Ten Reality TV Lesbian Villains

From backstabbing maneuvers to win money, physical attacks to win the girl, and just general nastiness to be nasty, these are the lesbian villains of reality television that we love to hate.

10. Ebony, America’s Next Top Model, Cycle One
Despite earning major points when she was openly affectionate with her visiting girlfriend, ignoring the nasty comments and rudeness from her fellow contestants, Ebony may still have been voted most annoying model in the house by the other girls on the show for incidents like the time she put lotion on her hands and proceeded to spread it everywhere she went without worrying what her roommates might think of it, prompting the “Who is going to tell Ebony she’s getting the doorknobs all greasy?” conversation.

9. Ivette, Big Brother 6
One would probably assume that the members of the “Nerd Herd” during Big Brother 6 were the nice guys, but that definitely wasn’t the case and out lesbian contestant Ivette was a big reason for that. She made it to the end of the game but managed to talk behind people’s backs, threaten them, and hate on America’s favorite player, Janelle, along the way. The best part of Ivette’s behavior problem though was that she was the only one who didn’t realize it existed.

8. Rachel and Veronica, Real World Road Rules Challenge
Veronica was on Semester at Sea; Rachel showed up a few years later on Campus Crawl. Separately, they were actually the nice ones on their shows. When they got together a few years later for their many appearances on RWRR Challenges though, they were just plain mean.

7. Jessica, Curl Girls
As if it wasn’t confusing enough that Curl Girls was a show about lesbians who surf that featured a few lesbians who had pretty much never surfed before, even more perplexing was the relationship between Jessica and her super sweet girlfriend Melissa. The show began just after Jessica had cheated on Melissa by kissing another girl and the two went back and forth about their relationship - whereby Jessica never seemed too willing to give Melissa the monogamy she wanted. Her relationship drama aside, however, yelling at and criticizing cute little Gingi because she identified as bisexual was just not okay.

6. Zulema Griffin, Project Runway
The first Project Runway contestant to make the models perform a walk-off for her before trading hers in for a competitor’s just had to make our list. Oh, and who could forget her tolerance for a team member’s stress when she explained “I don’t care if you cry, but you better cry and cut.” Surprisingly though, Zulema’s issue with the editing of the show had little to do with her “villain” status and more to do with the non-acknowledgement of her as a lesbian. A talented fashion designer who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and is proud of her homosexuality actually sounds pretty awesome to us.

5. Coral Smith, Real World 10 and lots of Challenges
Coral (“I don’t wrestle, I knock bitches out!”) Smith almost didn’t make our list – after all, she just recently came out as a lesbian and has only appeared in one Challenge since doing so. Good thing she was just as nasty as ever as she quit the show where people vote each other into a showdown against another player where the loser goes home because she was afraid of losing and then accused everyone on her team for betraying her when all they did was play the same game that she had played hundreds of times before the exact same way. Yeah, apparently it wasn’t her frustration with living in the closet that made her behave so badly.

4. Jackie Warner, Work Out
First off, we have to say, we love Jackie Warner. She is a smart, talented, driven, successful, and sexy lesbian who absolutely serves as a great representative of gay women everywhere and we admire her greatly. That said, she could maybe be a little bit nicer. When she kissed and cuddled the other woman she was dating right in front of Rebecca…it wasn’t so nice. And when she fired Brian Peeler because he wanted her to apologize for her part in making fun of a client whose cancer caused her boobs to look different…it wasn’t so nice. And when she snooped through her girlfriend’s text messages… it wasn’t so nice. And when she ambushed her mother with a houseful of surprise overnight guests…it wasn’t so nice – but that one was kind of funny since her mom is a bit of a homophobe.

3. Vanessa, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila
Vanessa was the kind of reality show personality that we really wish wasn’t also a lesbian. Crazy is really a better way to describe her. She looked crazy, talked crazy, and when she freaked out and attacked Brandi during the key ceremony – she just went completely hair-pulling, girl-fight, crazy.

