#Kimberley Mens

[luegootravez]

Kimberley Mens by © Omar Coria

[bunsnposes]

Kimberley Mens by Omar Coria

[openlooks]

Kimberley Mens and Marina Lukoschat

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

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[watchinghallmark]

[wonder-worker]

A central element of the myth of [Eleanor of Aquitaine] is that of her exceptionalism. Historians and Eleanor biographers have tended to take literally Richard of Devizes’s conventional panegyric of her as ‘an incomparable woman’ [and] a woman out of her time. […] Amazement at Eleanor’s power and independence is born from a presentism that assumes generally that the Middle Ages were a backward age, and specifically that medieval women were all downtrodden and marginalized. Eleanor’s career can, from such a perspective, only be explained by assuming that she was an exception who rose by sheer force of personality above the restrictions placed upon twelfth-century women.

-Michael R. Evans, Inventing Eleanor: The Medieval and Post-Medieval Image of Eleanor of Aquitaine

"...The idea of Eleanor’s exceptionalism rests on an assumption that women of her age were powerless. On the contrary, in Western Europe before the twelfth century there were ��no really effective barriers to the capacity of women to exercise power; they appear as military leaders, judges, castellans, controllers of property’. […] In an important article published in 1992, Jane Martindale sought to locate Eleanor in context, stripping away much of the conjecture that had grown up around her, and returning to primary sources, including her charters. Martindale also demonstrated how Eleanor was not out of the ordinary for a twelfth-century queen either in the extent of her power or in the criticisms levelled against her.

If we look at Eleanor’s predecessors as Anglo-Norman queens of England, we find many examples of women wielding political power. Matilda of Flanders (wife of William the Conqueror) acted as regent in Normandy during his frequent absences in England following the Conquest, and [the first wife of Henry I, Matilda of Scotland, played some role in governing England during her husband's absences], while during the civil war of Stephen’s reign Matilda of Boulogne led the fight for a time on behalf of her royal husband, who had been captured by the forces of the empress. And if we wish to seek a rebel woman, we need look no further than Juliana, illegitimate daughter of Henry I, who attempted to assassinate him with a crossbow, or Adèle of Champagne, the third wife of Louis VII, who ‘[a]t the moment when Henry II held Eleanor of Aquitaine in jail for her revolt … led a revolt with her brothers against her son, Philip II'.

Eleanor is, therefore, less the exception than the rule – albeit an extreme example of that rule. This can be illustrated by comparing her with a twelfth century woman who has attracted less literary and historical attention. Adela of Blois died in 1137, the year of Eleanor’s marriage to Louis VII. […] The chronicle and charter evidence reveals Adela to have ‘legitimately exercised the powers of comital lordship’ in the domains of Blois-Champagne, both in consort with her husband and alone during his absence on crusade and after his death. […] There was, however, nothing atypical about the nature of Adela’s power. In the words of her biographer Kimberley LoPrete, ‘while the extent of Adela’s powers and the political impact of her actions were exceptional for a woman of her day (and indeed for most men), the sources of her powers and the activities she engaged in were not fundamentally different from those of other women of lordly rank’. These words could equally apply to Eleanor; the extent of her power, as heiress to the richest lordship in France, wife of two kings and mother of two or three more, was remarkable, but the nature of her power was not exceptional. Other noble or royal women governed, arranged marriages and alliances, and were patrons of the church. Eleanor represents one end of a continuum, not an isolated outlier."

[fellow-travelers-fic-recs]

Fellow Travelers Fic Recs - Top Rated Fics (by hits and kudos on Ao3)

Be sure to show the authors some love and appreciation with kudos and comments on the fics you enjoyed!

✨ Likes are lovely, but please reblog to share this content with your mutuals! 😁

🟪 sacred word, bind me by @brokendrums // brokendrums [E, 8K] Tim takes a vow of silence, Hawk vows to break it.

🟪 we are tragically meant to be by @fuddlewuddle // fuddlewuddle [E, 1.5K] He looks softer in his sleep, Hawk muses; fingertips lightly skimming over the ridge of Tim’s cheek bone, the curve of his ear feeling the small indent from where the frames of his spectacles rest whenever he’s awake. Part 1 of fellow travelers

🟪 feeding on chaos and living in sin by @fuddlewuddle // fuddlewuddle [E, 2K] Tim doesn't expect Hawk to call. And even when he does, the call doesn't go as Tim expects. But then he should probably stop trying to predict what Hawkins Fuller will do. Part 2 of fellow travelers

🟪 more. by @redmyeyes // redmyeyes [E, 1.8K] "You would drop to your knees and blow me right here if I told you to," Hawk said, marveling at the realization. Part 2 of Fellow Travelers * *Red has their own series, not to be confused with fuddlewuddle's series of the same name. Two different series'--same name!

🟪 I'd walk a thousand miles without my shoes to make it work by @fuddlewuddle // fuddlewuddle [E, 1.5K] The strip of milk on Tim’s top lip gives Hawk ideas. Part 3 of Fellow Travelers

🟪 all through the midnight. by southernkiss [E, 9K] Hawk's eyes burned with lust and something dark, something that both terrified and excited Tim.

🟪 teacher's pet by @ascandalinpink // ascandalinpink [E, 10K, WIP] Tim’s first class for today is his first class ever in this particular elective. It’s a foreign affairs course taught by professor Fuller, whom Tim has never met, but he’s heard about him. All high praise, which leaves this course highly sought after.

As the professor enters the classroom and the chatter around him dies down, Tim understands perhaps why this course is so popular. And it might have nothing to do with the curriculum itself.

Or, Tim starts sleeping with and develops feelings for his college professor.

🟪 have you ever? by Cozy_coffee [M, 1.4K] “Has anyone ever licked that cute little ass of yours?”

A fic in which a bold Hawk introduces a somewhat shy Tim to the pleasures of rimming.

🟪 a joy, hard learned by @partialresonance // partialresonance [E, 12K, WIP] Tim and Hawk get snowed in together.

Later, Tim comes back from the war a changed man.

🟪 perhaps, perhaps, perhaps it's real by drabbleswabbles [NR, 16K, WIP] And then it happened. The metallic screech of the gate, the shuffle of men stepping out beyond the prison walls. And suddenly there he was. His hair was shorter than he’d ever seen it. And his glasses were different. But it was him. Their eyes met. Tim stared at him in wide-eyed shock before recognition melted his features into a confused outrage.

Basically a fix-it in which Hawk finds himself back in the early 70s.

🟪 sweet by Kimora_V [M, 1.4K] Tim noticed how Hawk is being sweet lately.

Or, what happened before the cuddle scene in episode 5.

🟪 this spells love by Cozy_coffee [M, 540] When Hawk gently cups his cheek and calls him ‘my beautiful boy’ and looks at him with nothing but pure, everlasting love, that is all Tim’s heart needed in this tender moment.

🟪 flame trees by @waterlilyrose // WaterlilyRose [G, 1K] (“I received a package from Marcus a few days later. It had been sent by Tim. I thought that Tim’s last gift (and a gentle fuck you to me) was that paperweight. But no...”

