Lately I've been thinking about lover Cindi on The L Word. Well, not Cindi herself, but the "lover" thing. It's hilarious every time Dawn Denbo says it, mostly because the word lover has gone out of favor. It used to be a common term in the gay community — or anywhere, really. Especially in the '70s.

But now lover has the connotation of "f--- buddy," while partner or girlfriend is generally the preferred term for the people you want to keep around for more than just sex. Or at least that's how it seems to me.

So what makes a partner, and what makes a lover? Armed with my trusty (and dusty) DVD collection, I have conducted a sort of survey. I don't suppose it's educational in any way, but it was fun.

1. Cay and Vivian (Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver), Desert Hearts

I just had to begin with a tricky one, didn't I? Cay and Vivian definitely start out as lovers, but if Vivian had stayed, they might have become partners. Still, when I think of them, I don't think of fun times or tender touches or home improvement. I think of steamy sex and mind-bogglingly deep kisses.

Verdict: Lovers (they have to remind themselves to stop long enough to get some food!)

2. Claude and Lucy (Alison Folland and Leisha Hailey), All Over Me

These two are so cute, I don't care what you call them. But when they walk along with their ice cream and Leisha grins like that, it seems like a love that's built to last.

Verdict: Partners (in a happily ever after sense)

3. Corky and Violet (Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly), Bound

Hmm. These two are carnal and star-crossed, but they also seem destined to be together. And the sizzle is accompanied by a sense that they're on the same wavelength — they have a meeting of bodies and minds. I think I have my first tie.

Verdict: Partner-lovers (lesbian bed death will never strike!)

4. Agnes and Elin (Rebecka Liljeberg and Alexandra Dahlström), Show Me Love / F---ing Amal … continue reading

Lori and I just got back from a long weekend in Palm Springs with our friends Michael Jensen and Brent Hartinger from AfterElton.com (Michael is the Editor-in-Chief, Brent is his partner and an acclaimed young adult novelist), who have their own weekly video blog about gay entertainment called Two Gay Gays.

While we were there, we got into some discussions about the difference in how gay and lesbian characters are portrayed in TV, and we decided to film our conversations because they were kinda interesting, and because that way we didn't have to get out of the pool (and later, the hot tub) to do our video blog for this week. Yes, we were killing two gay birds with one stone, but hey, we hardly ever get a vacation!

The topics we cover include why Michael and Brent loved the lesbians on Xena and Buffy; why there are so many more gay men on TV than lesbians; and the real reason Lori liked Brian Kinney on Queer as Folk (hint: she might have been a little bit like Brian before we met ... wait, does that make me the Justin in this relationship?) … continue reading

There's a lot to love about Gina Gershon. First, Bound — and that could really be last, too, because Corky is the ultimate in hotness.

But then Gershon just kept doing cool things, like Showgirls, which is so bad, it's good; Prey for Rock and Roll, in which she played a lesbian again, but this time one with a guitar; and Ugly Betty, in which she shows her comedic skill and thus becomes even sexier. (I'm ignoring her new role in Rescue Me for the moment, because I don't like to think of her making out with Denis Leary).

Gershon is now showing her brainy side, having co-written a book for young adults, Camp Creepy Time. She's also back on the big screen in Delirious, which has screened at various film festivals and is finally getting a limited U.S. release in August.

In the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, Gershon takes the "Pop Culture Personality Test" and gives us even more to love. Here are some highlights: … continue reading