I’m extremely skeptical about television. I don’t have cable because, save for Breaking Bad, I’m generally not interested. So when I first saw the ads for Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, I was quick to write it off as a scripted and gimmicky tale of a white girl in prison. But after watching it, I… Continue Reading →
All bi-myself: bi-erasure in the media
About a month ago, I came across this article at Huffington Post. Disregard the actual article for a moment and check out the slideshow at the bottom: “Celebrity LGBT Families.” I clicked through the pictures and was surprised to find that the final two were about bisexual women. As a bisexual woman myself, who is… Continue Reading →
JC Penney and Gap lead the way in gay/lesbian advertising – but have we reached true inclusivity?
My friends, there’s no denying it: the political and social landscape of 21st century America is changing rapidly. On May 9, President Barack Obama publicly endorsed gay marriage, becoming the first American President to do so. On Saturday the 19th, the NAACP followed suit. These drastic endorsements in the political realm are significant milestones for… Continue Reading →
Lesbian storylines make a desperate grab for Sweeps Week TV ratings
Sweeps Week, the week(s) during the television season when Nielsen ratings data is collected (most recently at the end of November), is not known for quality. What it is known for are live episodes, celebrity cameos, character deaths, cliffhangers, and of course, the infamous shark jump. But beyond these trivial stunts, a disturbing trend has… Continue Reading →