There's been articles and forum topics OL and offline about representation. Does The L Word have to represent? What's your thoughts on the "butch" debate, about playing with gender roles, etc. ? Should certain issues and characters be addressed/more incorporated to the show, or not? Why?

Krizten: It's a TV show, it doesn't have to do anything other than entertain, which it does just fine, sure they could maybe throw in another butch here & there, but come on, they're in LA, it's mostly lipsticks there, but seriously, they've had a gay guys (granted not many), a drag king, a "straight" couple, & a lesbian identified male, what more do you want from them?

Shane_be_mine: Hey, the show is about entertainment, its great if the Producers and Directors wanna represent all facets of the Lesbian community, but it should not be done at the detriment of the show. If the storyline call for that, then great it shouldnt be forced.

Athena: -

So_funny: Any show can't represent everyone. I think it would be unfair to put that burden on the L word. of course, as a groundbreaking show, many unrepresented groups feel that this may be their chance to be represented but I think some attempts have taken away from the show.

Frida: I think so. All except the gay guys, they've already got much space in popular culture. It's important that all sorts of lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals are given the opportunity to be visible as well.

Laura: I personally don't think that Will and Grace or Queer as Folk are necessary representing all the gay community, and I don't see why a show like The L word, that is only at his second season, has to be charged with so many political issues. It's fiction and not a documentary, and it's directed for a mainstream audience, those are things we should not forget. I will be more than happy If in the next season the authors will find space for a new butch character, with a decent and not stereotypical storyline, but only if it is fit with the story and not just to be politically correct.

Melanie: -

Rich: I think the "butch" debate is ridiculous. The L Word is a TV show; it doesn't have any responsibility to be one thing or another, other than entertaining. People need to get over these delusions that The L Word is about them and that it needs to give an accurate portrayal of their reality. Television shows aren't supposed to be realistic. If the show was about a bunch of butch lesbians, as a gay male, I wouldn't watch it and neither would most other people I know.

Jay: Obviously, no, L word does not represent the reality of the majority of lesbian communities. That said, I don't think it should. This is the first 'lesbian' show ever--and I don't care what it takes to make it successful.. let them have their lipstick and their long hair... as long as they continue trying to put in substance, diversity, gender fucks, etc. Ideally they'd all represent, but I'm not that naive.. and it's retarded for anyone to think that the show would be as successful/appealing without hot people on it. If it doesn't succeed, it doesn't air. I want my lesbian tv show, so the rest of you can just suck rocks.

Breezer: I think the show's great the way it is. The show's not about lesbians in general, it's about specific people in a specific place and time. It's not their job to represent every type of gay person that exists.

Grimm: Yeah, you can't value one group higher than another. It's ridiculous having a debate about butches from a femme/femme POV, 'cause it'll just come out wrong. Some people on boards, lists, etc, have laughed at the butches and called them ugly, masculine freaks nobody would want to see. That, to me, equals norrow-mindedness and quite some hypcracy on femme behalf. It's like denying another individual's lifestyle on a larger scale. Well… so ya don't want the 'stereotype' and 'old fashioned' categorisations? Think about why you believe a woman 'should look like a woman' before you speak, then. You pawn of patriarchy, you! ;P

Jay 2: Fuck it, people will be people. there's always gonna be a debate of every issue, the measure of a show is that it can walk that line of contreversity and popularity, and that's what makes the l word great..........it's a conversation starter one could say.

Dana 4-ever: Yes or no… or I don't know. The show's kinda queer so it's a possible place for doing a representation. I can understand though why some lesbians don't want to be put into a category, as stereotypes. But it's a bit silly for some to say that one queer lifestyle is wrong or boring and then speak themselves warm for their own lifestyle. Another fave topic is the debating L Word fans frequently using the turn-around-approach, which equals viewers meaning that queer lifestyles shouldn't be fully represented, but that the heterosexual lifestyle is a definite must-have for the show. Hm. If lesbians have ties to gay men and straight people, shouldn't they also have ties to butches, transexuals and transgendered? I do. And butches, drag, transexuals, and more lifestyles also makes better entertainment than a straight swimming coach.

Adamant_Eve: I don't think it matters if they do or not, I think the fact that its showing any visibility at all is great.

