Lesbian friendly TV shows

The following titles are TV shows that promote positive support for the LGBTQ community by having a lesbian character (in no particular order).

1.) Pretty Little Liars (Emily Fields played by Shay Mitchell)
2.) Chicago Fire (Leslie Elizabeth Shay played by Lauren German)
3.) Orange is the New Black (Alex Vause played by Laura Prepon)
4.) Glee (Santana Lopez played by Naya Rivera)
5.) The Good Wife (Kalinda Sharma played by Archie Panjabi)
6.) Ray Donovan (Lena played by Kate Moening)
7.) Grey's Anatomy (Dr. Callie Torres played by Sara Ramirez)
8.) Lost Girl (Lauren played by Zoe Palmer)
9.) The Fosters (Lena Adams Foster played by Sherri Saum)

Lez Talk about Ellen Page!

In case you've been in the clouds this Valentine's weekend, Academy Award Nominee Ellen Page came out at HRC's event on the 14th. For some people, it wasn't a surprise (shame on you for assuming, isn't that what we're trying to fight?) and for others it was a shocker. But regardless if you saw it coming or not, I think those who actually read my blog would agree that it's nice. It's nice that she was able to come out on her own terms than have someone outing her for money. It's nice that she had control over this particular moment  and did it her way. I'm just very happy for her.

This brings up the subject of coming out. Coming out is a very difficult time. Some people have less difficulty than others but for the majority of us, coming out is very, very hard. It's emotional and probably the most emotional experience we'll ever have. It's serious. So serious that for some people it's a matter of life and death. So the fact that Page was able to take control of that moment in a room that supported her, means everything. If only everyone could have the same coming out experience maybe it wouldn't be so difficult.

Congrats Ellen Page and welcome to the family!

Lez Talk About 'Fox'!

In March of last year I wrote a blog about a digital chapter series called Daisy by Xavier Haven about a girl who, literally, falls in love with her dream girl. The series received great reviews but not a huge audience, mainly because people don't like to read when they're online. So when I heard there was a possibility of making a web series, I knew I would flip out since the story is just awesome.

Well, a web series was made but it's not Daisy... it's called, Fox. Fox is the dream girl Daisy falls in love with. Her character is never really confirmed to exist or to be a figment of Daisy's imagination but with the new web series, hopefully are questions are answered. Is Fox real? Where did she come from? How was she forgotten? She is, afterall, my favorite character and I'm pretty sure everyone else's.

(Spoilers Ahead!!!!!!!!!!)

(Monroe Hayden as Fox)

Each episode is fairly short, the first one lasts for about 2 minutes- tops but it is intense. One thing I noticed about the episode is that it's darker than the Daisy series. It starts off by the lake, just like in the story where Daisy and Fox meet on a regular basis in The Forgotten World. The sound of children giggling haunts the environment just like Daisy described in the story. Obviously, for those who read the series, we know that the giggling are memories of the both of them when they were little. The entire first half of the episode is translated onto film exactly like in the story!!!

Then it gets eerie when a dark presence lures Fox deeper into the forest and ultimately her dream. That's when the environment changes to reveal a darker world surrounded by dead trees and hardly any sunlight. It is very much like in the story when Fox takes Daisy to the lake and they go through a creepy forest before they get to the beauty that the lake offers.

Monroe Hayden, who was one of the artists who participated in the original Daisy series plays Fox. She and Brandon Teague, another Daisy artist, currently own the rights to the story when they bought it from Haven last year. So far, I think she's doing a good job. We have to keep in mind this takes place before Daisy. So the character, I'm assuming, will develop as the series does to depict the Fox we all imagine in our dreams.

Overall, I think this episode is fantastic. Everything from the cinematography to the music was done exceptionally well, especially the editing. If this episode indicates how each episode will be- the series will take off, no doubt!

Watch the episode here.

Let's Talk About Katie McGrath

So this gorgeous diamond among rocks was definitely a find! First things first, let's talk about who she is and where she came from.

According to Wikipedia, she is an "Irish actress and model from Ashford County, Wicklow, Ireland." You may recognize her from the BBC series, Merlin (now on Netflix). She played the evil Morgana.

Why does she get the spotlight? She currently plays two lesbians in two different TV series. Americans may find her familiar as Lucy Westenra from NBC's Dracula, opposite of Jonathon Rhys Meyers. Lucy is secretly (maybe not so much anymore) in love with her best friend, Mina Murray. McGrath does an excellent job at portraying the hopelessly in love lesbian who is in love with not only a straight girl but her best friend. Cue the violins! Most of us have been there at some point, which is probably why most of our best friends are guys or other lesbians...

[Right: McGrath as a blonde in Dracula.]

The other character she plays is Kate in Channel 4's Dates. Here, she is an open lesbian on the dating scene opposite of Gemma Chan. This show is different than Dracula and in my opinion, more intense because of the realities each character represents.

Playing two lesbians in different countries around the same time could be a big mistake for an actress because it typecasts them as a 'gay actor' and they may not be able to get out of that typecast. But she is a risk taker and go-getting like her character, Kate in Dates, in that sense. Hat's off to you!

Now for the million dollar question: Is McGrath gay? Nothing has been confirmed (neither gay or straight) so for now, let's say no. However, I do appreciate and respect her for playing two fantastic characters who don't fall in the stereotypical lesbian persona and playing them very well. I've seen a lot of gay/lesbian flicks and I know when I am watching a good performance and when I'm not. She is good!

[Above: Mcgrath as Kate in Dates]

Lez Talk About Tammy Baldwin

First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hopefully 2013 is a year of acceptance and change for the good. To kick the blog off this year we're going to shine the spotlight on Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay U.S senator in history.

