TV

AfterEllen.com 2007 Visibility Awards

It’s that time of year again, when we formally recognize the people who have positively or negatively impacted lesbian and bi visibility in American entertainment in 2007. From Best Queer Reality TV Series and Best High-Profile Lesbian Couple to Worst Theatrical Release With Lesbian Characters and Worst Lesbian Moment on Daytime Television, we recognize the television shows, movies and people who entertained, inspired or downright shamed us this year. (We covered 2007’s out women in music thoroughly here and the year’s top 10 albums here).

So read on to see the winners and losers of our fifth annual AfterEllen.com Visibility Awards …

BEST SCRIPTED TV SERIES ON CABLE OR NETWORK TV WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER (tie): The L Word (Showtime)

The fourth season of The L Word was a considerable improvement over the third, as the cast moved on from the death of Dana (Erin Daniels), and the tiresome baby-napping custody battle between Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman) was finally put to rest. Meanwhile, newcomers Tasha (Rose Rollins), Jodi (Marlee Matlin), Phyllis (Cybill Shepherd) and Paige (Kristanna Loken) injected fresh blood – and romance – into the series. Jenny (Mia Kirshner) and Max (Daniela Sea) were annoying as usual, but Bette was restored to her former alpha glory, and much collective heat was generated by the sex scenes between Alice and Tasha, Paige and Shane, and Bette and Jodi. Jane Lynch’s return as a sleazy lawyer in love was a nice bonus, too.

WINNER (tie): Exes & Ohs (Logo)

Despite some uneven scenes and an all-white cast, Exes & Ohs won us over with its humor, extremely appealing lead character, Jen (Michelle Paradise), and its realistic portrayal of lesbians and lesbian life (i.e., women who don’t all look like glamorous L.A. lesbians). Its lighthearted take on lesbian relationships was a nice change of pace from the more serious lesbian drama we usually find on television. We only wish there had been more than six episodes!

RUNNER-UP: South of Nowhere (The N)

South of Nowhere, the teen drama about a family who relocates from the Midwest to Los Angeles, recovered some of its mojo in the third season, as Ashley (Mandy Musgrave) inherited millions, Spencer (Gabrielle Christian) experimented with dating another girl, and Spencer’s mother, Paula (Maeve Quinlan), took steps toward repairing her relationship with her daughter. The writers made some missteps this season when Spencer’s girlfriend Carmen (Brooke Vallone) became unhinged, Kyla turned into Paris Hilton, and Ashley became completely self-absorbed. But the honest and evolving Spencer-Paula relationship and the long-awaited Ashley-Spencer reunion in the midseason finale made up for them.

WORST SCRIPTED TV SERIES ON CABLE OR NETWORK TV WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER: Degrassi: The Next Generation (The N)

Only a few short months ago, we gave this long-running Canadian teen drama high marks for its handling of the lesbian relationship between Alex (Deanna Casaluce) and Paige (Lauren Collins). That all went out the window with a single bizarre episode in October when Alex inexplicably reverted to the character she was three seasons ago, Paige suddenly kicked her to the curb, and Alex left town. Alex’s departure wasn’t unexpected, since the actress had made it clear in interviews that she was planning to leave the show, but the way the writers handled it was clumsy at best and extremely disappointing at worst, especially for the show’s longtime viewers who had become emotionally invested in the evolution of these characters and their relationship.

BEST LEADING LESBIAN OR BISEXUAL CHARACTER ON A SCRIPTED CABLE TV SERIES

WINNER (tie): Jen (Michelle Paradise), Exes & Ohs (Logo) & Alice (Leisha Hailey), The L Word (Showtime)

There were several worthy entrants in this category, but Jennifer and Alice ultimately tie for the win because of how easily we can relate to them. By turns serious, awkward and funny, Paradise and Hailey always make us feel like we’re seeing pieces of ourselves or our friends on-screen. (It doesn’t hurt that both are openly gay in real life, too.)

