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British Soap “Emmerdale” Takes On A Lesbian Teen Relationship

Daytime soap operas are afforded much attention and gossip in America, but viewers in the States might be surprised to learn that their overseas counterparts are even more addicted to the trials and tribulations of fictitious TV towns. All over the United Kingdom, millions of viewers tune in for the tea time airings of popular soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, and–most notably to lesbian viewers–Emmerdale.

When Bianca Montgomery came out as a lesbian on All My Children in 2000, she became the first long-term lesbian character on an American soap opera, but she was not the world’s first lesbian soap star. A decade earlier, Zoe Tate (played by Leah Bracknell) became the first lesbian character to appear on a British soap when her character came out on Emmerdale, and she survived on the show for sixteen years before departing in September 2005.

Even now, Zoe Tate is the longest running TV lesbian, and also one of the better-developed lesbian characters in television history, marking Emmerdale as one of the most gay-inclusive shows in Britain.

But now that the series’ main lesbian has departed the small town, the Emmerdale writers have introduced a new storyline, this one revolving around two teens exploring their same-sex attractions for the first time–Debbie and Jasmine.

Debbie Dingle (nee Jones, played by actress Charley Webb) is the daughter of Charity Tate and Cain Dingle (who is also Charity’s cousin). Debbie was given up for adoption at birth and reunited with the Dingle family when she was a teenager, and this incestuous, illegitimate child plot was revealed in October 2002 during a conversation between Charity and her sister-in-law Zoe Tate (yes, that Zoe).

The Dingles are Emmerdale’s most notorious lineage (boasting more than 30 on-screen family members in the shows lifetime), and similarly many viewers love to hate Debbie.

Jasmine Thomas (played by Jenna-Louise Coleman) is much more likeable. She is staying in Emmerdale with her uncle (the town vicar) while her distant, inattentive parents are traveling around the world, and although she has had a much more normal childhood than her friend Debbie, she can also be rebellious at times.

The pair developed an unlikely friendship when Debbie gave birth (and then gave away) her newborn daughter. Jasmine was one of the only townspeople to stand beside her and support her decision, and although others in Emmerdale have remained at a comfortable distance from the slightly-disturbed Debbie, Jasmine has formed a close bond with her.

In April, that friendship turned into something more.

Jasmine began exhibiting all the signs of a young teen struggling to come to terms with her sexuality, and several weeks ago she acknowledged her crush on Debbie. Their best friend relationship began developing into one of love and affection, and at the end of April, Debbie kissed Jasmine and the couple exchanged “I love you’s”.

Now that they’ve kissed, everyone has their theories about what will become of their relationship, though most fans believe that Debbie is up to her old Dingle ways.

Her mother Charity once had a fling with resident Emmerdale lesbian Zoe (then promptly married Zoe’s brother Chris), leading some fans to believe that she is in a “lesbian phase” just like her mother. Also, because of Debbie’s strained relationship with her biological father, other fans believe that “turning gay” would also be a classic way for Debbie to get back at him.

Either way, Debbie’s history of being a self-centered brat is marring the impact of what could potentially be a positive portrayal of teen sexuality.

Because of her circumstances, perhaps viewers should forgive Debbie for being the conniving, attention-seeking 16 year-old that she is. But as far as lesbian representation goes, she is not our best archetype.

Even if her intentions are as sincere as Jasmine’s, Debbie’s fame precedes her. Though many lesbian viewers are heralding their relationship as positive and inspiring, outside of the comfort of GLBT forums, many fans think it is a joke.

Of course, the genre of the show must also be considered. Zoe Tate was arguably Britain’s best lesbian character, and she was an arsonist and a murderer, not to mention a victim of torture and kidnapping (with a dramatized case of schizophrenia to boot). In soap operas, no one is immune to being sleazy or abused, and this is what fans thrive on. So in perspective, Debbie and Jasmine’s relationship is off to a positive, even banal, start.

Unfortunately, their relationship will take a bad turn this week. On Friday’s show (May 12), Debbie will accidentally out them in the town cafe, and a distraught Jasmine will confide in Debbie’s father Cain, who tells her that she can’t know she’s a lesbian until she’s slept with a man like him.

The Daily Star‘s Soaper Star reports that though Jasmine may initially rebuke his advances, she will have a change of heart in the future. This opens the door for one of the most tired heterocentric cliches around–lesbians just need a man.

And although lesbian fans so far are calling Debbie and Jasmine one of the better lesbian couples on British TV, no doubt their thoughts will change if it is revealed that Debbie really is manipulating Jasmine to anger her father, or if Cain really can “cure” Jasmine’s lesbian ways.

In a way, typical soap opera behaviours like murder can be dismissed as fantastical, but a character that reinforces lesbian stereotypes cannot because they represent true beliefs held by many viewers.

Mainstream shows have only recently begun to deal with teen sexuality, but they have done so with positive results thus far. Over the past year, shows like South of Nowhere and DeGrassi: The Next Generation have dealt with issues related to lesbian and bisexual teens, a formula that has received a lot of positive attention from both gay and straight viewers. Addressing teen sexuality in entertainment is also increasingly relevant from a cultural perspective, as studies show that more and more people are coming out at a younger age.

With Emmerdale‘s long history of developing positive lesbian characters, there is still hope for Debbie and Jasmine (either separately or together). So far their young relationship is a good one, but only time will tell if their love is true and lasting, or if it will phase out into the Land of Cliches like so many other promising lesbian TV couples.

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