Whos actually gay in the l word

Ten years ago everybody wanted to know which "L Word" actresses were gay but nobody dared to spill — now that everyone is gay or bisexual, these pressing questions can finally be answered. According to Showtime, 1 million viewers tuned in for the series premiere.

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig, authors of So Gay For You and stars of The L Word, about their decades-long friendship and the show's lasting impact on culture. Kate Moennig opens up in her new memoir 'So Gay for You' about the pressure she felt to come out as a lesbian when 'The L Word' premiered in Jennifer Beals, who played power lesbian Bette Porter, was the sole household name among the main cast members, and Hailey was the only out lesbian.

In fact, Hailey was working at a sunglasses store in Los Angeles at the time, while Moennig had a bartending job lined up in New York. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Profile My News Sign Out. Sign In Create your free profile.

Sections U. Follow NBC News. Leisha Hailey and Kate Moenning discuss their real-life friendship, found queer family and how "The L Word" started it all in their joint memoir, "So Gay For You.". A pioneer of queer representation on screen, The L Word was the first television show to feature an ensemble of all-lesbian characters and thus became required viewing for every baby gay.

Hailey did, however, reveal that she initially turned down the role because it would have meant putting her band, The Murmurs, on the backburner. IE 11 is not supported. I always feel like working is the vacation and trying to find the job is the job.

The two first met in on the 14th floor of a corporate office in L. Relief washed over me: I not only had a job, but one I actually wanted. Moennig added that the show provided its audience with a more nuanced understanding of the lesbian experience, one that went beyond the butch-femme binary.

The L Word cast

Even as an out lesbian, Hailey said, she, too, was being educated about the community at the time. To say a series about glamorous and successful Los Angeles lesbians was groundbreaking at the time would be, inarguably, an understatement.

Ellie J. Rudy is a freelance journalist based in New York City. It was around this time, she added, that Kirschner gave Hailey and Moennig their long-time nickname: Pants. The series centered on a group of eight friends, mostly lesbians, who were living, loving and working in Los Angeles.

But she quickly came to her senses and accepted. Skip to Content. These included same-sex parenting, gender transitions and closeted service members and athletes. Lisa, who was assigned male at birth and identified as a lesbian, was based on a real person, Hailey revealed.

The duo said they found community in their L. Since the series wrapped 16 years ago, Hailey and Moennig have also kept busy with professional projects. NBC News Logo. Search Search.