RUNNER-UP: Spencer (Gabrielle Christian), South of Nowhere (The N)

Spencer cemented her role as America’s lesbian teen sweetheart this year as she experimented with dating, struggled to define her feelings with her ex, and stood up to her homophobic mother, all while retaining the appealing innocence Christian brings to the role. Spencer’s universal appeal is reflected in the fact that she is liked by viewers of all ages and sexual orientations.

BEST SUPPORTING LESBIAN OR BISEXUAL CHARACTER ON A SCRIPTED CABLE OR BROADCAST TV SERIES

WINNER: Tasha (Rose Rollins), The L Word (Showtime) Although the flashbacks to Iraq were a bit much, Tasha’s stoicism and pragmaticism made her a nice addition to the cast of The L Word in its fourth season. Tasha’s relationship with Alice injected new life into the series and quickly become a fan favorite. Her ongoing struggle to reconcile her sexual orientation with her military career makes for a more grounded and emotionally resonant story line for most viewers than, say, Tina’s struggle to keep Jenny from ruining her own movie, or Helena’s short-lived career as a high-stakes poker player.

RUNNER-UP: Sam (Marnie Alton), Exes & Ohs (Logo)

The womanizer of the group on Logo’s lesbian comedy, Sam’s powers of seduction extended to the audience, as well, as she she quickly became a fan favorite. Sam’s vulnerability and sense of humor make her more than just a player, and Alton imbues her with a warmth that makes you understand why so many women put up with Sam’s love-’em -and-leave-’em attitude.

WORST LESBIAN OR BISEXUAL CHARACTER ON A SCRIPTED TV SERIES

WINNER (tie): Papi (Janina Gavankar), The L Word (Showtime)

Although actress Janina Gavankar did the best with what she was handed, her character was nothing short of disastrous. From her crudely stereotypical name and the over-the-top use of slang, to the fact that the character was played by a non-Latina actress, to the parade of bad hats and lack of any meaningful story line, the character of Papi was the epitome of writers trying too hard. The L Word deserves praise for its continuing attempts to explore the diversity of the LGBT community – it is one of the most racially diverse shows on television, and includes the only regular FTM character – but this particular effort backfired because Papi was more of a caricature than a character.

WINNER (tie) Crutch (Heather Matarazzo), Exes & Ohs (Logo)

Virtually everything about Exes & Ohs‘ struggling musician character annoys us, starting with her name. Her music is terrible (and only occasionally in a good way), her sanctimonious speeches are tiresome, and her scenes are almost always a frustrating disruption of the story lines on the show that we actually care about. (On the other hand, we do give Matarazzo, who is openly gay, kudos for also playing gay. But that doesn’t make up for the bad singing!)

RUNNER-UP: Julia Mallory (Laura Allen), Dirt (FX)

A high-profile actress constantly dodging the tabloids, Dirt‘s Julia wasn’t really bisexual as much as a straight junkie who slept with her drug dealer (Carly Pope) in order to keep the drug supply coming, but that’s the problem – bisexuality is too often equated with drugs, crime and promiscuity on TV or film, and this character didn’t do anything to challenge that stereotype. Of course, everyone on this show looked bad, but there are plenty of other shows that portray heterosexual women in a positive or at least neutral light, and very, very few that do so for bi women.

BEST LESBIAN COUPLE ON SCRIPTED TELEVISION

WINNER: Alice (Leisha Hailey) and Tasha (Rose Rollins), The L Word (Showtime)

What makes Alice and Tasha so appealing as a couple is their differences. Aside from the obvious one (race), they disagree frequently on topics like the war in Iraq, being closeted, and class issues. This translated into a realistic dynamic that stood in sharp contrast to the less believable relationships between some of the other characters on the show (like, say, Alice and Phyllis). It has also made them one of the most popular couples on the series – at least for now.

RUNNER-UP: Miranda (Meera Syal) and Min (Fenella Woolgar), Jekyll (BBC America)

Although they were supporting characters in BBC America’s modern take on the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Miranda and Min ended up being pivotal to the unfolding of the plot, and the lesbian couple’s low-key bickering provided some much-needed comic relief.