Tammy Baldwin is from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic party. According to her voting record, she is the most liberal in congress. She beat Tommy Thompson in the 2012 U.S Senate Election. As early as 1994, she proposed to legalize same- sex marriage in Wisconsin. In 1995 she proposed domestic partnerships in Wisconsin.

I usually stay away from political leaders just because the subject of politics is very sensitive to the majority of people whether you're gay or straight but Tammy Baldwin made history by becoming the first openly gay senator and it's more than nice to see that members of congress are allowing gays and lesbians to join their private circle and help lead this country of which we are all a part of.

Hopefully it's a sign of the equal rights for both gays and straights in the year(s) to come.

www.tammybaldwin.com

Lez Talk About the 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia

Today, I thought I'd give credit to nobility. Yes, actual nobility. I'm talking about the 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia (Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo) who was a Grandee of Spain and, obviously, a duchess- by blood. She married her partner, who is now the Duchess Dowager Maria, hours before her death in a civil ceremony.

Ok, for Americans, what exactly is a duchess? A duchess is a title that ranks below prince/ princess but above a marquis/ marquise. Is a duke/duchess royal? Depends if they are of royal blood. Not all nobles are royal but they may be related to royalty. The 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia was not royal.

What is a Grandee of Spain? It's another title that expresses an exalted position, a higher level of nobility who is most likely very important and/or is extremely wealthy.

Now that we are on the same page, the duchess was also a socialist. Despite your views on socialism, let's look at the big picture that I'm trying to paint for you. She had a very noble heritage and still fought for her ideals which is the total opposite of her upbringing. To give you an idea, she was also 15th Duchess of Fernandina and Princess of Montalbán, 17th Marchioness of Villafranca del Bierzo, 18th Marchioness of los Vélez, 25th Countess of Niebla, and three times a Grandee of Spain. (Marchioness is a marquise)

She is also, the only noble (that I can find) who has married someone of the same sex. Her wife, in turn, shared her titles as well and, as I mentioned, is now the Duchess Dowager Maria. What's a Duchess Dowager? The widow of a duke or in this case, a duchess.

This has been a subject I had been fairly interested in for quite some time. Questions have popped into my mind since Disney movies built a franchise on their princesses and the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a. Will and Kate). Are there any princesses who have come out? Are there any noble lesbians in the world? If there were, would they, in turn, share the titles of their spouse?

I suppose it depends on the country. Spain has legalized same sex marriage since 3 July 2005 and obviously titles can be shared. And to my knowledge, there are no princesses or queens who have publicly come out. There are rumors of passed queens like Anne of Great Britain who was said to have had a relationship with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough and Abigail Masham, Baroness Masham. Marie Antoinette was also rumored to have had sexual liaisons with women as well as Catherine the Great but none of these women were publicly lesbians or publicly admitted to be attracted to the same sex.

Hopefully, a princess in our day will come out and change how people look at royalty. It would be nice to have a lesbian princess or a princess who simply falls in love with another woman. Until then, we can only hope and pay homage to Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia, the first lesbian noble to marry her partner. May she rest in peace.

The Duchess Dowager Maria is now life-president of the Fundación Casa Medina Sidonia.

Lez Talk About Amber Heard!

First of all, it's my first post! Yay!

Secondly, for my first post I doubt I'll have a lot of followers because these type of things need to gain a reputation and a fan base on its own. If it never gets any, that's fine too. However, I'd like my first post to start a chain of posts about celebrities, artists and public figures who have come "out" to the public and are taking a stand for LGBT rights.

If you're a lesbian or in the closet and wonder if there is anyone else out there like you, there are. Surely you know that by now but hopefully, some of these women, that I will post about in the next few days, can put faces to those people who have been where we all have been, in no particular order.

Amber Heard

Although she has not clearly stated, publicly, whether or not she is a lesbian or bisexual- she has made it clear that she is attracted to women and dates women. She refuses to "label herself" and I'm going to respect that by not categorizing her.

Amber Heard is an actress/model. Her resume includes The Rum Diary and Drive Angry (to name a few). She was also the face of Guess? in 2011. In my opinion, she doesn't seem like the type of actress who is after any role she can get. To me, she seems like she actually chooses her roles carefully. They may not be blockbusters but there is a reason why she chooses the films she has participated in whether it be because it seemed like a good opportunity to have fun or because the story and character sparked some sort of interest she found appealing or challenging. I believe we'll see more of her in the future. She's that good.

Why is she worthy to be noted? Because she came out at GLAAD's 25th anniversary event, which takes a lot of courage to do. This could have changed her entire career and if she were an actress in the 50's, it would have destroyed it. She is also a very feminine woman.

Most people actually believe the stereotype that lesbians or women who like other women, in general, are masculine. There are people who picture lesbians as girls who wear plaid shirts, baggy jeans and hiking boots. Sure, there are lesbians who look like that but it's not fair to think every lesbian does. Heard is a woman who seems to love being a girl. She loves fashion, make up and shoes. She gets her nails done. She goes shopping with friends and her little pooch. She is what the lesbian community would call a "femme". However, she does still like guns and cars, which I think adds more spice to her sugar.

Why is that note worthy? Because I believe women need to see that some lesbians or women who like other women, are just as normal as straight ones. And that it's ok if you're a girl who likes other girls but also likes dresses, shoes and purses too. You don't need to pretend or force yourself to like men just because you don't exactly fit in with the lesbian stereotype. You don't need to change your whole wardrobe to feel like you belong. There will be people who will look at you and say, "I thought you were straight," but that's really their issue and not yours when it comes down to it.

Your sexuality does not define you but it is a part of who you are so why not embrace it? If you like your heels, go for it! As they say, "With the right shoes, a woman can rule the world!"

It's ok to be feminine and like women too.