“What did he send?” Kimberley asked gently. Her father had looked at her and almost seemed ready to tell her… but then he closed his mouth.

“More than I deserved” was all the answer he gave. Kimberley wondered if he would even be Hawkins Fuller anymore if he didn’t have some secrets.)

Or, Hawk keeps Tim's final parting gift close as he faces his mortality.

🟪 lost somewhere by @trainofcommand // anagrrl [E, 1K] Humming to himself a little, fingers digging into his palms briefly, Tim leans forward.

🟪 together, here and now by Kimora_V [NR, 1.8K] Hawk and Tim are happy, set in the modern day. Because I am just tired of sad stories all the time.

🟪 love by ikharys [E, 1.8K] "It's going to be okay," Hawk whispers.

Something in Tim's eyes makes it clear that he doesn't believe it, but he's not willing to argue.

Or, the cabin scene, but a little different.

🟪 mad about the boy by @redmyeyes redmyeyes [E, 2.8K] “Tell me,” Hawk said, tilting Tim’s head back to give his forehead a quick kiss, “what does my boy want for his birthday?”

“Am I still? Your boy?” Part 3 of Fellow Travelers

🟪 you're my religion by anonymous [E, 956] After Tim and Hawk’s conversation on the bench, Tim does go to Church, and eventually finds that Hawk has attended the same mass.

Things go awry in the chapel.

🟪 i want you to fuck me by @carnivalrow // nightfall_in_winter [E, 2K] THAT scene from Episode 8 but slightly different. :) Chapter 1 is Hawk's POV, Chapter 2 is Tim's POV.

🟪 who do you belong to? by mrschesapeakeripper [E, 2.5K] “That’s my good boy.” All those years later, and the praise still made him blush.

Or, the missing scene from the mutual masturbation episode. None of that "no touching" nonsense.

[mybeingthere]

"When I carve shell it comes from our country.

I tell personal and spiritual stories.

It’s about keeping our culture alive, and, when I dance, I am proud of who I am."

Russell ‘Wossy’ Davey Jooda, Bardi dancer and pearlshell carver, 2015

Decorated pearl shell pendants from the Kimberley region, Western Australia. These have been incised with traditional Aboriginal as well as more contemporary designs, and filled in with red ochre.

"Pearl shell was the highly prized focus of ritual and exchange networks in Australia. Its glistening iridescent qualities embody the shimmer of water, rain, and lightning, evoking ideas of spiritual well-being and ancestral connection. Engraved pearl shell pendants were given to boys during rites that marked their transition to adulthood and were predominantly used and worn by men during ceremonies, attached by belts or necklaces of hair string, with the power to bring rain or heal the sick.

Known by a variety of local names (including riji, jakuli, longkalongka) they were, and in many areas still are, exchanged along a vast network of overland trade routes that extends along the western coast and across the vast desert interior as far as Australia’s southern shore, more than a thousand miles away. Carved from the shell of the gold-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima; a species not endangered in the region), each is engraved with a series of angular geometric motifs which are filled with red ochre and fat, or powdered charcoal to highlight dynamic designs.

These linear elements meander across the surface of the lustrous inner lip of the shell and are typically composed of three parallel lines which flow and interlock to create animated designs. The geometry of these interlocking zig-zags and meandering lines indicate the movement of water, so vital to life, in its many manifestations: the rain of storm clouds, the ebb and flow of tides, and the tracks of ancestral beings such as the Lightning Snake across the landscape."

https://museum.wa.gov.au/.../lustre-online-text-panels/guwan

[pumpumdemsugah]

The most offensive use of intersectionality I've seen is a straight white man bring it up to talk about men's mental health and how it's a feminist issue

I don't tell people to kill themselves but things like this really test me

Every time I've seen Kimberley crenshaw bring up intersectionality she literally only talks about Black women but of course the person that coined the word would use it correctly.

[luegootravez]

Kimberley Mens by © Omar Coria

[fxckadoodledoomunson]

Repercussion |One-Shot|

Summary: Your stepsister is always seeking male attention. But when she flirts with Eddie, repercussions occur after someone tries to put her in her place.

Warning: swearing, angst to fluff, Al makes an appearance, blood, groping.

Out of all men in Hawkins, why did your mother have to marry the mayor of Hawkins? Answer…money.

Thankfully, you had already moved out by the time your mother remarried.

You had decided to move to Forest Hills with your father. He didn’t earn much from his job, but he was happy, especially as he worked with your neighbour, Wayne, who lived with his nephew and your crush, Eddie. One of the benefits of living with your father was, not only having a great vegetable garden, thanks to your father using electro-culture, but you also got to see your crush, as he gave you lifts to school, although you were too shy to initiate a conversation with him, especially if he was picking up someone else from the Hellfire club. Another bonus living with your father was that you had your own room, so you didn’t have to share a room with your stepsister, Kimberley.

You didn’t spend much time with her, but when you did, she would constantly flirt with guys, even the ones who are already taken.

One time, you went out for a meal with your mother and stepfamily, as well as the Harringtons.

All through the meal, Kimberley kept batting her eyelashes at Steve, and constantly flirted with him.

Whenever he tried to talk to you about similar interests, she would interrupt by letting out an obnoxious laugh, before continuing to flirt with him, which made you roll your eyes, and him uncomfortable.

Another time, during cheer practice, she kept showing off in front of the basketball team, especially Jason. She even kept flirting with him, whilst feeling his biceps in front of his girlfriend, Chrissy.

You only found out about it when you met the head cheerleader one day to lend her your notes for English class.

Often, you two would interact.

You knew that Chrissy was a sweetheart, but there had been times that she had needed to rant. You were happy to listen to her, especially as you both bonded over having a shitty mothers. But that day, it was Kimberley who got to her. “I don’t want to do it,” she began to rant. “But if she keeps it up, I’ll have no choice but to kick her off the squad. She’s not only flirting with my boyfriend, but she’s also distracting the other guys, and preventing us from practicing.”

You were glad that you never passed a cheer tryout, otherwise you would’ve had to witness the embarrassment of seeing your stepsister constantly showing up the rest of the squad.

“I’ll talk to her,” you assured Chrissy. “I can’t promise anything, but hopefully it’ll make her think twice.”

You didn’t think that she would get worse, but you were proofed wrong. A day or so later, you were coming back from dropping off some vegetables to your mother’s elderly neighbour when you spotted a familiar van.

“Why’s Eddie here?” You quietly asked yourself. “I hope something hasn’t happened to dad.”

You quickly crossed the street, when you witnessed Kimberley coming out of the house.

“Oh, Eddie,” she exclaimed with an obnoxious smile on her face. “I’m so glad that you’re here. It just won’t start.”

“Please tell me she’s not…” you began to groan to yourself.

Suddenly, Kimberley noticed you, and started putting on a fake sweet voice, as she greeted you, “Oh hey sis!”

You wanted to gag at the sound of her voice, but when Eddie turned around, and greeted you whilst smiling, you couldn’t help but wave at him. However, you noticed that it wasn’t his usual happy smile, but a weak smile.

