Finding “Fingersmith”

Two weeks ago, at a bookstore in Cebu, I found the book that I long been looking for: Sarah Waters' Fingersmith. I devoured the book ever since.

Fingersmith has the most extraordinary plot. The plot twist and twist until your head spins.... With the book's plot, you can't help but admire Sarah Waters' imagination.

You'll love not just the book's extraordinary plot, but also for its two lovable heroines. The two heroines are lesbians at that—thank goodness for this. Bonus cut of this book is the sex scene. While in romance novels (I read some of those in my earlier years), you don't know whether the bodies are joined together, in this book...I think you better get a copy yourself :)

Against homophobia

Here's a great video against homophobia:



Video is from Brazil. Thanks to B for the link. Enjoy :)

Changing times

Just recently, the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy gave tribute to Guiding Light, the world's longest running soup opera. Presenter Betty White said, "Guiding Light achieved television history that will never be matched again. It adapted its stories to the changing times...." As Betty said "changing times", Otalia's kiss was shown on the big screen. Below is the video clip.

Guiding Light may have its flaws with the handling of the Otalia storyline but I agree with Betty's "changing times" comment. Cheers! Here's for more different shades of Otalia on television around the world--with a better storyline, of course.

The final broadcast of Guiding Light will be this coming September 18th.



Here's a bonus clip. Emmy host Vannesa William's tribute to Otalia:

The end of Otalia

Guiding Light, the world's longest-running tv soap opera, ends this coming Sept. 18. But for me, Guiding Light ended yesterday, July 1. This day also marks the end of Otalia for me--the very reason I was watching Guiding Light in the first place.

Until July 1, I thought Otalia, the fictional couple over at Guiding Light, best portrays on tv/internet the love between two women. Crystal Chappell plays Olivia, one half of Otalia; while Jessica Leccia plays Natalia, the other half of Otalia.

My partner and I can relate very much to the Otalia story, in particular to the point that love just doesn't happen in an instant but develops through time beginning with friendship, to the awkwardness, to the stalling in expressing this love physically.

The characters of Olivia and Natalia once portrayed strong women--women who withstood life's rotten and bliss on their own, without in any way depending on anybody or from any man for that matter.

I once admired Proctor and Gamble, the owner of Guiding Light, for being so brave in allowing the Otalia storyline to be played out on daytime tv. I even forgave the powers that be at Guiding Light for not allowing these two ladies kiss for real at least for now--hoping that before the show gets cancelled on Sept. 18, they be given equal couple treatment to kiss already!

I laughed many times at the way the camera hides via flower pots, coffee maker, gigantic bags for months the real-life pregnancy of Jessica, the actress playing Natalia. After months of hiding Jessica's real-life pregnancy, yesterday, the powers that be at Guiding Light turned the character of Natalia as being pregnant.

With this, I am turning my back from Guiding Light, from Otalia for good. And as a concrete manifestation of my disgust over this, I am boycotting all products of Proctor and Gamble.

Why the harsh reaction to the Natalia pregnancy story? While visibility of lesbians on tv is very important, the pregnant Natalia is a big blow in the face.

By making Natalia pregnant, the powers that be at Guiding Light desexualize lesbians--Natalia's character--now directing her libidinous urges into another direction. By making Natalia pregnant, Guiding Light joins the many shows which time and time again overused the pregnant lesbian, motherhood storyline.

Movie Review: Imagine Me and You

Last night was movie night. For the nth time, we re-watched the movie "Imagine Me and You".

In the genre of romantic comedy, not the straight films, of course, this movie tops the list--not that the list is long with the shortage of lesbian movies.

What is truly amazing in this movie is that a "woman-loving-another-woman" thing is taken as a matter of fact; that it is something natural. I wish life were like this though. But, hey, at least in this movie, this happens.

With this issue laid to rest, the movie delves on issues such as whether love at first sight actually happens and moving on when love is gone in a relationship.

Another pull factor to this movie is the amazing chemistry of the lead actresses Piper Perabo and Lena Heady. And who can resist watching the make-out scenes of these two gorgeous ladies?

Book Review: Just Say Yes by Judith McDaniel

In a world where straight books abound, it really is a treasure find to find a lesbian book in a booksale.

For only Php 40, I bought this book "Just Say Yes" by Judith McDaniel. The book was published in 1991 by Firebrand Books.

The catchy title and the word "lesbian" at the book's backcover were all it takes to convince me to grab the book fast. And I'm glad I did.

It's a book that you can finish in one sitting due its large fonts and only 172-page long, unless though you want to take a needed break--perhaps a cold shower among other things--due to the book's vivid exposition on the art of lesbian lovemaking.

In a world where homophobia still exists, the book is an important reading material on how to fight back in a non-violent way. The book also stressed safe lesbian sex.

Raving over Otalia

All over the world, thanks to the internet, gay women are raving over a fictional couple collectively called "Otalia". Count me in as one of the gay women raving over these two.

Crystal Chappell plays Olivia, one half of Otalia; while Jessica Leccia plays Natalia, the other half of Otalia, on the world's longest-running tv soap opera "Guiding Light".

Otalia best portrays on tv/internet the love between two women. My partner and I can relate very much to the Otalia story, in particular to the point that love just doesn't happen in an instant but develops through time beginning with friendship, to the awkwardness, to the stalling in expressing this love physically.

Crystal and Jessica's acting are way astounding. Sometimes I forget that they are only acting and that they have their own lives to live. It also doesn't hurt that these two are hotties.

For a complete Otalia backstory, visit OtaliaSocial and Willowtarafan channel. For updated videos, visit Yodaluver channel and Otaliafan channel.