Lesbian Request Accepted
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 8:00PM Manuel here to share a rather beautiful coming out story from the Orange is the New Black set that has been spanning salacious headlines for the past twenty-four hours.
The short version: Lauren Morelli, a writer on the hit Netflix series has come out as a lesbian, and is now dating Samira Wiley (Poussey on the show, because, I mean, wouldn't you?)
The longer version: Morelli, who had married her longtime boyfriend months before starting work on Orange's first season, found, in writing Piper and Alex's relationship, "a mouthpiece for my own desires and a glimmer of what my future could look like." It was in working on the show that she came to terms with her sexuality and is no happily dating Wiley. What I love about these news is that in true Orange fashion, it comes armed with a fascinating take on sexuality and the power of artistic expression. In a piece for Mic published in May (ahead of the show's second season), Morelli wrote a heartfelt essay where she explored the nuances that "I'm getting divorced because I'm gay" didn't quite allow for. I can't help but have flashbacks to Cynthia Nixon's public coming out in 2004 which came equally loaded with fascinating and thoughtful conversations about lesbian identities in the public eye.
This got me thinking, with its female cast, its no-holds-barred take on sexuality, and its use of New York as both backdrop and character, is Orange is the New Black an unassuming heir to Sex and the City? More importantly, though, are you not totally thrilled about Poussey finding love? Does this news keep you sated as we continue to wait until next year for more stories of the Litchfield inmates?
Reader Comments (11)
I love that "Poussey" is actually a lesbian in real life. It's beautiful symmetry.
I thought Samira was dating the guy who plays Bennett?! Whatever, she's fabulous.
This is only all too fitting as I find that most of my straight girlfriends who watch OINTB are completely attracted to Poussey
I'm all about people living authentic lives but the cloud over this story is how terrible I feel for this woman's ex-husband. His vision for the rest of his life is dashed and the world is mooning and gushing over this woman's celebrity rebound. I know reports have stated it was a thoughtful and amicable split, but what a sad and devastating thing to go through nonetheless.
I love OINTB, but I wouldn't feel comfortable comparing it to SATC in any capacity other than its an almost all-female cast that allows its characters to be multi-dimensional. SATC had the four main characters and branded itself that you, as a viewer, would watch it and "be" one of them. I don't think friends get together, watch OINTB, and exclaim, "Oh my god, you're succchhhh a Gloria."
same thought with Hayden, it's lovely to see someone coming into terms with their sexuality, but at least, do it before marrying someone else. Damn this must be heartbreaking for him, and she is gonna get famous for this. This must be how Larry felt like all the time.
Happy for Wiley, but this counts as a "beautiful coming out story"? Really? I don't know. It's not a completely tragedy or anything, and the way art influenced life is definitely interesting, but yeah, not sure this earns such a tongue bath.
I'm with Hayden on this too. I'm glad she discovered what she really wanted, but I just feel bad for her ex husband. I can't fully embrace this as a heartwarming story when I know someone else's life got trashed because of it. I'm glad she's found happiness, and I hope he can too.
Is this a celebration because the new relationship is gay? Had a heterosexual wife left her husband for another man would you even bother to write a celebratory piece?
Yes, it's a celebration because the new relationship is gay. Because a woman who struggled with her identity all her life found it through expressing herself artistically and professionally. That's glorious.
So, yes, I know someone who left her husband because she thought she might be gay; left him for a woman, and realized that yes, she was gay, and stayed with that other woman for seven years. She and her husband remain friends.
In fact, SPOILER, I am married to that woman, and her ex-husband was her Best Man at our wedding. It's sad for a marriage to break up, but not so sad when you realize that marriage was a substitute for the real relationship someone was not yet ready to have.
Poussey and her German girlfriend in the "scissors" scene was my favorite moment of the season and a sure sign there were real lesbians in the writer's room.
deborah - i'm glad you chimed in. Not all divorces make people unhappy and ruin their lives. some are actually the right decision for both people and some splits are quite amicable.