Serendipidy: I think while it is great that they have an idea of the sort of lesbians they want to represent, they also need to step back and realize that they are the pioneers. This is the first show with an all-lesbian cast and they almost have a responsibility to do it properly. I don't think there is any kind of discrimination on their part in that we hardly ever see a butch on the show, they have just been trying to establish a feel. I would like to see more gender playing and butches on the show and I think now that some things have been laid down we will begin to see more diversity.
In the end it is their show, they know what is fair and I think in time most people will see at least a little of themselves somehwere in the show

J: I think it's true that The L Word doesn't represent all the lesbian community accurately. But I also don't really think it HAS to. If it's possible, then it really should, because representation is very important, I can't even begin to say how much. But that shouldn't be it's main objective. It's a TV show, first of all. It's entertainment, it's supposed to entertain. And if it can better represent lesbians on TV, that's just one more reason for me to watch it. If I can relate to it, it just makes watching it a lot more fun. And Entertaining.

Carrie: These are a bunch of trendy, upscale women in Los Angeles, who just happen to all be gay/bisexual/allies. I think the presence of a superbutch would be okay, but I don't think the show sets out to, or claims to represent the entire lesbian community, that'd be nuts.

N/A: I don't think it has to represent. It's fiction, it's supposed to make us forget reality for a second there. Still, it has to be respectful if it does want to represent something (so no stereotypes).

MistressKitty: Sure I think that there should be more diversity on the show, but I also have a feeling that whatever they tackle would be done so poorly that we would be more upset than had they not attempted it before.

Kincora: I believe diversity can be covered by the girls over at Jenny's shack, otherwise, they can go to a bar. (those were some great bartenders they've had). Other than that, it's a pretty tight group of similiar people. As any real group is.

Kat: This is television, people. The vast majority of straight people aren't gorgeous and glamourous, but they seem to be the predominant attributes of most of the more exposed straight acting community. People like to fawn over pretty people. Why should lesbian producers deprive the lesbian community of attractive TV stars just because it's not "representative"? I for one wouldn't glean anything like as much enjoyment from the show if Shane was played by Rosie O'Donnell.

Mailis: Well, since it's fiction i think there's no need for the show to represent anybody... or everybody! let's face it, if the show was about ugly uneducated chicks, no one would watch it... not even ugly uneducated chicks!!

Brea: How can anyone really represent how a gay or bi or even straight person should act? I mean I think The L Word shows women who go through every day struggles and it is very empowering. I don't understand how you can say well just because that person over there has short hair and is wearing guy clothes that she is butch. I think the whole adoption issue would be interesting to adress.

Alice is my Homegirl: There should be a butch character in the main cast, Ivan should be more clearly portrayed as transgender and I'd love to see a discussion involving the dissolving of gender and the norm of monogamy. To shut out certain groups/individuals, or the possibility of experimenting with queer lifestyles, is to discriminate. And to fall into the pit yourself. I've seen so much bullshit circulate the net saying that butches are unsexy and that femmes rule. And transexuality is excluded as well. It's totally sick that individuals are being excluded for the sake of heteronormative views and market power! "It's a TV show, darn it! It doesn't have to represent!" Yada, yada, yada. Why does what's queer always have to be influenced by what's straight? Why categorize at all? It's fucking depressing. A person who does not believe that popular culture and the forms within which we live our lives are political, or cluttered with normative directions, is lost. Ok, IC, sex fucking sells. But you know what? Everything we do is political. Even laying around on the sofa watching TV. Because we have choices, that define who we are. I'm no idiot, sadly we have to be heteronormative stereotypes to have our TV show… grrr.

Silver_roxy: I think that most of the character are not a butch as one would expect. There isn't enough balance. Dana, Bette, and Shane are more on the side of "butch", but still in a very feminine way. It sad really, I wish the directors/writers/producers would produce characters to satisfy the lesbian community, not the straight white male community.

N/A 2: I think that the writers of the show should not have to follow any type of guidlines in an attempt to be PC and include people from varying groups. If they focus too much effort on trying to incorporate different types of people then they will not be spending that time creating the stories... which is what they should focus on.

Horace: Not being a lesbian or a woman, I probably shouldn't answer this question. I watch the show to be entertained.

Chloe S: Who cares? I watch it for the funny lines and smart script writing, not for the serious social issues representation/debates.

Kaela: No I think everything is fine how it is if people don't like what they are watching then turn it off.

Joann: This question is way too deep for me. Personally I love the show because I'd rather be watching beautiful women than women who look like me. I mean, I look just like everyone else, but TV allows me to escape from the routine average everyday life. I know a lot of lesbians and there only a couple of butch women in our group.

