Sarah Paulson and Tig Notaro’s Lesbian Party Bus, Explained

On Sunday morning, I awoke to a brand new world — a world that had one less hour in it than I’d hoped but also a world in which a video from a party bus, chock full of my favorite lesbian and lesbian-adjacent human beings, were singing my favorite song, the Indigo Girls’ “Closer to Fine.” Every new gay face that appeared in this short clip on Stephanie Allynne’s instagram was like a revelation, a vision from G-d herself. Tig Notaro?! Holland Taylor! Abby Wambach?!! Glennon Doyle?? Lee Rose??? And then also Allison Janney! Sherri Saum! Amanda Kloots! Carla Gallo! What in the name of Emily Saliers was going on here?

But the joy did not stop with that one video. Additional videos have since surfaced, such as this one of all of my best friends singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” on the same party bus and then another featuring Lizzo’s “Juice.” And another to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”!

This has led the Lesbian Community to wonder: how did this happen? How did this group of souls unite in such a triumphant manner? And why were we all not personally as individuals invited to partake?

Where Is the Lesbian Party Bus Going?

Our friends were taking a party bus to Tig Notaro’s March 11th comedy show in Long Beach. 

Whomst and Whyst Are These People on the Same Bus?

The passengers of the Lesbian Party Bus were as follows:

• Allison Janney
• Glennon Doyle
• Abby Wambach
• Sarah Paulson
• Holland Taylor
• Tig Notaro
• Stephanie Allynne
• Sherri Saum
• Lee Rose
• Phelan Dante Fitzpatrick
• Amanda Kloots
• Carla Gallo
• Bradley Bredeweg

Get out your whiteboard and your thumbtacks and your yarn, it’s time to connect the dots!

Actress Sarah Paulson, a legend in these waters, is on the bus with her girlfriend, noted actress and similarly revered lesbian Holland Taylor. Sarah is friends with comic and Army of the Dead star Tig Notaro, as indicated by their delightful and comfortable rapport on this clip from Tig’s podcast and this 2017 appearance on Jimmy Fallon, in which Tig would like Sarah to affirm that they enjoy partying together.

Tig Notaro and her wife Stephanie Allynne (another writer/actor/comic we all know and love around here) also both appeared recently on Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle‘s podcast, We Can Do Hard Things. When Glennon Doyle appeared on Tig Notaro’s podcast in 2020 it seems they’d recently connected for the first time, after Stephanie turned Tig onto Glennon’s book Untamed and her entire cannon of content.

Sarah Paulson, meanwhile, is slated to star as Glennon Doyle in the TV adaptation of Untamed. Doyle and Paulson met as participants in the Share the Mic movement in 2020.

Queen Allison Janney is a lead character on this party bus. Like Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor, she has been of the Hollywood universe as well as the Broadway universe. Her friendship with Sarah Paulson appears to go back well over a decade — they absolutely were already friends by the time these pics were taken in 2012, but possibly also in this picture from 2005 at the Tony Awards, at which Sarah Paulson’s then-girlfriend Cherry Jones won a Tony for Doubt and Janney was a “participating artist.” Allison also guest-starred on an episode of Sarah Paulson’s show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in 2007. Meanwhile, Holland Taylor and Allison Janney were photographed together at a (lesbian non-profit) Power Up event for Melissa Etheridge in 2002. Holland and Allison were also both in the 2019 film Bombshell.

In fact, Sarah Paulson, Holland Taylor and Allison Janney appear to all be close friends — they had dinner together last month with legendary character actress Margo Martindale and Lee Rose, another Party Bus passenger and a lesbian director/producer/writer, who identified this February 2023 dinner as the result of “years of friendship”:

Lee Rose also began in the theater universe, like Sarah and Holland. She recently directed five episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, which featured Tig Notaro. She also worked on The Fosters, which of course starred the one and only Sherri Saum. It appears that Lee’s dinners with Allison Janey, Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor occur at regular intervals, and that she is close pals with Allison Janney. She worked with Janney on A Girl Thing in 2001.