2. Tabitha, Shear Genius
Something tells us that Tabitha wouldn’t mind making this list. After all, it was her shrewd and opinionated attitude on Shear Genius that landed her a show of her own a year later. At least on Tabitha’s Salon Takeover the people deserve it.

1. Lisa Fernandez, Top Chef
When Bethanny from The Real Housewives of New York City – the reality show notorious for unapologetically bitchy women - calls in a question to the reunion of your show asking why you’re so mean and you still don’t crack a smile and laugh it off… you really are a villain. Lisa made it to the final three chefs of her season, so she was in every single episode, and never once did she look anything other than angry. She could argue that it was the way they edited her, or that she just isn’t the kind of person who smiles a lot. She could argue that if she didn’t also fight with almost every single contestant, resort to “throwing people under the bus” by pointing out how they didn’t follow the exact rules set by the judges, and disturb viewers with her scowl during every last judge’s panel. We can’t say for sure because we have never tasted her cooking but we wouldn’t be surprised if she only made it to the final round because Tom and Padma feared her reaction to being cut.

Leisha Hailey to Star in The L Word Spinoff!

The sixth and final season of The L Word will premiere in early 2009 and for months now that news has left a lot of us feeling angry, depressed, and a little bit abandoned. However, after months of rumors and speculation regarding the possibility of a spinoff series, Showtime has announced that there will in fact be a new show coming and it will star out lesbian actress Leisha Hailey as many viewers favorite character, Alice Pieszecki.

Since the day it premiered, The L Word has been providing much needed quality entertainment to the lesbian community. One of Showtime’s longest running series, the show has broken ground and brought story lines and characters to television in ways that no program has before.  Sadly, The L Word will culminate after its final eight episodes, marking the end of an era chronicling the lives of iconic characters who have played a pivotal role in changing cultural perceptions of lesbians and the transgender community on and off screen. With few other scripted programs currently in production that center around the lives of lesbian women, it has been difficult for fans of the show, and the lesbian community overall, to accept that the end of the show about Bette, Tina, Jenny, Alice, and Shane might mean the end to watching fictional representations of their own lives. In a world that seems to have a show for everyone – there would be even fewer depictions of lesbian life on TV.

Thankfully, Showtime seems to know its viewers and has brought back two essential ingredients to helping them get over the loss of their beloved show: Leisha Hailey and Ilene Chaiken, the creator and executive producer of The L Word. For now, all that we know of the new show is that it will star Hailey and that she will continue to play the character of Alice. For many – that information is enough. Since the first episode of the series Alice has stood out as the funniest and often most likeable of the women featured. Her character has gone though many ups and downs – including getting dumped by her girlfriend Dana, the death of Dana to cancer, and dating a closeted woman in the military but with her sense of humor, wit, and warmth continued to endear herself to those watching more and more with each episode.  In the first season of the show, most plot lines revolved around Bette and Tina and their troubled neighbor Jenny. It didn’t take too long though for Hailey to literally steal the show.

With the new show set to begin production in December, Hailey, who recently released her fist full length album with band Uh Huh Her, will be very busy. Maybe Showtime should consider bringing in some strong co-stars to lessen load like, maybe, Katherine Moennig, Jennifer Beals, Mia Kirshner and Laurel Holloman? Either way, Hailey absolutely has what it takes to carry a show on her own and news of the spin off is extremely exciting.

The L Word will begin again in early 2009 on Showtime. For more information about the Leisha Hailey spin-off visit www.sho.com.

Transgender Women of Color Hit Reality Television

BY DAVID MARINER

Transgender Women of Color are rarely seen on reality television, as are LGBT People of Color.  But two African-American transgender women are changing that and breaking barriers on reality television this season.

When America’s Next Top Model starts in September, Isis will be competing along with the other women.  Isis is the first ever transgender contestant on the popular reality show.  And even though the show has yet to begin, Fox News has already started with the inappropriate and ill-informed commentary.

