Representing

Ilene Chaiken: Channeling Shakespeare?

It came to my attention that January 6, when The L Word, Season Five premieres, is the date traditionally celebrated as “Twelfth Night” (though modern observances may place it on the 5th). Shakespeare, in his gender-mix-up comedy Twelfth Night, has Viola, in male drag, comment upon the Countess Olivia: She made good view of me; […]

Win a Free L Word DVD Set

Yes, Season Five of The L Word is upon us, premiering on Showtime January 6 at 9 p.m. EST, but available in advance at Our Chart today, beginning at noon EST. (The online version will, however, be “blurred, bleeped or otherwise abridged” according to creator Ilene Chaiken, who adds “this is not by our choice

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode Eight

In this edition of our weekly video blog, brought to you in partnership with After Ellen, Helen and I step into an alternate universe and imagine what the upcoming season of The L Word might be like if parenting (but not pregnant lesbians or sperm) played a larger role. Bette with mashed peas on her

Happy Birthday, Jennifer Beals!

It’s Jennifer Beals’ birthday, and even though she isn’t a lesbian mom, she plays one on TV. That’s enough for me to wish her a very happy day and tell her how much I’m looking forward to Season Five of The L Word, premiering January 6. Stay tuned for more thoughts on The L Word

So You Want to Get Pregnant . . .

Louise Sloan’s new book, Knock Yourself Up: No Man? No Problem: A Tell-All Guide to Becoming a Single Mom (Avery: 2007), is something of a novelty. It is perhaps the only parenting book by an out lesbian mom that is directed at a mixed audience, lesbian and not. While some books about single motherhood are

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode Seven

In this edition of our weekly video blog, brought to you in partnership with After Ellen, Helen and I use Jodie Foster’s increasing openness about her personal life as an excuse to talk about why it’s important for parents to be honest about their families. How does being out (or not) impact children’s sense of

Lesbian Moms Aplenty on Between the Lions

As reported here last July, Melissa Etheridge has appeared as a guest (several times now) on PBS Kids’ Between the Lions. Now, it’s come to my attention that fellow lesbian mom and Iron Chef Cat Cora has done a spot for the show as well—a short bit in which she enunciates and demonstrates the word

Hate Crimes, Violence, and Jodie Foster

The LGBT-inclusive Hate Crimes Bill, aka the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, is dead. House Democrats removed it from the Defense Reauthorization bill to which it was attached. According to the Washington Blade, “gay-supportive Democrats who oppose the war would join more than 150 Republicans who oppose the hate crimes bill to defeat the

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 6

In this edition of our weekly video blog, brought to you in partnership with After Ellen, my partner Helen and I offer a few specific ideas and some general advice for parents and others buying gifts for children over the holidays. Plus: tattoos of your children’s names, regendered dolls, and sparkly boas! Online Videos by

LGBT-Inclusive Children’s Gifts

(Originally published in Bay Windows, November 29, 2007.) Looking to find children’s gifts inclusive of LGBT families? Try some of these books and videos from 2007: For Young Children We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families, by Todd Parr (Little, Brown Young Readers: 2007), showcases families of many configurations. Paired phrases like “We

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