BEST SPECIAL LESBIAN EPISODE ON SCRIPTED TELEVISION

WINNER: “Muffin Man” (March 1, 2007), The Sarah Silverman Program(Comedy Central)

When Sarah temporarily decides she’s gay after meeting a butch lesbian cop, the stereotypes start flying fast and thick, complete with flannel, folksinging and motorcycles, plus Sarah’s awkward attempt to show just how OK she is with lesbianism by asking: “What is a lesbian? What is anything? Like, what’s a unicorn? It’s a horse with a horn on its head that’s magic. A lesbian is just a woman with a horn on her head that’s magic.” But the funniest moment occurs when Sarah tells her straight friend, “As a lesbian, I resent your laughter. And all laughter.”

We’re not always a fan of lesbian jokes made by straight people on television, but when Silverman’s telling them, it works because we’re in on the joke, not the butt of it.

RUNNER-UP: “Long Weekend” (Sept. 27, 2007), Mad Men(AMC)

On this episode of AMC’s drama about a group of New York ad execs in the ’60s, Carol (Kate Norby) confesses her love for her straight roommate, Joan (Christina Hendricks), a bookkeeper at the ad firm who is sleeping with the boss (and various other men at any given time). Joan’s easy dismissal of Carol’s confession is both heartbreaking and all too familiar to lesbians of any generation.

WORST SPECIAL LESBIAN EPISODE ON SCRIPTED TELEVISION

WINNER: “Lonelyville” (Oct. 25, 2007), Law and Order: Criminal Intent(NBC)

Detectives Logan (Chris Noth) and Falacci’s (Alicia Witt) investigation into the murder of a young Ukrainian woman leads them to a blackmailing scheme masterminded by a lesbian lawyer (played by Lola Glaudini), who was fired from her last job for sexually harassing her female secretary, and who is currently sexually and emotionally manipulating another woman into doing her dirty work for her. A lesbian as sexual harasser, blackmailer and murderer? It’s a plot straight out of The Religious Right’s Guide to the Lesbian Lifestyle, with no lesbian detectives or lawyers on any version of Law and Order to balance it out with a more realistic or positive portrayal.

BEST AND WORST GUESTBIAN ON A SCRIPTED TV SERIES

WINNER: Jennifer Aniston on FX’s Dirt (March 27, 2007)

Jennifer Aniston‘s appearance as a lesbian tabloid editor in competition with Lucy (Courteney Cox) in the season finale was brilliant and well-played – a lesbian wolf in sheep’s clothing. But the show itself was a sleazefest (and not in a good way), and the kiss between Aniston and Cox completely overhyped and exploited for ratings. Like Aniston’s character herself, the episode was one big tease. That doesn’t mean some of us didn’t like it.

BEST CANCELLED SERIES STARRING AN OUT LESBIAN/BI WOMAN

WINNER: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)

Criticized for being too elitist, self-absorbed or simply uninteresting, this Aaron Sorkin series about the drama behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show à la Saturday Night Live wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea (hence the cancellation). But it still had many devoted fans, and out actress Sarah Paulson delivered an excellent performance as a Christian actress struggling with her feelings for her on-again, off-again boyfriend Matt (Matthew Perry), and with her efforts to reconcile her faith with the demands of her career. Not a great show, but often a good one – and an excellent introduction to Paulson’s talent for those who don’t frequent Broadway.

WORST CANCELLED SERIES STARRING AN OUT LESBIAN/BI WOMAN

WINNER: Painkiller Jane (Sci Fi)

Technically, this sci-fi series based on the comic about a woman who is impervious to injury but not pain wasn’t cancelled, it just wasn’t renewed for a second season. But either way, it wasn’t a hit with viewers – and for good reason. Although out actress Kristanna Loken was convincing in the lead role, her character wasn’t fleshed out enough, the supporting characters were uninteresting, and the episodes quickly devolved into boring monster-of-the-week stories. Here’s hoping Loken finds a better vehicle for her talents in 2008!

