March 6, 2009 - Posted by Jessica Paquette
This Sunday, Showtime will air the final episode of The L Word, the first lesbian drama on U.S. television. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Showtime will sponsor viewing parties in 16 cities.
"The time to say goodbye to The L Word has arrived," said Joe Solmonese, president of HRC. "For six seasons, The L Word has brought loving, honest portrayals of LGBT lives into millions of homes. This visibility is crucial to opening hearts and minds."
The show follows the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women living in Los Angeles. It has been praised for breaking stereotypes. In 2008, Ilene Chaiken, series creator and executive producer, won the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's (GLAAD) Davidson/Valentini Award, "an honor given to an openly gay media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for the LGBT community."
Since the show premiered in 2004, the number of LGBT characters in network scripted comedies and dramas has increased. According to a GLAAD report, there were 16 LGBT characters on the five major networks at the start of the 2008-2009 television season, which is the highest number ever.
The first regular lesbian character on U.S. television appeared in 1988.
Categories: LGBT Rights