“She called me to ask if I could check her car,” Eddie explained. You wondered how she managed to get his number.

You were going inside to put the vegetables away when Kimberley called out, “Fetch me a drink on your way through.”

You huffed as you stopped to turn and asked her, “What’s the magic word?”

Instead of saying please, she hissed, “Now.”

Before going inside, you asked Eddie if he wanted a drink too. He nodded, as he replied, “Thanks.”

You turned and went inside, unaware that Eddie took a quick glance at you before focusing on the car, while Kimberley was twirling her hair, as she tried to grab his attention.

You were walking to the kitchen when you saw your mother lying on the couch, gossiping with her friend on the phone. You decided to not greet her, as she probably wouldn’t have taken notice of you anyway.

After putting the vegetables in the refrigerator, you started grabbing a couple of cans of cola from the counter, heading back outside when you witnessed Kimberley leaning close to Eddie, who was too busy checking the car to notice. You watched her flirting with him and attempting to feel his bicep underneath his Dio shirt, as he tried to evade her. You couldn’t help but feel jealous, but also at the same time, you didn’t want Eddie being treated like a piece of meat.

Abruptly, you cleared your throat, gaining their attention.

“There’s cough drops inside,” Kimberley sharply said.

“Actually, I need a word with you about something,” you replied. “Girls stuff.”

“Oh,” she exclaimed. She turned to Eddie and said in a high pitched voice, “I’ll be back.”

She winked at him, as she giggled before following you back into the house. You turned to find Eddie sigh with relief as he continued to check the car.

After you went inside, she began to ask, “So, what is it? Need advice on fashion?Because no offence, but you need a new wardrobe, and maybe use make-“

“What’s your intentions with Eddie?” You interrupted.

“My…intentions?”

“Yes, did you really ask him here to fix your car, or did you want more male attention?”

Kimberley gasped, feeling offended. “There’s nothing wrong with getting male attention.”

“There is if it’s going to affect people’s relationships. Steve’s an exception, as he’s still single. But, I mean, there’s Chrissy’s boyfriend, Jason. If you’re not careful, Chrissy will kick you off the squad-“

“For what?!”

“Let’s see…for flirting with him in front of her, and for showing up the rest of the cheerleaders-“

“Oh please!” She cackled.

“Look! One of these days, your attention seeking will get you in trouble.”

There was a moment of silence, as you both glared at each other. You had hoped that she would think about you said, and not keep seeking attention. But instead, she scoffed, “Oh my god…you like Eddie. That’s why you’re telling me this, isn’t it?”

You opened your mouth to speak, but Kimberley beat you to it. “You’re jealous.”

“Jealousy’s got nothing to do with it,” you quickly told her. It was half a truth. On one hand, you were a little jealous, but on the other hand, you didn’t want Eddie being used for someone else’s gain. “He’s my neighbour, not to mention that his uncle’s my dad’s friend,” you told her. “And the last thing I want is for him to get hurt-“

Suddenly, Kimberley stalked towards you, and snatched the cans out of your hands, evilly smirking.

“Relax, I’m not gonna date him,” she spat. “I just wanna score free weed.”

As Kimberley stomped out of the house, you silently gasped, feeling more angry at your stepsister.

“I won’t let you do that to him, missy,” you growled, as you followed her.

You stepped out of the house, not acknowledging your mother, as you caught Kimberley flirting with Eddie whilst touching him up.

You were about to say something when you witnessed something unexpected…

“Will you stop it?!” Eddie yelled, as he moved away from a petrified Kimberley.

You stood there, astonished at the sight of Eddie putting her in her place.

“Just because I’m a freak to everyone, doesn’t mean that I’m also a fucking plaything!”

You glanced at him with concern, as you were about to speak when he abruptly turned around and got in his van. After starting up his vehicle, Eddie reversed out of the driveway, before speeding off.

You turned to a trembling Kimberley, asking her, “Kim…are you-?”

You winced, as Kimberley started wailing. She swiftly turned around and ran inside, calling for her father.

As soon as you got back to Forest Hills, you went to check on Eddie. You knocked on his front door, but there was no answer. You called his name, whilst knocking again.

When he still didn’t respond, you ran to the other end of the trailer, and called out again, as you knocked on the back door. You were about to knock on his window when you heard music playing from his room. Only it wasn’t metal music, but Chicago blues.

The only time he would play was when…

“Oh shit,” you muttered, realising what day it was.

You remembered that it was the day his mother, Elizabeth died. He never told you that. You only heard it from a conversation between your father and Wayne.

You were unsure about whether or not to knock again, or just leave him be when you suddenly noticed a truck approaching the trailer. You knew that it wasn’t Wayne’s, but you weren’t sure who it belonged to.

As soon as the owner of the truck came out, you thought that he looked familiar. “Hey there!” The older man greeted you, before asking, “Is Wayne home?”

“I think he’s out,” you replied, as you noticed a plastic bag in his hand. “Are you a friend?”

The man chuckled, before replying, as he stuck his hand out, “No, I’m his brother, Al.”

The more you looked at him, the more you thought of how much Eddie looked like him. However, from what you’ve heard, Al wasn’t a good man. You crossed your arms, not wanting to shake his hand.

Taking the hint, Al lowered his hand, as he asked, “I take it Eddie’s in? I just-“

Al had stopped talking, as the music stopped playing and the back door swung open, making you jump.

A teary eyed Eddie stepped out, with anger in his face. “What do you want?!” He angrily asked his father.

“Can’t a man see his son-?” Al began to ask, whilst chuckling when Eddie yelled, as he stomped towards the older man, “What?! The son you keep fucking abandoning?! Why did you have to come back, and today of all days?! Got some more shitty schemes for me to get caught in?!”

“I wanted to see you,” Al calmly replied, as he lifted the heavy plastic bag. “And I thought I can cook us some spaghetti, and maybe talk-“

“Fuck your spaghetti! And fuck you!” Eddie shouted, as he smacked the bag out of his father’s hand, breaking a jar and couple of beer bottles. “You’re not welcome here!”

You swiftly ran, as Eddie continued to scold his father. You then grabbed Eddie’s arm, begging him to calm down when he abruptly pushed you out of the way, causing you fall to the ground.

You heard a gruffly voice call your name, as you winced, trying to sit yourself up when you felt a pair of hands on your shoulders. You turned to find Wayne squatting down beside you, steadying you. “Let me see your hand,” he told you, whilst gently grabbing your bloodied hand with small shards of glass sticking out.

Eddie’s face softened, realising what he had done. “Take her inside,” he heard his uncle say. Doing what Wayne had instructed, Eddie, along with his uncle, lifted you up to your feet, before Eddie took you inside, whilst gently taking your arm, while Wayne told his brother to leave.

After Wayne had plucked out the shards of glass and cleaned your hand at the dining table, he started bandaging it up, making sure that it wasn’t too tight for you, while Eddie was sitting on the couch, chewing on his fingernails, feeling guilty of pushing you out of the way.

“All done,” Wayne said, finishing up your bandage.

You thanked him, as he took the bowl off the table, emptying it in the sink. Suddenly, you heard Eddie sniffle.

