From ‘Mean Girls’ to ‘Glee,’ a Lesbian Joke Evolves (Pt 2)

In part one, Jess and Susie revisited a famous episode of The Golden Girls, in which Blanche mistakes the word “lesbian” for “Lebanese.” (“Not ‘Lebanese,’ Blanche. Lesbian!”) Nearly 40 years later, the IKYKY of calling lesbians “Lebanese” lives on – as does the gay legacy of The Golden Girls. Jess and Susie talk to the originator of that joke about the role that The Golden Girls played – and still plays – in gay culture, as well as how that episode fits into the history of LGBTQ representation on screen. Plus: a lesbian-lebanese surprise!

GUESTS:

• Maya Salam, culture editor at The New York Times
• Drew Mackie, cohost of Gayest Episode Ever

FOR MORE:

• At Long Last, Lesbian Portrayals On Screen Are More Complex (NYT)
• Mean Girls’ Janice Ian Was a Lesbian (After Ellen)
• Thank You for Being a Friend: A Gay Golden Girls History (Frontiers)
• Blanche’s Brother is a Homo, & More Gay GG Moments (Gayest Episode Ever)

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