Laverne Cox, however, seems to have slipped by Fox’s radar screen for now.  Laverne is currently competing in the reality show I Want to Work for Diddy.  In this new VH1 reality show contestants compete for the opportunity to be P. Diddy’s personal assistant.

Laverne, who frequently posts at MyVH1Friends.com, tells gay.com: “Mr. Combs is giving me an opportunity that can change the way people see trans people of color. I have a dream and am very ambitious, but if I can change the way people perceive trans people of color in this country, that’s something hugely important to me.”

Article provided by GayLinkContent.com and originally appeared in Temenos (http://www.temenos.net), the progressive lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and intersex community online.

Fall Lineup Highlights For the Grrls

It’s that time of year again. Summer Friday’s have come and gone, school is starting up again, the weather is already reminding you that you own a coat, and no matter what you do for a living, going to work suddenly just got more annoying. But – for those who enjoy a good television show, and have missed their favorite shows and characters, the fall season brings at least one good thing: new things to watch on TV!

The 2008 fall television lineup includes a lot of new shows, new episodes of old shows, the thankful cancellation of bad shows and generally, something for everyone. Usually this means something for everyone except the lesbian viewer but this year we have found quite a few shows that are trying to change that. We’re providing you with a basic rundown of what’s coming soon to a television set near you that either stars, features, or involves a lesbian or bisexual actress or character. It could be better but it could have been, and has definitely already been, worse.

24, Fox
Premiere date: Sunday, November 23, 2008 (two-hour prequel to season premiere in Januray 2009).
24 is presented in real time, with each season depicting a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the U.S. government as it fights domestic threats. The past 6 seasons of the show have been popular, exciting, and award winning but Season 7 is sure to be the best yet for two great reasons: 1) there will be a female President portrayed on the show and, 2) the actress that plays her, Cherry Jones, is an out lesbian. We’re feeling patriotic already!

Bones, Fox
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 3rd
Bones centers around the brilliant, but socially inept, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence Brennan who works with ex-Army Ranger turned Special Agent, Seeley Booth, to help the Bureau solve crimes by identifying human remains that are too far gone for standard FBI forensic investigations. But the benefits of this show go beyond the smart and powerful female lead. Angela Pearly Gates Montenegro is the Jeffersonian’s resident forensic artist and in Season 4 she will become the reason we watch. Last season audiences learned that Angela was bisexual when a private investigator hinted that she was tipped by a girl named Roxy, who allegedly got her heart broken by Angela.  Throughout the earlier seasons, there were hints about Angela’s bisexuality, but it wasn’t until the end of the third season that it was set in stone.  Despite being engaged to an entomologist, it has been reported that Angela will get tangled up in some lesbian romance. Nice, Roxy sounds hot.

Degrassi: The Next Generation, The N
Premiere date: Friday, October 10th
The Paige and Alex relationship on Degrassi has been one of the strongest and longest lesbian storylines to appear on television. Although the two characters have had their ups and downs, their plotline was always written with the same treatment as the heterosexual relationships on the show. Season 8, however, does not look like it will include much about Paige and Alex – as they decided to go their separate ways at the end of Season 7 and both seem to have aged out of the show’s high school setting. Hopefully each will have guest appearances and you never know… there may be a new batch of young Canadian lesbians entering Degrassi High this fall.

Grey’s Anatomy, ABC
Premiere date: Thursday, September 25th
For four strong seasons Patrick Dempsey has been a totally understandable reason to watch the hour-long drama that centers on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors. He really did age remarkably well! But it wasn’t until the end of the last season that lesbian viewers got a good reason to tune in too – and it came in the form of a passionate kiss between two of the shows female regulars. Dr. Callie Torres and Erica Hahn took their relationship to the next level with the kiss in the season finale and it has been reported that the storyline about the two will continue into Season 5. Additional reports even state that Grey’s consulted with GLAAD to prepare for the lesbian elements of their show. We’re thinking the whole Isaiah Washington “faggot” incident had something to do with the extra efforts for responsible gayness.