“I’m sorry,” you heard him whimper, causing you to turn to see tears running down his cheeks.

Wayne sympathetically glanced at him, as Eddie covered his face with his hands, sobbing uncontrollably when you slowly got up and cautiously walked towards him, before kneeling in front of him.

He continued to sob, repeating his apology, claiming that it was his fault when you gently grabbed on his wrists, lowering his hands down, revealing his puffy eyes.

“Listen to me,” you softly said. “It wasn’t your fault-“

“It was!” Eddie sobbed. “I was so angry, and-“

“And you’re missing your mum, right?”

Eddie’s face softened. You two weren’t close, so he was unsure how you knew about his mother. Wayne was sure that you must’ve overheard his conversation with your father about Eddie and his mother.

“You’re missing your mum, and you just wanted to remember her in your own way today. And I guess it didn’t help with your dad coming, and also with what happened with Kimberley, did it?”

Eddie silently gazed at you, when Wayne asked, “What happened with Kimberley?”

Eddie was about to confess to yelling at her when you said, “Just being her usual annoying self. Nothing to worry about.”

Eddie gaped, hearing you cover for him.

Wayne hummed, before announcing, whilst checking his watch, “Well, I’ll make dinner, before I get to work. How about I… make your mom’s favourite?”

Eddie turned to his uncle and nodded, thanking him. Wayne then asked you if you wanted to join them.

You turned to Eddie, who nodded at you, hinting at you to join them. “Yes please,” you replied to Wayne, as you shifted your attention back to him. “Do you need a hand?”

Suddenly, Eddie lightly chuckled, making you turn to him, as he asked, “You’ve just suffered an injury and you still want to help?”

“I’m sure there’s something I can do,” you retorted, as you got to your feet, and abruptly planted a kiss on his forehead, which left him shell shocked. You turned around, and scrunched up your face, realising what you had done.

During dinner, you and Eddie were silent, even when Wayne tried holding a conversation with you both. You gazed awkwardly at Eddie, as he looked down at his plate. But as soon as he lifted his head up, you quickly looked down at yours. Eddie sighed, as he looked at you, thinking about the kiss you gave him earlier. After Wayne went to work, the two of you just stayed in the trailer in silence. You sat on the couch, twiddling your thumbs, as you watched Eddie grab his packet of Camel’s from the kitchen counter and stood in the back doorway, lighting up his cigarette.

You watched him take a couple of puffs, figuring what to say. I’m sorry for kissing you, you thought of what to say. Well, for kissing your forehead…No, maybe not go straight to it…Maybe-

“Hey!” You heard Eddie speak, prompting you sit upright.

“Yes?” Your voice cracked.

You thought he was going to ask you to leave, but instead, he asked, as he walked back to the kitchen, “Do you want something to drink?”

You wanted to say something, but you hesitated for a moment, before quickly getting up on your feet, as you told him, deciding to leave him be, “Uh..Actually, I should be going home. I don’t want to bother-“

“Stay,” Eddie interjected, as you felt his hand grabbing your uninjured hand, prompting you to turn to face him.

“You…You want me to stay?” You meekly asked, receiving a nod from him.

“To be honest, I don’t wanna be on my own, especially if my dad comes back.”

There was a moment of silence, before you suggested, “Well, why don’t we go back to mine? You can bring that record you were playing earlier with you, if you want to.”

Eddie silently gazed at you for a few seconds, before replying, “Give me a minute?”

You nodded, as he turned around and jogged to his room.

All through the evening, you and Eddie were in sitting on your living room floor, silently listening to his Muddy Waters record.

You continued to listen when you heard Eddie call your name.

“Yes?” You asked.

Eddie was staring at your floor, before shifting his attention to you, asking, “How…did you know about…my mom?”

You sighed, before explaining, “I…overheard my dad and Wayne talking the other day. Wayne wanted a day off today, but their boss wouldn’t let him, as they were short staffed.”

Eddie remembered that Wayne mentioned it before after he suggested to his uncle that they could do something for his mother.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on them,” you told him, you nervously gazed at him. “I don’t want you to think I was a creep or something.”

Eddie silently gazed back at you, before giving you a smile, replying, “It’s okay, I know you’re not.”

You smiled back with relief, as you both continued to listen to the record when the telephone rang.

“I better get that,” you said, as you got up and walked towards the telephone on the wall. “It might be my dad.”

After picking up, you answered, “Hello?”

“Hi Honey, it’s me.”

It was your mother.

You rolled your eyes, as she continued to speak, “Just letting you know that we’re all going out for a meal at Enzo’s at eight, so don’t be late.”

“Actually, I’ve already eaten, so…”

“Your sister’s still upset about what happened earlier with that Munson boy, and she needed cheering up-”

“Wait, sorry,” you interrupted, squeezing your eyes shut, feeling your blood boiling. “She’s upset because of Eddie?!”

“Yes, and she needed-“

“So, you’re basically just rewarding her for groping him and making him uncomfortable!”

Eddie watched you attentively, as you scoffed, while you were hearing your mother scolding you.

“How can you be so hateful towards your sister? Think how she feels-?!”

“Firstly, she’s my stepsister, as in, not blood related,” you interjected. “Secondly, how about you think about how Eddie must’ve felt being treated like a piece of meat?!”

Eddie gaped, hearing you defending him.

“Just because you married for money, doesn’t mean that your husband and his daughter get special treatment-!”

Before you could say anymore, you were cut off by your mother.

You angrily slammed the phone into the receiver, as you shut your eyes and turned around, growling. You then opened your eyes, realising that Eddie was standing in front of you.

“You okay?” Eddie asked, as he slowly approached you.

You scoffed, before replying, “Well, let’s just say, I think I just got myself disowned by my mother.”

“All because of Kimberley?”

There was a moment of silence, before Eddie spoke up, “I better go and apologise to her.”

“What?” You exclaimed. “Why?! You’ve done nothing wrong. She’s the one who groped you.”

“Yeah…but-“

“But nothing! I warned her, I fucking warned her! I told her if she wasn’t careful, her attention seeking would get her in trouble.”

You went to sit on the sofa, as you continued to rant, “She even confessed that she just wanted to score free weed from you, and I couldn’t bear to let her use someone I really like for her personal gain-“

“Wait!” Eddie interjected, as he sat down next to you. “You…like me?”

You smacked your palm into your forehead, realising that you had blurted out your feelings for Eddie.

As you lowered your head, avoiding his gaze, you mumbled, as you shut your eyes, “This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out.”

You took a deep breath, before confessing, “Although we’re not close and don’t talk often, I do like you…but I do understand that you don’t like me back, so, I’m not expecting-“

You stopped talking as you heard the sofa squeak, as Eddie got up. You were expecting him to grab his record and leave. Instead, you a kiss planted on your forehead. You opened your eyes, finding Eddie kneeling in front of you, smiling.

You watched him get up with your eyebrows furrowed, as he held out his hand, asking you, “Wanna dance?”

“What?” You asked, feeling confused.

“Do you wanna dance?”

You gazed at him and nodded, as you took his hand. He then pulled you close, as you both slow danced.

