The Crest

The end of the L word has a lot of people thinking what’s next. Is it me or does it feel like we’ve reached a turning point for the Lesbian community?

Prop 8 is up in the air, probably another battle ahead in 2010 whether it passes or not. There’s been this huge push the last few years. Shows like QAF and the L Word ushered us into the limelight, but what are we to do now that the moment of “breakthrough” has passed? MILK, Brokeback Mountain, Monster, Boys Don’t Cry, the Hours and all the other amazing films that shattered this cinematic glass ceiling, I fear are just leading to a fad like the flood of superhero films being made. The danger is that fads fade, and what are we going to be left with when that happens? Are we going to be resettled into obscurity?

I think there is a need for us to be able to see ourselves on television.

It helps me feel less hidden, less outside of the mainstream culture, I guess. Its nice to have something that brings us all together too. Once a week you knew you could find a bunch of lezzies around the tube. There was something for us all to be linked with, which is really highlighted by the dissolving of OurChart as well.

I’m very worried about the Lesbian community splintering further and further apart now.

We’re approaching a new decade, this one seeming like a bad nightmare threatening the next to be worse, its hard to try to plan what’s next. I don’t have a lot of hope for a show in the future with a focus on our lives, sure a superficial storyline or character, but a show? No. If that were the case I think 3way would have been picked up by now. I know, there’s supposedly an L Word spin off in the works… that takes place in prison… or something. Someone could maybe fill me in more on that.

How can we get more connected? How can we use these awful days to make a break for equal rights? Is this the crest of a powerful moment about to happen, or is this the crest of a wave that is crashing?

Jenime is an artist living in the SF bay area. You can watch her musings and ravings any time by visiting her channel on YouTube.