Lee Rose is also best friends with Party Bus Passenger Bradley Bredeweg, creator/EP of The Fosters and Good Trouble (which also features Sherri Saum). Bradley also spent the holidays with Tig Notaro, Stephanie Allynne, Lee Rose, Sherri Saum, Teri Polo and Allison Janney.

Before we move on from Sherri Saum, there is also a photograph of Sherri, Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson having a microphoned conversation in nice outfits, dating back to July 17, 2016. After extensive detective work, we have concluded that this photograph was taken at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in Sherman Oaks.

Now, onto the passengers of the lesbian party bus that might not have been immediately recognizable to the lesbian community. We will begin with another woman from the Broadway universe: Amanda Kloots. 

Currently, Amanda Kloots identifies as a co-host of The Talk, a fitness person, a dancer and The New York Times bestselling author of Live Your Life. Previously she was part of the ensemble of several Broadway musicals, including Bullets Over Broadway. I don’t know how to share this next bit of truly devastating information in a post of this nature but: her husband was also a Broadway actor and he tragically passed away in 2020 at the age of 41 from complications related to COVID-19.

As for Kloots’ direct connection to other Party Bus Passengers, it does seem she and her late husband have a personal connection with Sarah Paulson, although the exact nature of that relationship is unclear. Furthermore, Kloots’ book was climbing the bestseller lists for Non-Fiction around the same time as Glennon Doyle‘s Untamed, and both books are in a similar space of self-help/memoir, so it’s possible their paths crossed at some point due to that collision of thematic enterprises. For example, Amanda and Glennon were both part of a group of panels for International Women’s Day sponsored by Little Market.

Kloots was also amongst many celebrities who appeared on the red carpet at the opening night celebration for Netflix’s Your Place or Mine, a movie which featured Tig Notaro as a lesbian Mom who drinks a lot of coffee — and this, we now know (as revealed in the comments on this very article) is in fact where Amanda Kloots and Phelan Dante Fitzpatrick (who we will discuss momentarily) met Tig Notaro, who invited them to the show in Long Beach!

Kloots recently starred in Fit For Christmas, which she co-wrote with queer TV writer Anna S. White after they were connected to each other via a queer mutual friend, Jacklyn Collier, which I am only mentioning because it suggests that Kloots simply knows a lot of lesbians in Hollywood! She is followed on instagram by Sarah Paulson, Stephanie Allynne and Holland Taylor as well as numerous other queers-about-town (e.g., Rosie O’Donnell, Phoebe Dahl, Dot-Marie Jones, Nicolette Mason and Ariana DeBose).

Kloots is best friends with Phelan Dante Fitzpatrick, another Party Bus passenger. He identifies as a proud gay Dad and a former candidate for New York City City Council District 3. He is followed by Stephanie Allyne on instagram. He has served as a red carpet date for Kloots on several occasions. He also posted one (1) video from the party bus on his own instagram of him and Kloots having a very nice time.

Then we have actress Carla Gallo.

Gallo is the veteran of so many TV shows and movies and is perhaps best recognized for her turn on Bones. She’s also credited as an “Angry Homeowner Lady” in the lesbian Christmas film Happiest Season. She was in one episode of Key & Peele with Stephanie Allynne in 2012.

But Gallo’s primary connection to this crew is through Sarah Paulson — she has been friends with Sarah Paulson SINCE CHILDHOOD, and there are numerous red carpet photographs of Paulson and Gallo throughout the years, starting in 2005 and stretching into the 2010s. Gallo is also friends with Paulson’s friend Amanda Peet.

that roanoke one 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/0yqTqzUeWl

— sarah paulson's pr (@sarahpaulsbean) June 24, 2021

This, my friends, concludes today’s episode of Sherlock Homo, aka Dyketective. I would like to thank my research assistants at the Autostraddle.com Office Slack channel as well as all of you for tuning in. If you have any tips, feel free to share, and stay safe out there!!!

