WCBSTV.com has just launched a slideshow titled “It’s In To Be Out: Openly Gay Celebrities,” prompted by Neil Patrick Harris‘ admission that he is gay. Among the 44 openly gay celebrities the slideshow features, five of them are lesbians: Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, Rosie O’Donnell, Cherry Jones and k.d. lang.
[Update: As of 1:19 p.m. PST, the slideshow has added more lesbians! How excellent — we’re gaining on the men.]Attention, WCBS Research Department: There are more than five openly lesbian celebrities! First of all, you forgot all their girlfriends: Portia de Rossi, Tammy Lynn Michaels, Kelli Carpenter O’Donnell, Sarah Paulson and, well, does Leisha Hailey count for being k.d.’s ex? This is just another annoying example of the continuing invisibility of lesbians and women. Just in case any of you queer women out there are starting to feel yourself disappearing like that girl in the first season of Buffy because nobody’s paying attention to you, I would like to hereby recognize that you exist. Hmm. Did you notice that they’re all blondes?