BEST REALITY TV SERIES WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER: Work Out (Bravo)

The reality series about a Beverly Hills gym for the wealthy doesn’t sound entertaining, yet somehow consistently is. During its second season, Work Out explored more serious themes, including owner Jackie Warner’s tumultuous relationship with her mother, the death of one of her trainers, and some of the serious health issues faced by her clients. But the interpersonal drama was just as prevalent and entertaining – and definitely kept the adrenaline pumping.

RUNNER-UP: Shear Genius (Bravo)

Although the premise seems silly – a reality competition about hair styling? – Shear Genius was actually fairly amusing and included two openly gay contestants, Daisy and Tabatha. Throw in Sally Hershberger as a judge while Cuban-American Daisy makes it to the final three, and you’ve got the other best lesbian reality show on TV.

WORST REALITY TV SERIES WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER: Curl Girls (Logo)

Logo’s reality series about the lives and loves of a group of lesbian “surfers” in Los Angeles was boring and made real female surfers look bad, since only a few of the women could actually surf. The drama between Jessica and Gingi was occasionally interesting, but the show didn’t seem to have a point, and most of the action, especially the surfing “competition,” came across as contrived. We know reality shows aren’t all that real, but you’ve got to fake it a little better than that!

RUNNER-UP: A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila (MTV)

MTV’s bisexual dating series A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila drew mixed opinions from AfterEllen.com readers and staff. Some of us think it’s amusing and subversive, others think it’s cringe-inducing trash. But regardless of whether you enjoy the show, it makes our “worst reality TV series” list because it reinforced several negative stereotypes about lesbians and bisexual women. The lesbian contestants were mostly crazy (and many of them not all that lesbian), and the entire premise of the series exacerbated the perception that bisexuality equals promiscuity. Thanks, MTV, but we’ve got all the help we need in that department already.

BEST OUT REALITY SHOW STAR

WINNER: Jackie Warner, Work Out (Bravo)

This season on Work Out, Jackie dealt with the death of her close friend and trainer Doug, the demise of her relationship with Mimi, the perils of dating two women at one time, and her mixed feelings about returning to her hometown. Oh yeah, and she ran a gym, too. But who cares about that, it’s all about the lesbian drama! And the Bravo reality series delivered that in spades, especially in the episode where Jackie had two dates at one time.

RUNNER-UP: Cat Cora (Food Network)

Appearing in People magazine’s Thanksgiving spread with her partner and their two sons, Iron Chef America’s Cat Cora became even more visible this year as a chef, author, philanthropist and out lesbian. Her success proves that, as Cora said, “women can cook alongside men just as hard and just as well.”

WORST OUT REALITY SHOW STAR

WINNER: Vanessa, A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila (MTV)

We don’t know which was worse: Vanessa’s habitual lying and backstabbing, her flirtation with the male contestants, her questionable pole-dancing abilities, or her knock-down, drag-out fight with another female contestant when she was eliminated. OK, we lied. That fight was a low point on a show that’s already an embarrassment to many lesbian and bisexual women.

RUNNER-UP: Jessica, Curl Girls (Logo)

Jessica, 24, might not have been crazy, but she sure was edited that way. Trying to follow her illogical and inarticulate arguments made our heads hurt, and her anti-bisexual comments early on in the show didn’t improve our opinion of her, either.

BEST LESBIAN COUPLE ON REALITY TELEVISION

WINNER: Dani and Tila on A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila (MTV)

Our mixed feelings about the show itself notwithstanding, Dani and Tila made a charming couple because of their obvious chemistry, Tila’s surprise at her own attraction to a woman who wasn’t a “lipstick lesbian,” and Dani’s likability. Tila’s spirited lap dance for Dani’s grandmother made us like her a little more, too; choosing Bobby over Dani in the end did not.