House, Fox
Premiere date: Tuesday, September 16th
House centers around the anti-social, pain killer addicted, witty and arrogant medical doctor, Gregory House, who has only half a muscle in his right leg. Also featured in the incredibly smart and medically heavy show is Dr. House’s team of medical doctors who work with him to try to cure very ill, ordinary people who come into their clinic. Among these secondary characters we find Olivia Wilde, who plays Dr. Hadley (a.k.a. Thirteen) and for the second time in recent years also plays bisexual. After tiny hints that the character may be bisexual it was confirmed in a casual and funny scene where she, another character, and House are watching a soap opera and she has the line, “I think I dated that Nurse…(pause)…no.” At the end of last season Thirteen learned that she had the disease Huntington’s chorea so we’re sure hoping the doctor’s found a cure over break.

My Own Worst Enemy, NBC
Premiere date: Monday, October 13th
We’re happy for Christian Slater and all but there is one reason and one reason only that this show made our list: Saffron Burrows. The actress has reportedly dated both men and women so we will consider her bisexual for now but either way, she’s gorgeous, so we’ll be watching her play opposite Slater as Dr. Norah Skinner and be routing for this new show to make it.

South of Nowhere, The N
Premiere date: Friday, October 3rd
The most depressing fall television news we learned that Spencer and Ashley (Spashley) – our favorite South of Nowhere girls - have only half a season more of being the cutest couple on television. It was announced in February that the show had been cancelled and would only return to finish out the third season, leaving many fans very upset and demanding more. The show premiered in 2005 and centered around two teenage girls who fell in love with each other. It was a positive and groundbreaking show in its depiction of a healthy and happy teenage relationship and presentation of gay role models for a young audience. We are looking forward to the new episodes but angry and sad that with each new show… we will be watching one of the last.

Tabitha’s Salon Takeover, Bravo
Premiere date: now airing
The official description of this show states: “Australian native Tabatha Coffey, the straight-talking former contestant from Shear Genius, visits struggling salons in Los Angeles and New York, and whips the desperate stylists and salon owners into shape.” We watch it because it’s an openly lesbian woman with her own show who arrogantly and rudely bosses people around in each episode and yet comes off likeable, smart, and admirable while doing it.

The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Premiere date: Monday, September 22
Last season this new show about “a woman who moves into an apartment next door to two brilliant but socially awkward physicists and shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory” was funny, cute, and somewhat original. This season out lesbian and Emmy nominated actress Sara Gilbert joins the cast as a series regular and it becomes a lot more!

The Cho Show, VH1
Premiere date: now airing
When thinking about Margaret Cho in her new reality program, The Cho Show, we wondered: Is she gay? Is she straight? And then we realized… she’s just funny.

The New Adventures of Old Christine
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 24th
Let’s face it – this show had us at Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Then we learned that the name of the show came from the premise in which Christine finds out that her ex-husband and friend is dating a new, younger girlfriend, also named Christine – hence, these were to be the new adventures of the old Christine. Now, EW.com is reporting that Christine will marry her best friend on the show, Barb (Wanda Sykes). Even if it’s totally not about their lesbian love it is a gay wedding on network TV. We can’t wait!

Ugly Betty, ABC
Premiere date: Thursday, September 25th
Ugly Betty is a cute and funny show about Betty Suarez, a smart, sweet and hard working girl who is not thin and beautiful like all her coworkers at a high-fashion magazine but whose hard work and determination earns her the boss’s respect, as she helps him find his way through the shark infested waters of the fashion industry. Having a non-conventional female lead has made this show worthy enough of our respect but this season things really get grrl friendly as Lindsay Lohan reprises her role as one of Betty’s high school classmates.