Welcome to Paging Dr. Lesbian’s first-ever community thread. I wanted to do something to get to know you all a little better, and so that you all could get to know each other better as well (you all have being readers of this newsletter in common, after all.)
So here’s how it works: I’ll pose a few questions, and you can answer them in the thread below. I’ll be online today responding to people’s comments. Feel free to respond to each other’s comments as well.
Here’s what I would like to know:
Tell me a little about yourself! Whatever demographic info you feel comfortable providing – age, location, profession, etc.
What are your top 3-5 lesbian (or lesbian-adjacent) films and/or tv shows? In that vein, what’s one film or tv you wish more people would watch?
You can also use this space to shout out any creative projects of your own you’d like to share with the community.
If all goes well, perhaps we’ll do another one of these at some point!
Sadly missed the event but I'd like to put a comment here anyways.
Online i go by jay, I'm in my 20s and from Germany. Getting a degree in urban planning rn.
Top 5 shows:
A league of their own
Gentleman Jack
Supergirl (the show was .. not super good lol but i was helpless to resist the fandom)
The owl house
The handmaiden (what an amazing film!)
There are so many great movies and shows people need to watch more! But my vote gotta be for: Wild nights with Emily (wich is a true to history retelling of Emily Dickinson's life that was made together with her museum, it's low budget, the actors aren't know at all, but it's true and it's funny and it's queer and if u enjoyed the series about Emily Dickinson then you'll love this movie i promise)
late to the game on this but hello! Steph here, 34 from Minneapolis, artist working in IT.
Top lesbian/queer media:
Vida
The Bisexual
The Real L Word (lolol)
Sex Education
Killing Eve
Vida and The Bisexual are tied for shows that more people should watch!!!!
I guess I'll push my website (stephanieohdee.com), where I have some art...not for sale, just on display. Hoping to eventually get a shop going for stickers, prints, etc...would also love to collab on a zine again, as I haven't in years and years but love doing!
Hey y’all, I’m Allie! I’m 34 and live in Providence, Rhode Island with my partner and dog. I’m a commercial photographer (my partner and I are a photo team) and a lot of what we photograph involves the queer community.
Top fave lesbian media: Gentleman Jack, Disobedience, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. 100000% wish more people would watch GJ!
I'm Ellie, I'm 38, originally from Brighton in England but in Paris, France for the last 10 years. My top five lesbian media is But I'm a Cheerleader, Killing Eve (except the end!), Grey's Anatomy, Happiest Season, and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
I'm Shar (or Sharmane)! I live in Singapore, I am 23. Currently doing my Masters in English Literature, one more year left!
Top five lesbian / lesbian-adjacent media: Gentleman Jack, Disobedience, The Handmaiden, Person of Interest, Desert Hearts
Wish more people would watch Person of Interest even though Root/Shaw come in later, it's excellent and beautiful start to finish. One of my very favorites!
Hi! Victoria here. I’m originally from Armenia, but residing in France for 8th year now. I’m a writer focusing on exploring multilayered relationships between women and playing with different narrative styles (because arc and 3-act story structure are so masculine!).
I’m very (VERY) influenced by the Price of Salt (aka Carol) book and Carol film (obvi). I wish more people would read the book (and see the movie).
Other favorites are 8 women (French movie), Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Olivia (filmed in 1951 and based on the novel).
I really love the way Patricia Highsmith wrote that story. It’s just absolutely melodrama-free, and yet it’s so captivating. I think they managed to transfer that style to the film which is one of the most soothing films I ever saw.
Reg writing styles: Meander, Spiral, Explode book by Jane Alison completely blown my mind and changed my writing perspective forever.
Hiya! I'm Nicole. I'm originally from Massachusetts but teach English and Gender & Sexuality Studies at a small liberal arts college in south-central IL. My favorite lesbian/queer media: Gentleman Jack, Nella Larsen's Passing (film and novella), San Junipero, Carol, Dickinson, But I'm a Cheerleader, Jennifer's Body, Janelle Monet's videos, (the super squishy and lovely) Heartbreaker, First Kill (I know it's bad but I still love it).
Underrated queer thing to watch: both Venom films (I swear there's a delightful homoerotic story juuust under the surface there). Short story to read: Amal Al-Mohtar's "Seasons of Glass and Iron" which you can read here: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/seasons-glass-iron/
I’m sally, age 43. My hall of fame dyke media: Bound, Watermelon Woman, Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, San Junipero (Black Mirror), Fingersmith (movie), Tipping the Velvet (book)
Underrated queer thing to watch: Harley Quinn (HBO max)
Not queer besides the fact that I write it: I put out a Veronica mars rewatch newsletter: marsinvestigations.xyz
Sadly missed the event but I'd like to put a comment here anyways.
Online i go by jay, I'm in my 20s and from Germany. Getting a degree in urban planning rn.
Top 5 shows:
A league of their own
Gentleman Jack
Supergirl (the show was .. not super good lol but i was helpless to resist the fandom)
The owl house
The handmaiden (what an amazing film!)
There are so many great movies and shows people need to watch more! But my vote gotta be for: Wild nights with Emily (wich is a true to history retelling of Emily Dickinson's life that was made together with her museum, it's low budget, the actors aren't know at all, but it's true and it's funny and it's queer and if u enjoyed the series about Emily Dickinson then you'll love this movie i promise)
Nice to have you! Wild Nights With Emily is great, I concur.
late to the game on this but hello! Steph here, 34 from Minneapolis, artist working in IT.