Just a Random Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson Appreciation Post

Feature image credit: Photo 1 by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images / Photo 2 by Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images / Photo 3 by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

As a person of lesbian age gap relationship experience, Sarah Paulson has long been an inspiration as someone who seemingly has no interest in dating anyone who isn’t a minimum of 18 years older than her (that was her age gap with Cherry Jones — she upgraded to a 32-year age gap with Holland Taylor). I famously used to have a cat whose full name was Emmy Award Winner Sarah Paulson The Cat, shortened to Paulson. I lost Paulson in a bad breakup, something I’m still very sensitive about. You can read my weird essay about it at Catapult. In any case, my admiration for Emmy Award Winner Sarah Paulson The Human runs deep. As does my admiration of her relationship with Holland Taylor. While my own relationship has a mere 12-year age gap (I interviewed my gf about our age gap and other things earlier this year, and you can read it if you’re an A+ member), representation MATTERS, and Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor have been serving iconic age gap representation on red carpets and at press events for seven years now (did anyone else weep @ this Instagram caption Sarah posted about Holland a couple weeks ago?). Let us now look back at those seven gorgeous years of age gap glory.

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Critics’ Choice Television Awards, 2015

This is not technically the first official event appearance Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor did together to be documented by Getty Images, but in the photos of their first Getty documented appearance together, Andrew Rannells is standing in between them, and I prefer my Sarah and Holland pics to not feature a man between them. Anyway, look how happy they are! The New Relationship Energy is radiating off of them!

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Ripcord Opening Night, 2015

If there’s one thing Holland Taylor is going to do, it’s Be In Plays. Sarah Paulson is living all our theater gay fantasies by dating such an iconic stage actress.

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Fiddler on the Roof Opening Night, 2015

Sarah Paulson walking five paces in front of Holland Taylor even though they’re literally holding hands is indeed the age gap representation I love to see. My girlfriend is always saying things to me like “slow down” and “why are you running” and “are we running late to something?” because I for some reason feel a need to sprint at all times. I imagine that’s what’s also happening here.

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Critics’ Choice Awards, 2016

THE WAY HOLLAND IS LOOKING AT HER HERE??????

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The Front Page Opening Night, 2016

I just realized how many of these photos are going to be from Broadway opening nights. These two really are a Theater Couple.

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Time 100 Gala, 2017

I’m not sure what’s happening here, but I support it. Is Holland Taylor doing a trust fall? They seem like the kind of couple who would do sporadic trust falls.

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Candid, 2017

I’m obsessed with how often they seem to be making each other laugh in photos??? Also love these Casual Gay fits.

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Candid, 2017

Both of these fits are also extremely important to me. I’m also obsessed with the fact that they are BOTH Black Crossbody Shoulder Bag Gays?

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 M. Night Shyamalan’s Halloween Party, 2017

Yes, you read that correctly. This was for M. Night Shyamalan’s halloween party, official name: Shyamaween. They are dressed as a…panda and a jester? Is there a reference I’m not getting here? Did they just run out of time and pop into the closest Spirit Halloween? I kind of expect better costume game from, as we have established, a Theater Couple?

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Backstage at Sandemonium, 2017

The Dyke Energy of this photo is simply too powerful.

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Vanity Fair Oscars Party, 2018

The gentle placement of Angela Bassett’s hand here…legendary.

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Vanity Fair Oscars Party, 2018

I just 🥺 love 🥺 them 🥺 so 🥺 much 🥺

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Literacy Partners Gala, 2018

Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor invented the 😍 emoji.

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Candid, 2018

I have absolutely no use for it as I live in Miami, but I do need Sarah’s coat here.

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Candid, 2019

Once again, Sarah is walking five paces ahead of Holland despite the fact that they’re holding hands. This is indeed how Kristen and I look when walking into any function.

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Vanity Fair Oscars Party, 2019

This prom ass pose!!!! Actually, give me a gay high school romcom where Sarah and Holland play two teachers at the high school who are secretly dating and chaperone prom.

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Vanity Fair Oscars Party 2020

HOW many photos are there out there of these two just gazing longingly into each other’s eyes while laughing?????