You rested your head against his chest, as you continued to dance when you heard Eddie say softly, “You know…I should’ve known that you liked me after you kissed me.”

You furrowed your brows, as you mumbled, “I only kissed your forehead.”

Eddie chuckled, accidentally squeezing your injured hand, making wince.

“Sorry,” Eddie profusely apologised.

“It’s okay,” you replied when Eddie lifted your hand and kissed your knuckle, making you giggle.

He then lowered your hand, as he asked, “Can I kiss you?”

You silently nodded, smiling, prompting him to give you a tender kiss on the lips, before he wrapped his arms around you, as you both continued to slow dance.

All through the night, the two of you talked until you both fell asleep on the sofa.

As for Kimberley, you and Chrissy made her, not only apologise to Eddie for groping him and to the fellow cheerleaders for wasting their time, but also confess to her father and your mother about Eddie, if she wanted to stay on the squad.

[kboo1999]

i love adam!!!

the way that adam is there making mak breakfast and her and kim are studying for their respective tests -- justttt ugh **sigh** this man is such a wholesome all loving and caring person

i love my little kimmy kup

adam loves her

he has always believeed in her sooooo much

*sidenote* adam is sooooo lowkey, but as we've seen in previous seasons/episodes, adam actually knows so much about the actual rules and regulations, and i don't know if that's all because he never wanted to be the type of cop that his dad's group of cops were, or pure

kim is such a badass

she asks the right questions

i bet kim's thinking eyes on her? you know she's in voight's unit right?

deep breathe, babygirl has got thissss

---

she

right, over $500?? that's wild

kim can be so caring while asserting herself so firmly

come on kim, catch on!

she caught it !!

yes Kimberley yessss!!!!!!

hot damn - of course this happens to her, why couldn't it just be something so simple

i will say though, that officer should have been way more observant and caught that blood trail and her odd behavior quicker

---

i chased him without it getting it progressed...job is to maintain the crime scene

the demand and control that kim held, she was so much more comfortable with her unit. the fact of the matter is all the stuff kim's been doing in intelligence has been a good portion of being a detective, so she just needs to do her job like usual but allow herself to take make more control, true demand and command

she said adam you're with us, she knows her man will always listen to her with zero argument

oh hell no. that's horrid. the way they are swapping stories is amusing

this wouldn't be the first time someone has turned their eyes to kim, not even the second.

i love that she speaks Spanish. it impresses me more and more everytime she does

she is very creative though, it still amazes me that she's the one who doesn't really do any undercover work

well damn kim knows how to really take the fuck off

--

the call

awww!!! yes, the reassurance and support that adam gives kim

the way that adam is always hands-on and supportive - he will never allow kim to rag on herself

yes. 13 long fucking years baby! like just because she's not a detective YET doesn't mean a damn thing

i know that kim hated that. and everything about it. kim would get better answers out of her

this bitch is dumb af!! I'm sorry but i will and would NEVER choose a man (regardless of father of my child, husband, boyfriend, or not), my damn child is first, especially if you're out here involved in murder, yeahhhh. hell nah.

!!and this detective lady is not doing them any favors with the way she came for her child instantly...

--

yes torres!!

i love the fact that she helped train him, too, so he's good because

kim knows she loves kick down damn doors

lol adam really sad come on

i love that kim genuinely thought about it for a second, but they both were like soooo apprehensive

yes kim yes!!! i love that girl. like girl girl girl.

awww that yes ma'am was real. he was ready to give her any and everything that she needed to do this thanggg

the silent communication between adam and dante though. like yes sirsssss

wow. that's a lot of fucking bodies this man is dropping over some small money....it always makes me wonder, like do people not realize they can just get a damn job?!?!?! - like is this such a hard principle?

--

i know that adam

kim's run i love. her run stride is amazing

i know kim is damn tired of this men attacking her

hell fucking yes kim!!!!

kim doesn't play. she's not going to die, it's not in her nature.

oh hell. voight. voight. voight. he doesn't play about his kimmy - even when she was in uniform, he didn't like this shit

I'm waiting for adam's reaction to her damn face

kim is really, like, really bitch?!?!?!

area central? play the game? i don't think it would make her better at all

adam is not going to be oaky with it, he physically can't. he needs to have eyes on her

hell fucking yessssss!!!! deputy reid isn't playing a politics game

why would he do that? i think he did it because he sees how voight's unit runs, and he might just actually like it and their activeness, he's been hella involved on the scene since the first episode of the season

i also don't think the person evaluating has the actual say where they go. and deputy chief reid did say he does is detective exams differently, and he didn't even realize kim was going to be there

aw. dante is really concerned about her

I'm mad as hell that they didn't have Kevin in this episode. He's always supported torres reaction to this case is really scaring me though - oh hell...this mother fucking bitch is back in the picture. Like she couldn't just take the out that these people cut her?

[featherdownmoor]

Today I

took the mrt for the 2nd time in my life, to trx

accidentally dropped my phone on the train (loud as fuck)

signed up for german classes at this boujee ass building next to trx

met up and took pictures with Kimberley (we're gonna be going to the same centre now)

took the train back to asia jaya, accidentally dropped my bag on the train (even louder)

went to viviens place at 3.30pm

"men are evil dont trust men" "ok wow you're such a feminist" "yes I am and I'm 6 ft 4" "okay. name a feminist" "uhhhhhhh rosa parks?"

went into the bathroom so he could wash the bowl. i was standing beside him checking my bangs in the reflection. he stood off to the side glancing at me every now and then and smiling

smoked a bowl w vivien but i only smoked like 10% of it. "you have to suck on it" "ummmmm" and we both start laughing

i was playing w a belt (his belt) at him, he flinched, we laughed about it

watched indian sidemen

he said should we watch something and i said lets watch scott pilgrim

he's looking for the site and i start shuffling from left to right (like the dance) \/ /\ \/ /\

he's like wow you can shuffle??? and I'm like yes come here let me show you how

he was getting really embarrassed so i pulled him up anyway and so we were holding both hands while showing him the steps. he kept getting shy because he was messing up here and there and he was like "noooo i cant i look really stupid right now"

we laughed and stumbled and end up w his arms around me hugging me and his face in my neck

"this is so gayyyyyy" - v. *laughing* - me

set up the laptop for the movie and we're on his bed with two pillows propped up behind our heads

when ramona and scott are on their first date he asks if he can play with my hair. he asks what it was like when it was long

i forgot what spurred this ik he said something and i took his hand and held it and he called me gay for it

he was running circles w his thumb on my hand

then at some point he starts kicking me and i keep his leg in a leglock so he stops and that turns into a tussle and he acc cant free himself. at this point he's on top of me and i finally let him win and he flops over to the side again and we're laughing but our legs are still intertwined

he's running his hands through my hair again and I'm looking at him. i forgot what he says but our faces are already so close. so i poke the tip of his nose and give it a peck.

and then he's grinning and going off about it being gay

I'm like what do we do now?