BEST LESBIAN MOMENT ON DAYTIME TELEVISION

WINNER: “Gay Around the World” (Oct. 24, 007), The Oprah Winfrey Show

Most of Oprah’s episode about the obstacles that gays and lesbian face internationally was focused on men, but poet Staceyann Chin’s moving story about her sexual assault in Jamaica and subsequent relocation to the United States was a powerful illustration of the challenges lesbians still face around the world. But the fact that Staceyann went on national television to tell that story was a testament to her courage and strength, and an inspiration to lesbians everywhere.

WORST LESBIAN MOMENT ON DAYTIME TELEVISION

WINNER (tie): Iggygate, The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Ellen’s on-air crying jag about the fate of her recently adopted dog on an October episode of her daily talk show kicked off an embarrassing spiral of events that made everyone involved look bad: the fans, the media, the dog adoption agency and Ellen herself. Only the dog made it out with some dignity intact.

WINNER (tie): The Rosie O’Donnell/Elizabeth Hasselbeck Split-Screen Argument, The View (ABC)

This on-air argument in May between these two co-host’s of The View proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Rosie’s tenuous relationship with Hasselbeck, Barbara Walters and the show’s producers. The argument itself, while tense, was not unusual, but the producers’ decision to exploit it with a split screen moved up Rosie’s timeline to leave The View. Even those who aren’t fans of Rosie’s have to admit it was a poor send-off for someone who brought so much excitement to daytime television.

BEST THEATRICAL RELEASE WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER: Itty Bitty Titty Committee

Silly name aside, this movie directed by out filmmaker Jamie Babbit about the inner workings of a ’70s-style feminist group works because it keeps its sense of humor. In her review for AfterEllen.com, Riendeau called it “a slyly subversive, punk rock love letter to radical feminist groups and the riot grrl lifestyle” that “holds the distinction of being one of the few films about radical feminism that doesn’t take itself seriously.” The talented cast doesn’t hurt, either.

RUNNER-UP: Puccini for Beginners

Elizabeth Reaser (Grey’s Anatomy) shines as a lesbian who finds herself dating a man and a woman who are recent exes in the talky New York romantic comedy Puccini for Beginners, directed by Maria Maggenti (The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love).Julianne Nicholson (Law and Order: Criminal Intent) adds to the charm of the movie, making the most of a small role as the ex-girlfriend Reaser’s character still carries a torch for.

WORST THEATRICAL RELEASE(S) WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER: Smokin’ Aces

Violence and unrequited lesbian love are the themes of Smokin’ Aces, the action flick co-starring Alicia Keys and Taraji P. Henson as bank robbers who may or may not be more than friends. As we summarized in our review, “Advertising this film as containing lesbians may serve to attract an audience of heterosexual males prone to fantasies including lesbian hit women, but Smokin’ Aces lesbian content remains just that – a fantasy, and this is only one of many promises the film makes but fails to deliver.”

RUNNER-UP: Rise

Lucy Liu plays a vengeful vampire with lesbian tendencies in this poorly constructed thriller (previously titled Rise: Blood Hunter) which exploits lesbianism – complete with gratuitous scene of Lucy’s character in bed with Carla Gugino‘s – to lure straight male viewers. Alas, it fails to deliver a plot and just adds to the list of lesbian horror movies (and no, we don’t mean that in a good way).

BEST FESTIVAL RELEASE WITH LESBIAN/BI CHARACTERS

WINNER: Out at the Wedding

Out at the Wedding, director Lee Friedlander’s comedy about lies and misunderstandings in a Southern family, isn’t a lesbian movie in the traditional sense, but that may be why it works better than most actual lesbian movies. It delivered on both comedy and romance, and the chemistry between Cathy DeBuono and her love interest is palpable and fun to watch unfold.

BEST LESBIAN/BI MOVIE CHARACTER

WINNER: Nina (Shelley Conn) in Nina’s Heavenly Delights

As a Scottish woman who returns home to run her father’s Indian restaurant and ends up falling in love, the star of Nina’s Heavenly Delightsis by turns conflicted, hesitant and confident. In other words: Nina’s like a lot of women you know (but hotter). Her romance with a former classmate is balanced by scenes of her mastering the art of making a good curry, and both turn out well in the end.

