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The Slow Coming Out of Young Lesbians on TV

by Allendra Letsome, NOW Vice President of Membership

In those rare moments when I have nothing to do, I watch a decent amount of young adult television. We can have a discussion about my maturity and viewing preferences later, but for right now, I have an open question to Hollywood, TV writers and the viewing audience as a whole.

Where are all the young lesbians?

In recent years, I've noticed that writers, studios and networks have gotten more comfortable with the lesbian/gay/bisexual storyline. Lesbians and gay men, it would seem, are now on the same playing field as all other tokenized non-white characters. Transgender characters are still notably absent, with the exception of Degrassi: The Next Generation's Grace/Adam. (Another discussion for later is the sad state of racial, ethnic and other forms of diversity on TV, but for right now, I want to stay on this particular soap box.)

Among the shows I watch, it appears that Hollywood is fine launching a series with a gay male character, right off the bat. In the early episodes, when the audience is meeting all the characters and understanding their interactions, a gay male is likely to be included. For example, Glee's Kurt, Degrassi's Marco, BBC Skins's Maxxie and others.

However, it is not until the second or third season of a show that they slowly work in a lesbian storyline. Degrassi: The Next Generation's Alex and Paige, BBC Skins' Naomi and Emily, Glee's Santana and Britney (sort of).

So, why the trepidation? What is it about the young lesbian storyline that causes TV producers and writers to prolong this character arc?

Have I missed a show (any show -- it doesn't have to be a young adult show) where a lesbian character has been introduced in the first five episodes (I'm being generous here) without a long, drawn-out story?

As far as I know, there is only one current young adult show that introduced a lesbian storyline within the first five episodes -- ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars, with the characters of Emily and Maya. I am happy to be proven wrong. So, I ask: Where are all the young lesbians on TV?

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Comment from: cabaret voltaire [Member] Email
Sometimes I think Feminists dwell on the most irrelevant observations. Not enough young lesbians 'coming out' on TV? Who cares! If you want to watch young lesbians on TV, check out the WNBA. By the way, Glee and Degrassi are terrible shows. Even though Jane Lynch (a lesbian) is talented.
03/30/11 @ 06:58
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Comment from: Lisa Bennett, NOW Communications Director [Member] Email
@cabaret voltaire: I see you are working on your comedy routine -- funny stuff. Anyway, if you find this subject so irrelevant, why spend even a second commenting on it, not to mention sharing your personal reviews of two of the shows mentioned?
03/30/11 @ 09:38
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Comment from: cabaret voltaire [Member] Email
@ Lisa Bennett --

Good question. Maybe I'm just looking for some attention. I am a fan of Jane Lynch. She was great in the movie -- Role Models.
03/30/11 @ 23:11
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Comment from: radicalhw [Member] Email · http://www.theradicalhousewife.com/
On the soap opera All My Children, the character Bianca came out as a teenager. Later, in dramatic soap fashion, she was raped by a man who thought he could "cure" her. Then she shot & killed him.
03/31/11 @ 10:28
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Comment from: allendra letsome [Member] Email
@ radicalhw,

I know that there are lesbian characters on TV, but my point is that they are usually introduced far later in the series than the gay characters.

And I just wonder why?
03/31/11 @ 14:12
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Comment from: Renata Maniaci, Government Relations Intern [Member] Email
Great post/question Allendra - I often wonder the same thing. Why are networks/shows more comfortable with gay men than gay women? Its kind of sad that the only thing I've been excited about recently is when Santana professed her love to Britany on Glee - a story line which seems to have been dropped since then..How 'bout more representation?
03/31/11 @ 14:18
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Comment from: cabaret voltaire [Member] Email
Even though none of these actresses are gay, both Laverne & Shirley and One Day At A Time were two classic sitcoms based on female characters. If you haven't heard of them, check out TV Land.
04/01/11 @ 12:26
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Comment from: radicalhw [Member] Email · http://www.theradicalhousewife.com/
You're right, Allendra--the first out character on All My Kids was a gay male teacher, introduced YEARS before Bianca.

If I may slip into Women's Studies mode, I suggest that women's sexuality that excludes men is seen as more threatening to the patriarchal order.
04/05/11 @ 08:56
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Comment from: allendra letsome [Member] Email
Addendum:

I have been told, but cannot confirm, the much-maligned (and as yet, unviewed by me) US version of Skins changed the character of Maxxie (gay in the UK version) into the lesbian character of Tea.

Both of these characters, Maxxie and Tea, are introduced in the first episodes of their respective series and their sexuality is established.

So even though the US Skins got so much wrong (allegedly), they apparently got this part right.
04/05/11 @ 10:54
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Comment from: glad_to_be_here [Member]
@cabaret voltaire:

Sometimes I think you are like some sort of Philosophy grad student who isn't allowed to believe in Hypatia anymore...

You can shake your tiny fist and swear that you weren't wrong.
06/15/11 @ 02:56
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