he's like ...we kiss

and I'm like okay but it would be my first time idk if ill do it right and he slike WHAT

asks me repeatedly if I'm ok with this and I'm like yeah its not the end of the world its not

he kisses me and idk what to do with my lips I'm sitting there like a dead fish but eventually it works out my lips soften and i actually start really enjoying it bc he tastes like popcorn

atp he's on top and we gradually start going into tongue territory

he cups my face and starts kissing and biting my neck softly and i absolutely fold like um whimpering and everything that's crazy?????????

now and then he makes me ask to be kissed which is actually crazy like i had to grab his shirt and pull it closer

couple times he's legit just teasing me hovering his lips just fucking one millimeter away from mine and pulling away when i try to bring him in

he asks me where to touch and im like no butt no cooch

at some point i say something rly geeky and he's like youre so cool (sarcasm ofc) and im like bitch that's a microaggressio- and he just takes my face and cuts me off w the kiss

eventually (bc he keeps wanting me "closer" - bitch we're already nose to nose) i move on top and im kissing him and he asks me to kiss and bite his neck so i do

bro he starts WHIMPERING and whispering going "fuuuck ah fuck" again and again. and i can feel him like trembling under me and pulling me closer and closer so i just start gooning on his neck i guess

whimpering devolves into actual moaning and long story short he has a full on hickey now and im proud of it. just learnt something about myself today: i fucking love biting necks im a pleasure dom apparently

whenever id stop he'd whine about me teasing him. at some point i paused and he whispered "doooont doooont stoppppp pleaseeee do it for longer"

he asks me to put my hand under his shirt so i do and its so nice feeling him squirm

we kiss for like an hour straight i think time just flows i have no idea how long its been but we're breathless and exhaling warm. i would just pause and play with his hair and lips and eyebrows in between

and trace soft kisses on his eyelid and cheek (he said "i hate youuuuu i HATE YOU youre making me feel things"), keep my cheek on his cheek

his kisses go from soft exploring to intense with tongue im ngl i dig it a lot a very whole lot

some more mentioned in the whatsapp vms with jayden

at home v texts me saying he wants to be platonic so he doesnt "ruin a perfect thing" and keeps going on about how im the coolest person he's met so far and im an amazing person and how our friendship means the world to him

tldr wow what a day

[watchinghallmark]

Hallmark Christmas Movie Awards 2022 ↳ Best Cameo Kimberley Sustad as Dr. McClain - Three Wise Men and a Baby

[mymilovesfashion]

[2023 year in review ~ Harper's Bazaar Thailand #2]

JUL - Miriam Sornprommas

JUL (digital) - Bright Nachirawit

AUG - Maylada Susri

SEP - Doja Cat, Nychaa

SEP (digital) - Arina Maksimova, Thanaerg, Phuwin Tangsakyuen, Violette Wautier

FALL (men) - Gulf Kanawut

OCT - Urassaya Sperbund

OCT (digital) - Tia Lee

WINTER (men) - Mark Tuan, Tawan Vihokratana, New Thitipoom

NOV - Valeria Buldini

NOV (digital) - Minji (NewJeans)

DEC - Jorin, Kimberley Anne Woltemas

DEC (digital) - Pat

[hellomynameisbisexual]

It is 2018 and I am sitting in the Neptune Theatre, Halifax, Canada. I’m watching the Canadian premiere of the musical theatre adaptation of The Color Purple directed by Kimberley Rampersad—the first time the show has been directed by a black woman. It is also the first-ever positive representation of my own sexuality that I have been able to witness in the form that I have spent almost two decades studying, researching, and writing about: musical theatre. As I watch the character of Shrug Avery (Karen Burthwright) delight in the fluidity of her own sexual desire, a desire above and beyond gender, it feels like a space has been made. I’m crying but it’s complicated. Joy? Sadness? Recognition?

I am writing from the perspective of a bisexual+ cis-gendered white British woman, so it is important to note the many kinds of privilege that shape the experiences I am talking about, especially when addressing this musical. The Color Purple (2005) is especially important in the space it makes for PoC, and women of color. This has been written about both in reference to the musical (Edney; Lovelock) and the novel (Bealer), and by Alice Walker herself. For me, it is the first time I have seen what it is to be bisexual on a stage, while I recognize this musical does many more important things than that in connection to race and sexuality. Its powerful story makes ripples.

***

In June 2000, about a month after I finished my secondary education in a small school in mid-Wales, the infamous “Section 28” (a British law that banned the “promotion” of homosexuality, introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1988) was repealed, first in Scotland and three years later in the rest of the UK. I would like to say I remember this event, but I don’t. If I even knew about it at the time, it would have been because my parents’ copy of the Daily Mail was “Cross and Appalled.” It was almost always cross and/or appalled, though, so it doesn’t stick out in my memory. I don’t even remember when I first heard the word bisexuality. It certainly wouldn’t have been at school, because Section 28 had made it illegal for schools to discuss LGBTQ+ lifestyles, as it would risk promoting them. The teaching of the “acceptability of homosexuality” was explicitly forbidden by Section 28 from 1988 to 2000, while bisexuality was not even mentioned (UK Local Government Act 1988).

Even in my early twenties, when I joined a dating site and ticked the box “interested in men and women,” I still didn’t really identify as bisexual because I don’t think I even understood that was ever an option for me. Bisexuals were the people who hadn’t made up their minds . . . right? And then to cap it all off, I fell in love with a man who I married within a year of meeting, so I had to hand in my badge of not quite knowing how I fitted in. Some fifteen years later I am still married to him, and my relationship has given me huge amounts of privilege (we could get married; when and if I’d have fallen in love with a woman at the same time we would have to have waited until

2014 to do the same; if I’d have fallen in love with a nonbinary person, we still could not in a way that recognized both of our gender identities). But despite these many privileges that I have clearly benefited from, my innate queerness did not simply go away.

***

Late June 2016. I am at the Circle in the Square Theatre, New York City, watching Beth Malone and Michael Cerveris in Fun Home play the characters of Alison Bechdel and her father in a car. The mass murder at Pulse Nightclub, an LGBTQ+ hate crime targeted at the Latinx community, had taken place on June 12th. Everything hangs heavy in the air. That week I had stood behind a cordon, watching the Pride march being led by elders in the community, carrying photographs of the forty-nine victims. Like many of the queer people in the audience of Fun Home, I cried, heaving sobs. When the house lights come back on the theatre is full of red-eyed people who get it, nodding in encouragement.

***

It is September 2016 and I now try to acknowledge my queerness in front of students when studying representations of sexuality in musical theatre. I hear myself say, “I’m speaking as a bisexual woman.” After one of these classes a student excitedly approaches me and says, “You’re the first ever bi grown-up I’ve ever met in real life!” All of this matters and it keeps mattering. I was encouraged by a colleague, a lecturer who as a gay man advocates for LGBTQ+ student experiences. At the LGBTQ+ research group that he runs, I heard depressingly similar school experiences from students finishing school twenty years after I did, and after the end of Section 28. There are some more positive ones, but with the difference that these undergraduates know the word bisexuality in a way I did not in 2000.

