out only after they began dating, was one that many viewed as a positive example of women in love. They had a family (twins they conceived together and two from Melissa’s previous relationship with Julie Cypher), they survived Melissa’s battle with breast cancer, and they went on Oprah and Kathy Griffin: Life on the D-List to be the picture of gay normalcy in the fight against Prop. 8.

As with the recent separation of Rosie O’Donnell and wife Kelli, it can feel like a letdown when celesbian couples don’t work out because we put so much stock in their public love and affection and ability to prosper as sane and successful human beings. In 2003, when Melissa and Tammy announced their engagement, AfterEllen.com founder Sarah Warn wrote:

Etheridge and Michaels’ announcement will likely have a positive impact on lesbian visibility overall. Although the two women have been dating for two years, their relationship has not been common knowledge among heterosexual Americans because most mainstream news and entertainment outlets do not report on relationships (especially same-sex ones) that are unofficial–which has been virtually all lesbian relationships until civil unions and gay marriage became possible in the last few years–both because this is seen as gossip rather than news and because they don’t want to be sued for slander or libel.

A public engagement, however, is exactly the kind of official, legitimate news item which gives mainstream news and entertainment outlets something tangible to report on (and tacit permission to do so). Consequently, the women’s engagement has been widely mentioned in newspapers and on TV stations and radio stations across the country, making Etheridge and Michaels suddenly America’s most visible lesbian couple.

And until Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi were married, Melissa and Tammy were the most visible lesbian couple in America. But there is one positive element to the sad news of their split, and it’s similar to what Sarah wrote about regarding their engagement. The fact that People and E! and mainstream news outlets are reporting the separation in a respectful and newsworthy way, the same manner in which they treat any straight celebrity couple, shows that our community and our relationships are seen as valid and worth discussion.

It inevitably brings more attention to the fight for equality by showing the reality of relationships – gay or otherwise. We all fall in love, some of us decide to commit, sometimes it lasts and sometimes it doesn’t.

The pressure that Melissa and Tammy and Rosie and Kelli probably felt to be positive role models in the lesbian community most likely made it even harder to come to the conclusion that their relationships were over and to announce the news to fans and the general public.

Melissa and Tammy’s official statement asks for “consideration and respect for our family as we go through this difficult period.” While it seems this has been the case so far, we can only hope that we don’t see the same speculation about cheating and other negative news items to which their hetero celebrity counterparts are typically subjected. It’s too bad that lesbians can’t get a free pass in that area, isn’t it?

– by Trish Bendix

WORKING THE POLL: WHAT LESBIAN/BI MOVIE DESERVES A SEQUEL?

This week, we learned that David Lynch is thinking about writing a follow-up film to his lesbian-esque 2001 cult hit Mulholland Dr. The movie was among many critics’ best movies of the last decade, so it’s no surprise that the director might tackle a sequel.

We think there might be some potential for other lesbianish films to follow suit, so we’re pitching these:

Bound 2: Bound and Gagged – Corky and Violet try to settle down and live a normal lesbian existence in New Jersey, until Corky gets antsy and wants to start doing home repair and Violet gets jealous of all the housewives in distress who get to see Corky in her tank top.

Show Me Love, Again – Twenty years later, Agnes and Elin run into one another at a Swedish coffee shop. Elin is going through a divorce, and Agnes becomes her shoulder to cry on. Unfortunately, Agnes is already a promised woman, and Elin ends up heartbroken, but glad Robyn is still making music.

The Highest of Learning – Taryn and Kristen haven’t spoken in the years since Kristen chose Wayne over her and decided she was straight. They see each other at an alumni function and it turns out that Kristen’s feelings for Taryn haven’t changed, at least not when she’s drunk and single.

Another Visit to Laurel Canyon – Jane can’t stop thinking about her son’s wife, ever since the pool and hotel room trysts, and invites her up for the weekend – alone.

Nina’s Delights Get More Heavenly – Nina tells Lisa she doesn’t think she can be with her anymore because she needs to explore other options. Lisa makes it a bet: Whoever can make out with the most girls gets to have the other one cook for her for an entire month.

Which of these sequels would you most like to see?

