TWEETS OF THE WEEK
The NBA playoffs, adult tumbling and Katy Perry’s definition of blasphemy – 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: TYKES RAISED BY DYKES BEHAVE BETTER, ARE MORE COMPETENT
Heather has two mommies and is better off because of it – well, at least that’s what a new study published in Pediatrics says. After 25 years of observing 78 lesbian couples (jeez, that’s a lot of cats) and their kids, who were conceived by using sperm donors, researchers found that compared to non-lesbian households, these kids were “psychologically well-adjusted and had fewer behavioral problems than their peers.”
Through interviews and questionnaires, researchers discovered that the children, who were studied from the time of insemination up until now, rated higher than peers in social, academic, and total competence, in addition to lower rates of rule-breaking and “aggressive problem behavior.”
Possible theories from Dr. Nanette Gartrell and her team include greater involvement with two mothers, the almost guaranteed likelihood of planned pregnancies, and kids being encouraged to talk about sexuality and discrimination from a young age, as their families were different from the “norm” on TV or friends’ families.
The study was funded by a handful of LGBT advocacy groups which, of course, compelled conservative groups like the Concerned Women for America to call the study “prejudiced” and propelled by an agenda to take over the world, one rainbow at a time.
Whether or not this study shows more correlation than causation, let’s look to some famous mombians to see if the claims hold water.
Pro: Angelica was surrounded by a world of art, wired for success by power lesbian Mama B, and even learned Sign Language.
Con: Bette’s overbearing parenting may stress the child out before she graduates preschool.
Pro: The two mothers surely have been schooling son Miller Steven and daughter Johnnie Rose on the entertainment industry, how to be a rock star and Blogging 101.
Con: Mommies’ public split and re-marriage could lead to four mommies. How can the poor kids possibly keep track? (Mama M, Mama T, Mama A, Mama Q, Mama X – stack overflow!)
Pro: Possessing, ultra butt-kicking genes, Janis’s little baby boy won’t ever be picked on and will probably follow in his mother’s world-saving footsteps.
Con: We’ll never know what happens to him because FlashForward got canceled. Shame.
Pro: Calzona love to process – a lot – leaving their child no choice but to be in touch with his or her feelings. Plus, the kid will have unlimited access to amazing doctors.
Con: Arizona doesn’t really want a baby.
Forget which kids turn out better (although we have every right to be a little smug, don’t you think?) – how about second parent adoption rights, huh? Basic civil right to marry? If, in fact, kids turn out better in lesbian households, all the more reason to make it easier on us!
– by drummerdeeds
WORKING THE POLL: THE REAL LESBIAN WORLD
Ilene Chaiken is doing a lot of interviews this week to hype The Real L Word, which debuts on Showtime June 20. She recently told The New York Times she’d love to see it expand a la The Real Housewives and move from Los Angeles into several other cities. She specified Brooklyn as her desired next location, and on the digital press site she also mentioned Miami, Atlanta and Chicago as options for the near future.
Each of these cities certainly have a large lesbian population, and would be much different from what we’re likely to see on the first season in Los Angeles. Which one of these cities would you most want to see get “real” next?
Which city should be the focus of the next “Real L Word” series?online surveys
In our poll last week, we asked which lesbianish music video you liked best. The votes are in and you preferred Lady Gaga‘s “Telephone” above all others. It was the butch prisoner, wasn’t it?
What is your favorite recent lesbianish music video?online surveys
LESBIAN VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK
Summer Bishil (Towelhead) and Sienna Farall (True Blood) star in a new short film, Public Relations, from writer/director Gianna Sobol. It’s about a miserable Hollywood assistant who finds romance and a reason for being when her sexy New York counterpart arrives in town. It’s described as “a funny, fresh take on growing up — and getting laid.” Look for at on the festival circuit this summer, and check out a clip below.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
Lady Gaga‘s hyper-anticipated “Alejandro” video premiered this week. Gaga has said she wants it to be a gay anthem for a new decade, but it’s also a nine-minute exercise in religious imagery, missile bras and Madonna references. Grace Chu breaks it down for you so you don’t have to hurt your brain.
In a recent Hollywood Reporter roundtable discussion, Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, Felicity Huffman, Courtney Cox, Patricia Heaton and Sofia Vergara weighed in on who they think is the funniest woman alive. Speaking of Lynch, check out her iPhone4 “commercial” for Electric Spoofaloo.
Zooey Deschanel and Rashida Jones will play girlfriends in the upcoming film My Idiot Brother.
Marsha Thomasan, who plays lesbian character Diana on White Collar, was at a recent panel discussing what we can expect in the new season of the show, and she promises we’ll find out “more about Diana’s past and her girlfriend.” The new season premieres on USA July 13.
A profile of Janis Ian in the Jewish Chronicle tells all about how she used to do cocaine with Jimi Hendrix and the death threats she received after releasing “Society’s Child,” her song about an interracial relationship.
Tucky Williams, creator and star of the new hit web series Girl/Girl Scene, recently chatted with us about working without a budget and what we can expect from the rest of the season.
Margaret Cho has announced the release of her first musical album, Cho-Dependent on August 8. She collaborated with tons of musicians, including Tegan and Sara, Ani DiFranco, Garrison Starr, Meghan Toohey and Patty Griffin.
Still mourning the loss of lesbian FBI agent Janis Hawk on FlashForward? Well, here’s your chance to protest while making a public spectacle of yourself. On June 10, fans of the show are planning a 2 minute, 17 second blackout in front of ABC network and affiliate offices in New York, L.A., Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta.
Did you watch the MTV Movie Awards this week? Kristen Stewart won big and the show was thick with lesbian innuendo. Speaking of Stewart, Sia‘s ballad “My Love” is on the Eclipse soundtrack.
True Blood star Anna Paquin recently told Zap2It.com that her sexuality wasn’t a secret and that she was glad to support a good cause by talking about it in a PSA.
ABC might finally air the last two episodes of Better of Ted. The tentative plan is to air them on June 17, but it all depends on the NBA Finals. If the Finals finish before then, it’s a go. If not, we’ll still have to wait for our official Portia de Rossi party.
In the UK, the Big Brother 11 contestants were announced this week. Among them is 24-year-old out lesbian filmmaker Shabby and Corin, a 29-year-old shop girl who identifies as bisexual and has a serious girlfriend.
Irish singer Leanne Harte came out this week, telling The Daily Mail she hid her sexuality because she was Catholic.
After suffering through a terrible season of 24, out actress Cherry Jones has pulled a Katherine Heigl and taken herself out of the Emmy race for Best Supporting Actress.
Frankfurt German’s Playmate Doreen Seidel has split from her boyfriend and confirmed she’s now in a relationship with her make-up artist, Minna.
Cybill Shepherd showed up with her hot gay daughters at the GLAAD Awards in San Francisco last weekend. Yes, Cybill’s other daughter, Ariel Shepherd-Oppenheim, also plays for our team! She brought her girlfriend, Carmen Chambers, to the event too.
Sarah McLachlan is on the cover of She Magazine this month, and they asked her if she ever gave dating woman “any thought.” She says she has. “Plenty,” in fact.
We talked to Amber Benson this week about playing gay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was still taboo and how she juggles being an actor, director and novelist.
Pretty Little Liars made its debut this week, and our own Heather Hogan showed it serious love in her recap.
In light of all of the girl-on-girl pop culture makeout stunts, Gawker.com reminded us what it was like when lesbian kisses meant you were actually a lesbian and considered what some of those high-profile straight lesbian kisses mean individually.
Don’t forget to watch the season finale of Anyone But Me. It’s a killer.
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.