N/A 3: I think that the l word does a good job incorporating all types of lesbians and does a great job giving each semi equal screentime.

Joey: There could be more dykish diversity, yes. We could debate this back and forth for a long time, that's been done on boards and in other circles. Butches are sexy, there are many different variations of what defines a butch and considering that, Shane could be a really softcore version. Being the first lesbian show around, I do believe that it at least has some responsibility to represent. And not just butches either, but transgender, crossdressers and gay men as well. Kudos to Chaiken and crew for the extras, though. There are more diverse crowds there now, like in Ivan's garage -the typical butch working class environment. Loved it. And diversity 4 all!

Maria: Well I miss the genderbenders and butches. Some people will say that Shane or Bette are butch, I believe they are not. Being the reality and representation freak I am, I want the butches there and more drag artists and transgender characters end the list goes on and on. We're missing out on queer estetics here!

Chelsea: Hmmm... I believe it should represent in "some" ways... Like maybe situations that the characters find themselves in. But I don't think it should ONLY represent the gay community. I don't care what the characters look like, as long as the personality goes along with gender roles. Shane is obviously "butch", what else do you need? I'm sorry, but most people don't want to see a bulldyke hook up with a super-sexy femme... It usually doesn't work out that way, anyway. Ivan was a "decent" character, since we got to delve into her slight mental "issues"... She obviously had something ticking a little off-blance in her head. o_o

buggs666: I don't really know what you mean by "butch". I just like the show doesn't matter to me who is gay or straight, we're all made the same way.

N/A 4: I think it's just fine to do so... Otherwise we only see the "Barbie" woman on the show and that isn't really how the whole lesbian world is like.

Digitalgoddess: I don't really care about debating those things. I mean, come on it's just a show. It's not displaying the lesbian community negatively so get over it!

N/A 5: I think that The L Word is a revelation amongst the world today because it has failed to include characters that are the "Butch" representation of lesbians. People are so stereotypical and believe that one mask fits all, yet the truth is that gay people are just normal people, with a sexual preference of their own sex. Shane is portrayed as a more masculine lesbian than perhaps Marina or Bette. Although she is still feminine in some ways and The L Word hasn't completley erased the idea of slightly butch lesbians, but the show has slowly coaxed the mind of America, and the UK to accepting that there is more than one representation.

Is the show too straight at times? (example: the het sex scenes of s1, Mark in s2, Gomey, etc...)

Krizten: No, people forget, the "L" in The L Word, doesn't nessecarily stand for lesbian, this show isn't just about lesbians, it's about people, & relationships, & there's no way you're gonna find a group of lesbian women that have absolutely no ties to straight people, you can't have a show with just lesbians, it's like denying that there's any other kind of lifestyle, I'm constantly amazed at just how many gay women there are on the show as it is, we certainly don't have that many in my little corner of the world, at least not that I can find.

Shane_be_mine: No, but it should be kept to a minimum.

Athena: No I don't think so.

So_funny: I don't think so. I think that it's dangerous to say that the LGBT community has no contact with the straight community. Then again, does the show need to show that many het scenes? I think there are enough out there. And I have mixed feelings about Mark. And Gomey needs to die.

Frida: I'll just say Gomey. He disgusts me… there's much exploiting of lesbian women in the show. Not that heterosexuality is a negative thing, it's just that having some characters that objectifies the others seems wrong. There are so many actions made that puts the exploitation up front, in centre.

Laura: I don't like labels per se, so I rather define sex scene on movies or tv show as "Hot Sex Scene" or "Dull Sex Scene"; and I think we had plenty of both in those seasons and it wasn't always Tim's fault. For years we had tv shows with straight characters and gays in supporting, almost insignificant, roles. Now in this show straight males are not portraited very well, so I don't think there's any danger to go to straight with the storylines.

Melanie: Yes.

Rich: Nope. Plus, although the show is about lesbians, it doesn't seem to be heterosexual or homosexual. To me, it's just sexual, and although in most cases I wouldn't prefer to see two girls getting off, most of the sex on The L Word in general is really fucking hot.

Jay: The world I live in is 'too straight'. So, frankly, that seems to be representative and contradictory to your above question. Word. Ignore me, I'm being annoyed and cocky.

Breezer: Nope.

