Which lesbian drama is more real–QAF or TLW?
Queer as Folk watchers, have you recently been surprised by Lindsey’s behavior?
After Ellen has an interesting article
about Lindsey and her recent dalliance with a ‘stick’. In the article,
Sarah Warn contends that Queer as Folk does not have the character depth and time
allotment for its lesbian characters to explore an issue as complicated as sexual
questioning, and then she further asserts that The L Word (the Jenny scenes) does
have the depth of character to handle a subject this complicated.
I agree that QAF doesn’t give much time to its lesbian characters, but
I am more unsettled by The L Word’s treatment of the issue in the form
of Jenny’s waffling. By framing the question of sexual orientation in
a character who is so spacey, The L Word minimalizes the seriousness of the
question, and trivializes the character’s questioning. In contrast, Melanie
and Lindsey are dealing with Lindsey’s crisis in the way that long standing
couples do–part confrontation and bitterness, part silence and wishing
that time could be turned back (and if they can stomach it--hopefully reconciliation
and healing). They are desperately hanging on. The stakes are high, and the
consequences of their reactions are far-reaching. Jenny on the other hand is
as flighty as the drugs she dabbles in, and as shallow. But of course, this
is the advantage of the young!
But which plot has more reality? I think it depends to a large degree on the
life-stage of the viewer. However, the QAF plot hits harder, and seems fresher.
Young ones are supposed to experiment, question, wreck their lives and then
put them back together. Mothers and committed loving couples are supposed to
be past questioning. When the good ones stray, what are we to think of ourselves
and the future of our relationships? This is the unspoken shadow threat, and
QAF is to be commended for taking their lesbians beyond the nest-building mode
that typically characterizes lesbian couples in the media.
It’s about time...
Today, the Family Law Attorneys of Florida voted unanimously to push for a repeal
of the state’s ban on gay adoptions. Since 1977, Florida has had a complete
ban on gay adoption–the only state in the country to have such a ruling.
In the group’s statement, Evan Marks, Miami attorney and chairman of the
Family Law group said, ''Fundamental fairness demands that healthy parents should
be allowed to adopt regardless,'' As wonderful as today’s vote is, there
is still a long way to go to overturn the archaic adoption lay. The next step
is for the Board of Governors to revisit the issue, and then pressure will need
to be put on the legislature. The Family Law Attorneys however, are united in
their belief that this is the correct direction for Florida Law. (more...)
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