Top lesbian/queer media:
Vida
The Bisexual
The Real L Word (lolol)
Sex Education
Killing Eve
Vida and The Bisexual are tied for shows that more people should watch!!!!
I guess I'll push my website (stephanieohdee.com), where I have some art...not for sale, just on display. Hoping to eventually get a shop going for stickers, prints, etc...would also love to collab on a zine again, as I haven't in years and years but love doing!
I’m definitely on a mission to get more people to watch Vida as well
Hey y’all, I’m Allie! I’m 34 and live in Providence, Rhode Island with my partner and dog. I’m a commercial photographer (my partner and I are a photo team) and a lot of what we photograph involves the queer community.
Top fave lesbian media: Gentleman Jack, Disobedience, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. 100000% wish more people would watch GJ!
I also wish more people would watch!! Hence our current predicament.
I'm Ellie, I'm 38, originally from Brighton in England but in Paris, France for the last 10 years. My top five lesbian media is But I'm a Cheerleader, Killing Eve (except the end!), Grey's Anatomy, Happiest Season, and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
A film more people should watch is A Secret Love.
A Secret Love totally destroyed me.
I'm Shar (or Sharmane)! I live in Singapore, I am 23. Currently doing my Masters in English Literature, one more year left!
Top five lesbian / lesbian-adjacent media: Gentleman Jack, Disobedience, The Handmaiden, Person of Interest, Desert Hearts
Wish more people would watch Person of Interest even though Root/Shaw come in later, it's excellent and beautiful start to finish. One of my very favorites!
Hi Shar! Totally agree about Person of Interest.
Shar just wrote this piece about Person Of Interest that y'all should read - https://sharmnetn.substack.com/p/2r-person-of-interest-and-existential?r=4ekm8&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
My name is Selina, I live in the United States. I’m 26 years old, married to the most incredible woman in the world.
1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
2. The Price of Salt (the book is so incredible, so much better than the movie!)
3. A Secret Love (Netflix)
4. She-Ra
5. Fan fiction.net
**** Gentleman prefer Blondes is an older movie, and not canonically queer, but has a lot of queer energy! Also Marylin Monroe!
I love Gentleman Prefer Blondes! Probably the best redemptive reading of gold diggers I’ve ever seen.
Hi! Victoria here. I’m originally from Armenia, but residing in France for 8th year now. I’m a writer focusing on exploring multilayered relationships between women and playing with different narrative styles (because arc and 3-act story structure are so masculine!).
I’m very (VERY) influenced by the Price of Salt (aka Carol) book and Carol film (obvi). I wish more people would read the book (and see the movie).
Other favorites are 8 women (French movie), Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Olivia (filmed in 1951 and based on the novel).
That’s an interesting point about narrative styles!
I love The Price of Salt, it’s such an interesting book, especially in the ways it differs from the film.
I also love Olivia, boarding school dramas never disappoint.
I really love the way Patricia Highsmith wrote that story. It’s just absolutely melodrama-free, and yet it’s so captivating. I think they managed to transfer that style to the film which is one of the most soothing films I ever saw.
Reg writing styles: Meander, Spiral, Explode book by Jane Alison completely blown my mind and changed my writing perspective forever.
Hiya! I'm Nicole. I'm originally from Massachusetts but teach English and Gender & Sexuality Studies at a small liberal arts college in south-central IL. My favorite lesbian/queer media: Gentleman Jack, Nella Larsen's Passing (film and novella), San Junipero, Carol, Dickinson, But I'm a Cheerleader, Jennifer's Body, Janelle Monet's videos, (the super squishy and lovely) Heartbreaker, First Kill (I know it's bad but I still love it).
Underrated queer thing to watch: both Venom films (I swear there's a delightful homoerotic story juuust under the surface there). Short story to read: Amal Al-Mohtar's "Seasons of Glass and Iron" which you can read here: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/seasons-glass-iron/
I’ll definitely check out that short story!
I’m sally, age 43. My hall of fame dyke media: Bound, Watermelon Woman, Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love, San Junipero (Black Mirror), Fingersmith (movie), Tipping the Velvet (book)
Underrated queer thing to watch: Harley Quinn (HBO max)
Not queer besides the fact that I write it: I put out a Veronica mars rewatch newsletter: marsinvestigations.xyz
nice to have you! veronica mars is definitely in my tv show hall of fame as well.
I'll start!
In case you didn't know, my name is Kira. I'm 27, I live in Austin, Texas, but am originally from Seattle, Washington.
My favorite lesbian movies are: Carol, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Desert Hearts, and Bound.
Fave lesbian-ish tv shows: Buffy, Person of Interest, Orphan Black
Something underrated I think people should watch: The Starz series Vida, which was just recently added to Hulu. (It's incredible.)
I have nothing else to shout out except Paging Dr. Lesbian stickers, which you can find here: https://www.redbubble.com/people/pinkpanda202/shop?asc=u&ref=account-nav-dropdown
thanks for being here! gia is a classic, such an underrated angelina performance imo. (i’m a big angelina fan.)