RUNNER-UP: Risa (Cathy DeBuono) in Out at the Wedding

Out actress Cathy DeBuono sparkles as the lesbian pretending to play the girlfriend of a straight woman in Out at the Wedding. Risa’s low-key confidence is extremely appealing, and DeBuono skillfully straddles the line between drama and comedy. By the time the movie is nearing its end, you find yourself more invested in Risa’s happiness than the lead character’s – and not just because Risa’s gay.

WORST LESBIAN/BI MOVIE CHARACTER

WINNER: Grace (Gretchen Mol) in Puccini for Beginners

As Allegra’s bisexual girlfriend in Puccini for Beginners, Grace is annoying, lacks depth, and is overacted by Mol – so much so that you’re almost rooting for Allegra to dump her for the guy. Fortunately for us, Allegra takes a different route altogether.

BEST INTERNET SERIES

WINNER: Angela Robinson’s Girltrash

The nine-episode Girltrash web series set in the world of Los Angeles lesbian gangs was an instant hit with lesbians and bi women when it debuted online this summer. It owes its success to a film noir setting, fast-paced storytelling and a cast of lesbian favorites, from Amber Benson to The L Word‘s Rose Rollins and South of Nowhere‘s Gabrielle Christian, Mandy Musgrave and Maeve Quinlan. The episode in which Rollins’ character shoots up a laundromat when someone removes her clothes from the dryer too soon is black humor at its best.

Our only complaint about the series? The episodes were too short (often less than 3 minutes), and we want more of them!

BEST LESBIAN/BI VIDEO BLOG

Yes, we know that in some sense we’re giving ourselves an award here, but let’s face it, there just aren’t many other places to find lesbian video blogs online yet. And as the volume of comments have indicated, they do have an impact on lesbian/bi visibility in entertainment, so we felt we would be remiss to ignore the genre just because we make many of the video blogs available to you on AfterEllen.com, either directly or through partnerships.

WINNER: We’re Getting Nowhere with Karman Kregloe, Dara Nai and Jill Bennett

What started as a vlog about a television series (South of Nowhere and then America’s Next Top Model) quickly snowballed into a show in its own right, due to the unique chemistry of its three hosts, Jill, Dara and Karman. Equal parts television commentary, wisecracking, friendly infighting and hilarious re-enactments, We’re Getting Nowhere is always amusing, often risque and sometimes better than the shows they’re reviewing.

RUNNER-UP: U People with Hanifah Walidah and Olive Demetrius

Hanifah and Olive’s vlog about filmmaking, music and the experiences of queer people of color is so well-edited, entertaining and insightful that it elevates video blogging to a whole new level. Comedian Gloria Bigelow keeps it from getting too heavy, and the intersection of Hanifah and Olive’s personal life with their filmmaking efforts keeps you emotionally invested in their journey.

BREAKOUT INTERNET STAR

WINNER: Jill Bennett

An actress currently starring in the third season of Dante’s Cove on here! TV, Jill has developed a large and devoted following since she began co-hosting the We’re Getting Nowhere video blog this summer. Her excellent comedic timing, skill at improvisation and accessibility to fans make her a favorite with AfterEllen.com readers, and her biting wit and willingness to speak her mind also lends to her charm. Her sex appeal doesn’t hurt, either.

BEST LESBIAN/BI ONLINE VIDEO

WINNER: Blair Butler’s Lesbionic Woman

This spoof of Bionic Woman created by Blair Butler for gaming cable channel G4 exploded in popularity on the internet late this year, and for good reason: It manages to poke fun at prevailing lesbian stereotypes and the ailing TV show at the same time. From waking up from her accident-induced coma with combat boots on, to shouting “keep your laws off my body!” to ending a standoff with the evil villain by making out with her, Lesbionic Woman makes you laugh throughout. If only the real Bionic Woman were this entertaining!

