AfterElton.com - Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (February 16, 2007) (page 2)

THE BRITISH ARE COMING! THE BRITISH ARE COMING! AND BOY ARE THEY GAY
These days it seems every time I turn around I get another email, press release, or announcement that there is something else gay coming to BBC America or already airing on the BBC in the U.K or being dreamed up by their writers. We've got Footballers' Wives, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Hollyoaks: In the City, the original Hollyoaks, Skins, Mile High, Shameless, Feel the Force, The State Within, and even a gay looking, if not actually gay, Robin Hood. And that's just off the top of my head! I thought I'd do everyone a favor and catch you up to speed at least a little on what's what.

The original Hollyoaks series (In the City is a spin-off) hasn't yet aired in the US, but recently featured a storyline involving the teenaged John Paul (JP) finally telling his best friend Craig he was gay and in love with him. The news wasn't terribly well-received and JP promptly went back into the closet. No doubt this isn't the last we'll hear about JP's sexuality. The show also features a non-stereotypical bisexual character named Kris. And by non-stereotypical, I mean he doesn't sleep with anything on two legs who he then sadistically murders.

BBC America started airing Hollyoaks spin-off In the City several week's ago on Thursday nights and last night was the fourth episode. The show not only features the scenery chewing bisexual baddie Burton, but out-and-proud teenager Josh, and closeted Adam who slowly comes to terms with being gay. Josh and Adam's storyline takes some time to develop, but the show provides a steady stream of gay content, including an episode in two weeks where a straight character accidentally stars in a gay porn flick. Don't just hate when that happens? That's exactly how I wound up filming that ex-gay ad for Exodus. I was so embarrassed.

Feel the Force is another new BBC America show to recently land stateside. Think of it as Reno 911: U.K. It's pretty slapsticky and over the top, but cute and includes a closeted cop in love with his partner. There's only six episodes in the series, so don't wait too long to check it out or it'll be gone before you can say The Queen.

No word on when or if Skins, another British soap will cross the pond, but if it does, look out for Maxxie, yet another British gay teen. See what happens when you pass civil unions? Suddenly it's so cool to be gay.

And this weekend brings us The State Within, a BBC America miniseries about political intrigue, terrorism, and government misinformation. (No, this isn't the evening news.) Even better, though, is the show's gay subplot featuring openly gay Ben Daniels as a British government official who isn't exactly what he appears to be. The gay part of his storyline is handled very matter-of-factly, as his is relationship with another character. Tim Hardaway would hate it.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS IS NO TIM HARDAWAY—THANK HEAVENS
As a child of the 80's, I confess to listening to and loving A Flock of Seagulls, Human League and Hair Cut 100. So sue me. Country western music was so alien to me it might as well have been from another planet. Or Texas. It wasn't until Brent and I started going out that I realized Johnny Cash was actually an anti-establishment rebel. Brent also explained that if you really wanted to find open and proud feminists in music, country was often the place to look.

Well, I love me some feminists, so after having my mind opened on that score, I went on to discover other CW artists including Roseanne Cash, Trisha Yearwood, and, of course, the awesome Dixie Chicks. Heck, I even discovered Dolly Parton was so much more than big hair and boobs.

Another great female CW singer I appreciate is Lucinda Williams, and not just for her music. Ms. Williams recently addressed the issue of her gay fans, racial intolerance, dating gay guys, and gay marriage. She's pretty much great on every score. As for gay marriage, Ms. Williams says:

"I think it's great. I mean, who the hell cares? If people want to get married, that should be their prerogative. I'm a strong believer in individual freedom, as long it doesn't hurt other people. In this country, the people are supposed to be the government. It' not supposed to be the government over the people. That's how America was founded-"We the people." It's your life; you should be able to do what you want with it. It's between you and God."

Gosh, I wonder if Lucinda will be the next uppity female to get Dixie Chicked? Read the whole interview here.