Grimm: Many sweaty heterosexual sex scenes in season 1. Although I really liked Tim, I don't understand why there has to be so many of them? If the heterosexual medias doesn't use seriously portrayed homosexual sex in their shows, how come L Word always has to push the hetero sex envelope? In the end, everything is done to gain heterosexual viewers.

Jay 2: No, it actually shows the contrast and it shows the fact that emotions of some of the characters do or do not constantly relate to how they "knock boots" or whatever.

Dana 4-ever: No, I don't think so. The heterosexual characters are as important to the story as the homosexual characters. I do have a problem with Mark and Gomey, though.

Adamant_Eve: I could live without them.

Serendipidy: Hmm..I admit I got sick of all the straight sex between Tim and Jenny in season 1. But I guess it went along with the story.
As for season 2, Gomey needs a slap, I hated him. But I think I kind of understand what the idea was behind Mark. Some people say that Mark was a character whose purpose was to give the straight male viewers someone to relate to. I think pertaining to the straight male viewers he moreso gave them a reality check and showed them what assholes they are. When Jenny gave him the speach about how "it's not woman's job to make you a better man" that probably hit home with those men sitting on their couches waiting for the next girl/girl romp.
The reality is that lesbian culture will always be marbled with straight ideas and opinions, we can't segregate ourselves so we need to acknowledge it and hope that eventually

J: No, I don't think so. Well, maybe sometimes, considering its target audience. Yeah, like Jenny and Tim on season 1, and Gomey. And Mark. Ok, the Mark storyline was completely unnecessary. I know they had to include a straight male character, but couldn't he just be a NICE straight male character?! I'm not even gonna comment on Gomey.

Carrie: Eh, seems pretty gay to me. And the s1 stuff was important to Jenny's story (which sucked, but whatever).

N/A: I guess it's some balance...it can't be ALL gay, it wouldn't be real: sexuality is fluid bla bla bla...

MistressKitty: There was definately too much Tim/Jenny. My only other complaint is Kit and Benjamin. That is ... *shudder*

Kincora: The Mark/Jenny scenes were ok, when building the story, but other than that, lets get back to Dana/Alice and Bette/Tina.

Kat: Well it's pretty rare to have a lesbian community where no-one has ever dabbled with men! And also it's good to follow coming out stories - though it's kind of a shame that they chose a lame character like Jenny to go through her "outing" experience on the show. But no - keep the occasional men, but make them secondary characters. As they should be.

Mailis: There's a lot of straight sex scenes in the first season and since they involve crying Jenny, they get a little bit on my nerves!!!! But i got used to it...

Brea: No I don't think so. I think it adds to the show. That way it is more of a show that incompasses the every sexual orientation. I know the show is called The L Word, and it is to be about both lesbian and bi women but I like the fact that Mark's character is there.

Alice is my Homegirl: YES. The massive load of heterosexual sex in S1 was frustrating, but not over the top (I'm including the cinematic prologues shown before each episode as well). To introduce two guys videotaping an entire house, however, was. I believe a broad variety of lifestyles should be represented in the show. I just don't believe that the heteronormative principle of inclusion/exclusion is friutful; including the straight elements on the expense of other lifestyles' sucks.

Silver_roxy: I hated Gomey...Don't do that again!
I also imagine that gay communities do not exist in a bubble; they must interact with "straight" people. It is more realistic to have them, but asshole breeders shouldn't be regular characters (i.e. Gomey)

N/A 2: I guess I don't know. I'm straight and I like the show... I'm not sure what that means though, haha.

Horace: Not being a lesbian or a woman, I probably shouldn't answer this question. I watch the show to be entertained. I didn't like most of the het sex in season 1 because jenny was involved. Alice and Lisa on the other hand...

Chloe S: It's ok to me. We are living in the world of both straight and homo....

Kaela: No it's not it's good to throw other stuff into the mix.

Joann: Yes, it's way too straight.

N/A 3: NO! It seems like the real world because not everyone in the world is gay.

Joey: Structurally I'd say yes, because the show is very heteronormative. But regarding actual people, there are just about the right amount of characters, everybody knows both gay and straight people. Only problem is how they are handled, like Mark and Gomey for example. I initially hated them both, but have grown to almost like Mark (and hate Gomey like hell hath no fury). We need a nice guy and I'm also missing another straight girl to throw into the mix. How about Jenny's friend Annette? She was awesome!