RUNNER-UP: Karey Dornetto’s Hi, I’m Ilene Chaiken

This brilliant parody of L Word creator Ilene Chaiken will entertain anyone who was ever frustrated with the Betty theme song, Dana’s death or Max’s ongoing existence. Creator Karey Dornetto does a great Chaiken imitation, and her last line will live on as comedy gold: “Hello, mountain lion, I’m Ilene Chaiken.”

 

BEST OUT ACTRESS ON TV

WINNER: Portia de Rossi, Nip/Tuck (FX)

Although almost every character on Nip/Tuck ends up looking bad, Portia de Rossi’s out and decidedly feminist lesbian character is a refreshing change from many of the other lesbians on television. And Portia’s decision to play a lesbian on the popular television show is a courageous move in an industry that still tends to typecast out lesbian actors.

RUNNER-UP: Michelle Paradise on Exes & Ohs (Logo)

Charming, humble and accessible to fans through her weekly video blog, Michelle is a little bit Ellen, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, and highly entertaining to watch whether she’s searching for love on Exes & Ohs or rambling on her vlog.

BEST OUT ACTRESS IN A THEATRICAL RELEASE

WINNER: Jodie Foster, The Brave One

It’s still debatable how out Jodie Foster is, but since CNN and The Today Show have decided that her recent acceptance speech for the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at the 16th annual Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast was her coming-out speech, we’ll run with it. Although The Brave One didn’t do well at the box-office, Foster delivered an excellent performance as a woman who becomes a vigilante, and she looked good while doing it.

RUNNER-UP: Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart

Although she’s increasingly private about her personal life, the out bisexual actress delivered what Ebert and Roeper called “one of the most commanding and moving performances of her career” in A Mighty Heart, a movie based on the experiences of Mariane Pearl, the widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and executed in Pakistan in 2002.

BEST HIGH-PROFILE LESBIAN COUPLE

WINNER: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

The power couple is everywhere these days, from the Oscars to the Daytime Emmy Awards to the Trevor Project’s annual fundraiser. Ellen increasingly mentions Portia on her talk show, Portia references Ellen in her interviews, and you can see small glimpses of their home life in some of Ellen’s video blogs. They’re quietly out, but not out of control, and this lack of sensationalism helps to desensitize America to lesbian relationships.

BEST HIGH-PROFILE LESBIAN

WINNER: Melissa Etheridge

Melissa has finally learned to stop hiding behind her hair, and it shows. This year, the 46-year-old rock star released her ninth album, The Awakening; collected an Oscar for her song from the documentary An Inconvenient Truth; asked hard questions of our Democratic presidential candidates at the Logo/HRC Presidential Forum; and rocked for the environment at Live Earth. “I think that because I’ve had cancer, I’m willing to be the crazy one,” she told us in September. “It’s like, fine, if I have to lay down on the barbed wire, I will, because it’s that important to me and it’s that simple to me.

BEST STRAIGHT ALLY

WINNER: Tina Fey

As the creator and head writer of the brilliant comedy 30 Rock, Tina Fey somehow manages to get a gay reference of some sort into almost every episode. From hilarious throwaway lines like “You can’t be gay for just one person, unless you’re a lady and you meet Ellen,” to more serious comments about gay marriage, to referencing gay partners in her Emmy acceptance speech this year, she has consistently proven to be a good friend to the queer people. And mentioning AfterEllen.com on The Late Show With Conan O’Brien had absolutely nothing to do with her winning this category.

RUNNER-UP: Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

As we recently highlighted in our article on Jon Stewart’s Greatest Lesbian Moments, the host of Comedy Central’s nightly (fake) news show regularly includes LGBT issues in a humorous and subversive way, whether it’s taking on Bill O’Reilly’s claim that Rosie O’Donnell should have stayed in the closet, pointing out the absurdity of opposing gay marriage, or chatting easily with guests like Ellen DeGeneres and Lily Tomlin. And when he called Cynthia Nixon “a boy band for ladies” two years before she came out, he also proved he has good gaydar. Now that’s our kind of straight man!

That’s it for this year’s AfterEllen.com Visibility Awards. Now let us know what shows, movies and people made your best and worst lists for 2007!

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