Each time I repeated the words, I became more convinced that not only is being bisexual part of my identity, but more importantly, being out as a bisexual could be a positive experience for all my students, and especially my LGBTQ+ ones. To be clear, bisexuality+ is used as an overarching term for a group of named descriptions that people may use to communicate their identity—one of the most used of these terms is pansexual. All of these terms suggest a person who is attracted to people of more than one gender—a person who is in effect not monosexual (attracted to one gender). While people may use bisexual or pansexual to best identify their own sexuality, bisexuality+ as a theoretical concept is a useful tool proposed by Surya Monro to employ the word bisexual as a “strategic move that overlooks the binary composition of the word” (2).

In the UK, the Office of National Statistics found that people ages 16–24 are more likely to identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual than any other age group (4.4 percent against a national average of 2.2 percent): within that subsection a larger group identify as bisexual rather than specifically gay or lesbian. In my own age bracket, only 0.6 percent of people identify as bisexual (ages 35–49).

Despite what is a growing identification with bisexuality+ to name our sexual identities, myths and misconceptions about bisexuality continue to shape how the “B” in the LGBTQ+ identities are represented in popular culture. Bisexuals are confused, “halfway to gay,” promiscuous, greedy. . . . I mean, some of us might be, I can’t be left alone with a selection box. But chocolates are not people.

Invisible Bisexuality in Musicals from 2000 to 2020

While all LGBTQ+ people suffer from “minority stress” (Meyer), bisexuals have a uniquely poor experience because they are the target of distrust from both the heterosexual and homosexual

communities (Brewster and Moradi). One major Australian study notes the widespread and “con- sistent evidence that bisexual people have poorer mental health than heterosexual people, gay men or lesbians” (Taylor et al.); this also has been addressed in terms of intersectional oppressions (Dyar et al.). The invisibility of bisexuality in popular culture has very real consequences to an oppressed community.

Maria San Filipo, in her important study of representations of bisexuality in popular culture, argues that it is “both visible and invisible . . . due to the slippage between its representational pervasiveness and the alternating measures of tacit acceptance, disidentification, or disavowal that render bisexuality discursively un(der)spoken” (4). Mainstream musicals—that is to say, Broadway and West End commercially orientated musicals—have tended to minimize bisexual content even in material that openly acknowledges bisexual desire. Just as Steven Spielberg’s movie adaptation of The Color Purple (1985) removes the bisexual utopian possibility from Walker’s 1982 novel, several productions of the musical since its 2005 premiere have emphasized the relationship between Shrug and Celie as that of sisters. Bisexuality is, to borrow from San Filipo, rendered “underspoken” (ibid.).

The removal of bisexual desire is common in musicals, even in that contemporary behemoth, Hamilton (2015). Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton may not look or sound like the mega- musicals of the 1980s, but its success echoes the scale of the phenomenon of shows like Cats (1981) and Les Misérables (1985). Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography of its eponymous politician, the first treasurer of the United States and a prolific writer and thinker. The musical uses traditional Broadway storytelling to dramatize the struggle between two men, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, both trapped in personal and political rivalries. Hamilton owes a notable debt to Les Mis, since both shows tell epic stories about two men locked in a conflict that will only be resolved by the death of one of them. Just as in Les Mis where we see Valjean and Javert’s moral battle play out over the decades condensed into two acts, admittedly quite long ones, Hamilton traces the two men’s respective rise and fall over a thirty-year period. The main tension is not in the “will they/ won’t they” of a romance or sexual tension, but rather in the unfolding of their relationship that the audience already knows will end in disaster (fig. 1).

Fig. 1. “The Bisexual Flag and Alexander Hamilton.” (Source: © Mat Dalgleish.)

Of course, there is a straight love story in the musical—the marriage between Eliza Schuyler and Alexander, and his attachment to her sister, presented as his intellectual equal. However, there is another love story that is barely noticeable in the musical, albeit something that bisexual fan com- munities have responded to: namely, the physical and emotional attraction between Hamilton and his close friend and fellow aide-de-camp to George Washington, John Laurens. Their friendship is documented in letters that have been the focus of discussions about whether there ever was a roman- tic or sexual relationship between the two. Clearly, the idea of a bisexual character in this musical offers the tantalizing possibility of putting us in “The Room Where It Happens”—at the center of a Broadway musical. It is clearly ahistorical to suggest that such physical or emotional desire would have made a person identify as bisexual in the mid-eighteenth century. However, Hamilton as the character in the musical has been confirmed as bisexual by the author of the musical.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, its composer, lyricist, and performer, is a celebrity in his own right, with an extensive social media presence and around 3 million followers on Twitter––something he uses both for social activism and musical theatre nerdery. He is essentially a hero for musical theatre geeks everywhere. In 2015, when doing an impromptu Q&A with his followers while waiting at an airport for a connection, Miranda responded to a question about whether he thought Hamilton could have “maybe been bi” by replying, “Yeah. Read those letters man.” For bisexual people this is a complex feeling, because to be seen and at the same time not seen really hurts. Despite the throwaway nature of tweets in general, never mind tweets sent from airport lounges in one-off Q&As, the complete disregard of how it actually feels to be bisexual and constantly outside of the story is painful. The creator of a cultural phenomenon, which will be around for decades to come, says, “Yes, Hamilton was bisexual,” but that is not included in the musical itself. There is more to say here in the staging

of Laurens and Hamilton and the argument that it does show some kind of love story; however, this is something I am currently writing about at more length elsewhere (forthcoming). For now, I wanted to consider the stakes of erasure in comparison to musicals that do actually feature prominently bisexual characters, because it can feel easy to dismiss those who say “#representationmatters” as stereotypical keyboard activists. But to have the tantalizing possibility of being seen and understood in the form of theatre you love the most and for it not to happen . . . breaks my heart.

Problematic Representations

There are bisexuals in musical theatre, it’s just that many musicals have featured them through well-worn tropes about bisexuals. The dangerously detailed TvTropes lists a number of stereotypes around bisexuality that also appear in musicals, such as “Depraved Bisexuality” (the bisexual villain); “Anything that Moves” (the greedy bisexual); “Suddenly-Sexuality”; or perhaps the rarest trope, “Bi- the-Way” (a character whose bisexuality is incidental to the story).

Anything that Moves as a trope has underpinned many bisexual representations in musicals. While this might be an accurate representation for some bisexuals, we are not inherently non- monogamous and/or insatiable. It has also been used to imply that bisexuality is indicative of sexual impropriety––of a society or culture that does not have tight moral controls on who can have sex with whom. The character’s bisexuality only exists as a shorthand to communicate sexual excess.

Perhaps the most famous example of this is The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1973), which, through the genre of a sci-fi B-movie-style musical, presents a radical version of relaxed sexual behavior. Although in the musical Frank-N-Furter could be read as a “depraved bisexual,” it is worth bearing in mind that he is also an alien who gets vaporized by another alien at the end of the musical (namely, by Riff Raff). His desire for humans, specifically for the buttoned up all-American preppy inno- cents Janet and Brad, is part of the musical’s broader representation of sexual excess rather than any detailed representation of bisexuality. However, it is worth noting that Richard O’Brien, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics of the musical, identifies as bisexual, and has explained that he used the aliens purposefully to show the exclusion of non-heterosexual and heteronormative people (Jones).