Maria: Yes and no. We're all different when it comes to ethnicity, class, sex and sexuality. Knowing that, there's nothing weird with including many straight characters in the show. I did think the many hetsex scenes in season 1 were tiresome to watch. A lesbian/bi show doesn't need THAT much hetsex.

Chelsea: XD lol... "too straight"? What kind of question is that? Do people think gay people only socialize amongst themselves??? Every gay person has straight people as part of their lives, positive or negative. That's a stupid question to ask, and a stupid question for people to answer "yes" to. I understand that some people watch the show for the "gayness" of it, but even QAF has some straight folks thrown in...

buggs666: I think it all balances out good.

N/A 4: I don't think it is because I watched Queer as Folk too and there it's just all gay sex and that isn't really great too.

Digitalgoddess: Yeah, I did think the pilot had a lot of sex in it. But what tv shows nowadays don't? I'm fine with it.

N/A 5: This is debatable. Personally I think it was important to include the het sex scenes becuase if they made the show "too gay" then it perhaps would not have been as successfull as it has been. The show had to be careful who it targeted and by including the heterosexual sex scenes it almost manipulating the viewers. The main audience I believe was the straight people, because those are the people that the show was trying to change the opinion of. By including the straight aspect it encouraged more straight viewers and therefore they began to open their mind to this new perception of lesbians.

Are there too few bisexual characters?

Krizten: ::shrugs:: Probably, I certainly know a lot more bisexual people than just flat out gays, but I'd imagine it's harder to write for bisexual characters, so many choices to make, so many different directions you can go with their storylines, it's probably much easier with just Alice (does Jenny count as one anymore, cause she's been calling herself a lesbian?).

Shane_be_mine: No, definitely not.

Athena: No.

So_funny: Not too few...the show is after all about lesbians. I think bisexuality should be explored more in terms of Alice and how she deals with it.

Frida: Yes, Jenny calls herself a lesbian now and Alice is the only one left to cater the bisexual storylines at the moment. And that's not necessarily a good thing since it means that her relationship with Dana sooner or later will end in spite of all storylines that may go their way. I can see the dark clouds on the horizon…

Laura: The correct question would be if there are bisexual characters at all? I think bisexuality is far to complex to be portraited on a tv show. Alice and Jenny's bisexuality was obviuosly only a way to avoid the lesbian label. Bisexuality it's more than "I can slept with men or women." it's a total different way to live relationship, attraction and gender identity.

Melanie: Yes.

Rich: Yeah, maybe Alice's bisexuality wasn't touched on very much.

Jay: Sure, why not. There's too few 'people with disabilities' too. And I want more monkeys. One of them could get into a car wreck and need an animal aid. Homer did it on the Simpsons... they could get a monkey.

Breezer: Alice is enough bisexual for the entire show.

Grimm: I believe so. Okay, it's hard writing bisexual characters, especially for a show about lesbians I think… there's always the chance someone'll point a finger and critizise the path of a storyline, saying they knew the character would end up with a man in the end. But still, isn't it interesting trying to write one really good bisexual character, or several, to deflate that old cliché? With only Alice being the bisexual element for the moment, I'd like to see another bi or two in the show.

Jay 2: A lil bit…..

Dana 4-ever: Yeah, a few more wouldn't hurt. I just don't know how they would work… I don't think all storylines get enough coverage as it is now.

Adamant_Eve: -

Serendipidy: I think there should be more.

J: YES! Definately. If Jenny AND Alice were bisexual, it would be fine. I thought they were. Alice still says she is, and that's fine. But Jenny declared herself a lesbian sometime this season, I think. It's fine if they are bisexual and are just dating women right now, but that's not really representing bisexuals, then.

Carrie: Nah. Alice is good enough.

N/A: Definetely YES. I wish there were more.

MistressKitty: I havent thought about this issue.

Kincora: Nope. Would like to see how they handle a transgender character (and no, Lisa doesn't count).

Kat: In all honestly, Alice really hasn't been very bisexual. She's not felt much attraction to any men beyond finding them initially attractive - when's the last time you saw her getting deeply emotional over a man the way the lesbian characters do over each other? The only serious man-woman emotion we've seen on the show has been the complex relationship between Jenny and Tim. And she's decided very quickly that she's a "girl loving full on lesbian".

Mailis: -

Brea: I don't really have an opinion on this question.