<a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/3062361/”>Which of these lesbian/bi movie sequels should see the light of day?</a><span style=”font-size:9px;”><a href=”http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/”>survey software</a></span>

In our poll last week, we asked you how you’d like to see Grey’s Anatomy handle Jessica Capshaw off-screen pregnancy on the show.

It wasn’t much of a shock to see that most of you would prefer to see Capshaw spend the next nine months in bed with Ramirez. But we weren’t expecting that any of you would actually vote for the tumor. That’s almost as sick as us offering it as an option in the first place!

LESBIAN VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK

Our pick this week is a clip from the BBC show Outnumbered. A kid named Karen is playing “Spot the Lesbian” and schools her mom on not being prejudiced.

The old “Lebanese vs. lesbian” thing! Gets ’em every time.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

This Saturday, April 17, Lily Tomlin and comedian Kate Clinton will perform “Back 2 Back” at the historic St. George Theater on Staten Island to benefit the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation for breast cancer and Community Health Action of Staten Island.

Huge congrats to out lesbian composer Jennifer Higdon, who won the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her Violin Concerto. (Hat tip, Joyfulgrrrl!)

Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) explained bisexuality to Wilson this week on on House.

Glee returned this week.

Anyone But Me and The Guild, both featuring LGBT-themed storylines, took home awards at the Streamys web series competition.

People magazine has an interview with Carol Rosenfeld and Brandy Snow of The Amazing Race, in which they say they hope they don’t come off looking like “mean lesbians.” Um, no comment!

Billie Jean King will be going back to her roots on ESPN’s show Homecoming. The show features athletes visiting places that mean a lot to them in their career, and the legendary tennis player will take the cameras to the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Long Beach, California, where she won her first tournament as a 12-year-old.

Still haven’t seen I Can’t Think Straight? How about The World Unseen? Now you can download both Shamim Sarif films on enlightenment-productions.com Score!

Aussie TV personality Ruby Rose is still keeping her mouth shut when it comes to who she is involved with (though most fans would tell you it is model Catherine McNeil), but she did tell the Sydney Morning-Herald that she’s very happy with who she’s with.

AfterEllen.com reader Lizzie tipped us off that there’s a lesbian couple on ABC Family’s 10 Things I Hate About You. Jolene Purdy plays Mandella, Kat (Lindsey Shaw)’s BFF who always seemed to have a little thing for her. This week, she introduced Kat to her girlfriend, Baby.

Danish reader CardinalXimenez let us know that there was a lesbian contestant named Tina Vildbrand on the country’s version of Hell’s Kitchen, but she was kicked off on the first episode this week.

Christian musician Jennifer Knapp made her queer fans happy this week when she came out. (Look for our interview with her next week.)

The New York Press profiled some of NYC’s influential lesbians, which they dub “the muffia.” The list includes Holly Miranda, DJ Lauren Flax, artist Shantell Martin, restaurateur Rebecca Collerton, actor Jess Barbagallo and party promoter Ellie Conant.

If you contribute any amount of money to a new documentary/multimedia project Embodiment: A Portrait of Queer Life in America, you’ll receive a mixtape of artists who are in support of the project, including Amanda Palmer, Kaki King, Rachael Cantu and Tender Forever. And when it becomes fully funded, you won’t have to wait to see it in theaters – the videos will appear for free on the website.

Have you seen the trailer for The Kids Are All Right?

Great LezBritain columnists Sarah and Lee attended the premiere of The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister at the 2010 BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, where they talked to both the star and director of the highly anticipated film.

Kate McKinnon, of The Big Gay Sketch Show (Season 3 premiered this week on Logo!) is starring as Dusty Springfield in a production of Dusty Springfield: Live in Heaven. If you’re in NYC on April 16, don’t miss your chance to hear Kate belt out “Son of Preacher Man.”

Bridget McManus takes her stand-up show on the road this Saturday, April 17, to the Leapin’ Lizard in Covington, Kentucky.

We have some advance scoop on Nurse Jackie‘s lesbian storyline that launches next week, including info on Julia Ormond‘s character and who she’ll be shacking up with.

Lesbian drummer Allison Miller recently talked to us about touring with Brandi Carlile and Ani Difranco, getting next-to-nude on stage and dethroning Kate Moennig as a queer fashion icon.

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.

– by Karman Kregloe

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button