Some productions of Cabaret (1966) have similarly used bisexuality to indicate times of sexual freedom: the musical is set in the last days of the Weimar Republic in Berlin. In all versions of the story, there is a character who acts as an audience conduit, the writer (originally Cliff and renamed Brian for the movie). He shows us into this simultaneously glamorous, depraved, and dangerous world. The author of the semi-autobiographical memoirs upon which the musical is based, Christo- pher Isherwood, was a gay man. However, in both the 1972 movie and the 1993 Broadway revival directed by Sam Mendes, the Cliff/Brian character is explicitly bisexual. Cliff’s importance to the overall story is fairly minimal, and reviewer Ben Brantley wrote that he “remains one of those artist- as-cipher characters that it’s hard to do much with.” Cabaret demonstrates the By-the-Way culture, again, rather than making bisexuality central to the plot.

In Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent (1994), the then-edgy cast of characters includes the Anything that Moves kind of bisexual, Maureen. She never explicitly identifies as bisexual; we are simply told that she has had many relationships with men and women. In fact, this is one of the first things we know about her, because we hear about it before we even meet her through the frustrations of her current girlfriend Joanne (Fredi Walker) and her ex-boyfriend Mark (Anthony Rapp). Together, they sing the “Tango: Maureen,” expressing jealous frustration at Maureen’s sexual antics, setting up our expectations for a character who is both an untrustworthy nightmare and a diva. We are told she cannot be content in a monogamous relationship; both Mark and Maureen complain about her cheating. When Maureen (Idina Menzel) does appear and sings about her relationship in “Take Me or Leave Me” (a duet with Joanne), she joyfully sings that she is who she is, attractive to both men and women. While bisexuality is not named, Maureen fulfills the trope of the greedy bisexual who will inevitably break the hearts of those who love her, because she is incapable of monogamy. Whether this is due to Maureen’s character or her sexuality is not exactly clear, although the fact that Maureen and Joanne are allowed a relationship in the 1994 musical is an important step forward.

Toward Positive Role Models and Better Representations?

Part of the problem is that showing multiple kinds of sexual desire either requires a direct mention in the plot, perhaps some kind of coming-out song, or the inclusion of sexual attraction to people of more than one gender in the story. The musical If/Then (2014) has the perfect structure for representing bisexuality in its “what-if ” story, which runs two simultaneous timelines in Elizabeth’s life (also played by Idina Menzel). In one timeline, the character of Lucas has a relationship with a woman, and in the other with a man. The casting calls to Rent, since Lucas is played by Anthony Rapp and Elizabeth by Menzel. Elizabeth is dismissive of Lucas’s sexuality, telling him that it is equivalent to being a political independent. However, Lucas does get to have loving relationships in both timelines, and he addresses his own bisexuality in “Some Other Me”: “I found myself a woman, or a man, and had a son.” Again, it is not perfect, but it is some kind of representation.

Being bisexual doesn’t mean that your love story is necessarily complicated or tragic. You don’t have to have had lots of relationships or even have had sex with people of other genders to qualify. To be representative, musicals do not have to portray some kind of tangled or torrid affair; they have to include bisexual characters as part of the story, and those characters should have believable inner lives. It should not be a throwaway joke either, as in Be More Chill’s (2015) final scenes, which makes bisexuality “the butt of the joke” (Clarke); or in Groundhog Day (2016), with Phil’s throwaway gag that he was so bored in his endless day in Punxsutawney that he slept one time with a guy.

There are more positive bisexual characters in contemporary television from the same period, but these roles can be limited. Meyer notes that bisexual women characters of color like Callie Tor- res (Grey’s Anatomy) and Anna Tagaro (One Tree Hill) “serve to stabilize heterosexuality and open discourse for White characters” (675). One important exception to this may be the sensitive way in which Brooklyn 99 worked with bisexual cast member Stephanie Beatriz, to show the character

she plays, Rosa Diaz, coming out as bi to her colleagues. Beatriz reflected that “the main thing for me was that the character said ‘bisexual’ and that she said it so many times” (qtd. in Jung). Bisexual characters, where their sexual identities are part though not all of their stories, are becoming more prominent in television; for example, Eleanor Shellstrop in The Good Place, Adam in Jane the Virgin, and Toni Topaz and Cheryl Blossom in Riverdale.

Television musicals have written inclusive bisexual stories, such as Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015) including three bisexual characters, Maya, Valencia Perez, and Darryl Whitefeather. While Darryl does sing the fantastic coming out number “Getting Bi,” Maya mentions in passing during that song that she is also bisexual, and Valencia is seen in relationships with both men and women. Some musicals bridge this genre gap; for example, the YouTube and stage success Team Starkids, with Firebringer (2016), which features characters with sexually fluid desires.

In turn, stage musicals are shifting toward more accurate representations of bisexuality. Bare: A Musical (2012) reflects a teenage experience of sexuality and can be read as coming to terms with being bisexual through Jason’s song “Once Upon a Time” and “A Role of a Lifetime.” This is particularly notable because the potential bisexual reading is an addition, since the musical is a revi- sion of the earlier Bare: A Pop Opera (2000), in which Jason is closeted as gay but in a relationship with a woman. More recently, & Juliet (2019), currently in the West End, features François, who is pansexual, as a central character and love interest for Juliet, who has survived her escapades with Romeo. Writer Max Martin explained that “it was really important to me that our cast of characters reflect the diversity of the world around us as much as possible, and that included gender, age, body type, ethnicity, and sexual orientation” (qtd. in Connelly).

***

It is March 2020 and new musical theatre events are quickly being cancelled. Years of work are on pause for a while as the world’s arts scene is on lockdown and we all stay safe indoors at home. Last month, although it feels like a lifetime ago, my students performed at an LGBTQ+ concert at the University of Wolverhampton. Some of them sang their own work, as in the case of Abbie Cobden, who sang a song from a musical she is writing called “Give Me a Label” with music by James Lovelock. They have kindly agreed to share it here:

In a space where there were so few representations of bisexuality, much is changing quickly and queer stories are taking center stage. Importantly, many of these stories are about QPoC. Two new musicals in development of note include Interstate (forthcoming) by Kit Yan and Melissa Li, which features queer and trans characters, and Asian Pirate Musical (2020) by Nemo Martin and Zhui Ning Chang, with its queer space revolutionaries.

There are two bisexual and pan characters in the British musical The Phase, currently in devel- opment, by Meg McGrady and Zoe Elle Morris. It was meant to be shown at BEAM2020 but the event was cancelled because of Covid-19. You can learn about its development in this video of its song, “Sex Education.” Twenty years later, the song mentions that Section 28 is no longer in effect, adding, “but that doesn’t mean we don’t see its effects.” As new musicals tell better stories about the bisexual community, each moment of inclusion still matters and makes a space for the next.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Meg McGrady, Joe Geoghan, Abbie Cobden, James Lovelock, Nemo Martin, Mat Dalgleish, Emily Beaman, Joash Musundi, Kirsty Sedgman, and Emily Garside.

Works Cited

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