Alice is my Homegirl: Definitely, yeah. Jenny's more or less a lesbian this season and Alice is in love with Dana. Alice can't carry the whole bisexual plot by herself, she needs help or else there's a risk she'll be stereotyped by the writers. Uhm, if she really was bisexual to begin with. The only guy-guy she's slept with is the one after Lisa… I don't know if Helena will disappear after this season, but if she goes there's room for another character in the main cast.

Silver_roxy: I wish there were more...preferably a guy. I think Mark is a good candidate.

N/A 2: I guess I haven't really thought about that.

Horace: -

Chloe S: If there are many it would not be called The L Word then. Focus should be on lesbians still.

Kaela: No there's enough.

Joann: I think more bisexual characters would make the show more interesting.

N/A 3: No.

Joey: Yes, yes, yes! There are too few bisexuals on the show. Neither of the bisexual characters address the problems involved with being bisexual. Jenny did, a little bit, in the first season but that disappeared in s2 and Alice made it seem clear that she preferred women early on. Many of my friends who are bisexuals can't quite identify with the bisexuality on TLW. The show hasn't dealt with the usual assumption that bisexuals always go for the guy in the end (the so-called bisexual cliché) or that they get labelled after their current relationships for the sake of categorization.

Maria: I'm a bisexual and I have to say I love that Alice is with a girl and not a guy, because people really like to label us as dickloving CTs, only making out with women to satisfy some guy's whim. I feel it's sad that Jenny nowadays define herself as a full on lesbian because we need two bi girls to show that balance of girl/girl or girl/guy, that it's the person and not the gender that matters. But I can understand where she's coming from with the rape and all. Perhaps there could be a third bisexual someday?

Chelsea: No, bisexuals suck. Most of them in the real world are wishy-washy, fake, and really don't want a relationship with a woman. Usually, it's for the attention from men. It gives men hope for threesomes and God knows what else. I'm not going to label ALL bisexuals, but let's just say I haven't met a single one that DIDN'T have a boyfriend or some sort of STD.

buggs666: No.

N/A 4: They could always add some...

Digitalgoddess: -

N/A 5: I believe that perhaps there should have been a few more than there was, mainly because it almost insisted that you were either categorised into the straigh box or gay box, which isnt always the case.

How do you think the different groups of viewers (lgbtq, straight) perceive The L Word?

Krizten: I don't know, all I know is I like it, I don't really get into much discussion about it with other people.

Shane_be_mine: A good show is a good show regardless. TLW has very diverse viewers gay, straight, male, etc all over the world.

Athena: -

So_funny: I don't think it necessarily matters with sexual orientation, I think it's more personality related. I'm a bi female and I watch it with my straight guy friend and I think we relate to it similarly.

Frida: Whoa… I think the show comes off well with all groups, but that it's a solid success among lesbians.

Laura: I have straight friends, specially girls, whom love the show, just because they can relate with the story even if the protagonist are lesbians. Love, attraction, friendship, commitment are themes that are common to everyone. I found that my male friends are a little disturbed when it comes to the sex scene or in generally when the character shows some intimacy; I think they feel threatened... I think the majority of gays and lesbians love the show, but at the same time there's a part of this community that tend to be too political.

Melanie: It is a show that many different people can relate to.

Rich: I love it and I recently got a bunch of straight women addicted to it.

Jay: I think a lot of lesbians take it far too personally. Last time I watched Ally McBeal... or Desperate Housewives.... or ANYTHING... I never took it personally. Doubt many other people did either. Straight people, from my experience, are definitely intrigued by the storylines. I've been pimping out the DVD's here and there... and they're all OMFG!#(&% at first but then they do that 'wow, gay people are just like straight people in a lot of ways!' And then I throw rocks at their houses.

Breezer: I don't really pay attention to that stuff. I'm straight, and I freaking love it, though.

Grimm: I believe shows that are about human relations has the possibility to reach all individuals because it's such a basic idea. We all can relate to relationships and emotions. On the other hand, I also think it's obvious that a homosexual person and a heterosexual person will view the show differently. Just like a lesbian vs a gay man, and a straigh woman vs guy. Everybody's got their own perspective.

Jay 2: Everyone is entittled to their own opinions but as a bisexual, I think that it's a great drama, it's involving and intriguing, I persoanlly hope that it stays for a long time.

Dana 4-ever: I don't know, I think straight people may look at the sex first rather than the characters. It's been marked as "forbidden", "dangerous", "hot" and "sexy" in most countries, not as a drama about relationships.

Adamant_Eve: -

Serendipidy: -

J: Well, I think lesbians feel a lot more represented. Even the ones that don't. Lol. At least that's how I feel. Straight people in general probably watch it like it's just another TV show that they like. And there's probably a small male audience who's just there for the lesbian sex. But then again, I can't blame them, can I?

Carrie: -

N/A: I quess straight people find it shocking at first. Not sure how much they can appreciate it though.

MistressKitty: I don't know.

Kincora: It's a soap opera, I don't worry about the other perceptions.

Kat: I can only speak for myself, as a lesbian, and I love it!

Mailis: I don't have the slightest idea!!! I think it depends more on the background than on the sexual orientation...

Brea: I didn't see season 1 so I couldn't tell you.

Alice is my Homegirl: As a lesbian I say -Finally! A SMART show about lesbians! SO much better than QAF and other semi-characters in various other shows. TLW helps visibility along splendidly! Gay men probably loves the intrigues, the drama. I know my guypals do! (TLW and Desperate Housewives rule their world…) Bi girls are happy for having Alice. I'd be too if I was bi, although there is a dire need of more bisexual characters… I think straight people really like the show, feel it's exciting. But it's probably easier for a guy to objectify and sexualize the characters in TLW, because that's sort of a heterosexual guy norm forced upon men by society to maintain the gender order. And TLW will be responsible for truck- loads of bi-curious straight women. ;)

Silver_roxy: I would have no idea.

N/A 2: Well speaking from a straight female perspective, I love it and so do all my college friends. I think that the show is good in it's own right, not just b/c it deals with homosexuals. It is a huge leap considering the type of society we live in. I think that this show appeals to people across all sexual orientations because it deals with problems which can stretch across anyones world. Obviously gay women will relate more literally to the show, but I think that probably everyone who watches it perceives it in relatively the same way.

Horace: As a straight male viewer, I like is because it's something you rarely see on TV nowadays, a grown up relationship program. The sex is the icing on the cake.

Chloe S: They should watch it first before having wrongful perceptions. But anyways, it's a TV show - either you are straight or gay. If you feel offended or feel that you are not represented, you can always switch off the tv.

Kaela: I think we all have different opinions so we take it in a certain way like I love the show because it's like so real.

Joann: I think everyone loves seeing the women get together. And it's a good serial series.

N/A 3: I think that gay people see it as a show for them while straight people see it as another way that society is beginning to accept gay people.

Joey: This is a show with the ability to reach a large audience. Not just because it's about lesbians, but because there are good actresses and more believable storylines than many other shows. The issues dealt with applies to all people and not just the LGBTQ community. It's quite funny that TV3 in Sweden marketed the straight audience with the previews, though: "Jenny's moving to live with her boyfriend and finds an alternate universe, where everything is sexy and forbidden…" -LOL! What are we supposed to think with such ads?

Maria: I think the show does just fine within all groups. I can't get over the thought that many straight male viewers tune in for some lesbian sex…

Chelsea: Lesbian - "They don't represent us accurately!" >.< Gay - "Wow, those lezzies are f**ked up! Hey, James, c'mere and look at THESE drama queens!" Bisexual - "Ooo, baby..." *kisses boyfriend* Transgender - "Uh, why am I watching this?" Straight male - "Daaaamn... *scene changes* Aw, man... Go back to the sex!" Straight female - "Hmmm..." *becomes curious*

buggs666: I'm not sure on this one.

N/A 4: I guess most people think it's good. I know straight guys who just watch to see the sex or straight woman who would like to be in those girls shoes for a day. I'm a lesbian and for me it feels good to see relationships between woman because most television shows are so straight.

Digitalgoddess: I think not all straight people "get" the show because they've either never been there or done that. But, some straight people do get it and they either bitch about it or accept/like it. I think the lesbians love it- at least that's what everyone says when I ask. I'm not sure about anyone else.

N/A 5: I think that lesbians and gay men, would have seen the show as a revelation because like I have mentioned it has created more than one perception of gay women, and has even raised questions amongst people about gay men and their supposed stereotype. Some straight people may have found the show, disturbing and wrong mainly because there are people who are not ready to accept that gay people are the same as everyone else, they just have a different sexual preference. I believe that some straight people would have found the show captivating and interesting to see how these women live their lives.

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