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The Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures Opening Gala, 2021

It must be said that in addition to being age gap representation, these two are height gap representation. According to my little Googlings, there’s only a two inch difference between them, but that does not seem correct? Am I losing it? I realize heels could be doing some work here, but if you refer back to some of the candids where they’re both in flats/sneakers…it still looks like more than two inches!

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Company Opening Night, 2021

The opening night of Company in 2021 is bizarrely the most recent event that Getty Images has photos of Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor together at, but ending with the opening night of Company indeed feels correct for this Theater Couple.

That Time Holland Taylor Told Gillian Anderson to Keep Her Hand Off Sarah Paulson’s Ass

Feature photo by Bruce Glikas/WireImage

It is almost impossible to look the news directly in the face right now, but of course we all do it all the time because we can’t live with our heads stuck inside ground-holes like gooses (though believe me we’ve though about it). I’ve been trying all day to think of some kind of laugh to leave you with for the weekend, and coming up short over and over. But then! I remembered something we didn’t really talk about last month, in detail, and so here I am.

A couple of weeks ago, we got news that Glennon Doyle’s best-selling memoir, Untamed, in which she charts her divorce from her husband and blossoming relationship with soccer superstar Abby Wambach, is going to be a TV series. Doyle’s going to write the first episode, even! And Sarah Paulson will play Doyle! However, no one knows who in the world is right for playing six-foot tall world-class athlete Abby Wambach. They’re gonna have an open casting call.

When the series was announced, however, Twitter decided the best choice for Wambach was Gillian Anderson. And why not, she’s playing Eleanor Roosevelt who was just as tall and Wambach and honestly probably extremely athletic (I am basing that on the fact that she had a lot of girlfriends who were Olympians). (Er, I mean… friends. Traveling companions. Buds!) Also Gillian has blazing bisexual chemistry with other women. A perfect fit? Twitter floated it to Glennon, with a photo manip so she could really wrap her head around it.

Gillian Anderson crashed through the wall like the Kool-Aid man to confess that she’d been wanting her hand on Sarah Paulson’s ass for some time.

But oh ho! Who was not having that? Holland Taylor! Who did not play a lesbian in in Legally Blonde, The L Word, and DEBS only to come out later in life and have someone sweep in and steal her girl.

The world is terrifying, the bird app is a dumpster, but dang, queers out here queering just keep the porch light on.

It’s Time to Recognize Holland Taylor’s Supreme Domme Energy

Feature image via Mark Seliger / Vanity Fair

In this time of great political and cultural divisiveness, there’s been a growing phenomenon that’s united women on the internet, regardless of sexuality: the desire — nay, need — to be dominated by Rachel Weisz. Weisz’s performance in The Favourite gave women of all stripes flashbacks to that infamous scene in Disobedience, where Weisz spits in Rachel McAdams’ mouth. Then, at the Oscars, she wore a knowing, red latex capelet that sent Twitter into a tailspin; calls for Weisz to do bodily harm abounded. The fact that Weisz herself appears to be in on the joke makes the thought of being run over by her all the more delectable.

To be fair, I haven’t yet seen The Favourite or Disobedience (shame on me, bad gay, etc.), so I can’t totally speak to the Rachel Weisz domme thirst outside of what I’ve read. But the trend has stoked some powerful feelings of injustice in me. Because long before Weisz released her saliva into another woman’s mouth or liquefied Twitter users into sub mush, another actress has been quietly channeling domme fierceness for decades. Her years of steady power moves have gone largely (and wrongfully) unrecognized, but she deserves to ascend to her rightful, reigning position in our very gay sub imaginations.

That woman is Holland Taylor.

For decades, Taylor has blessed us with her sharp wit, emotive eyes, and domme energy both on- and off-screen. She wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed play Ann, about the esteemed Texas governor Ann Richards; played a savage, bisexual “uber cougar” on Two and a Half Men; had a turn on The L Word (!) as the definitely-could-destroy-you, “I was a lesbian in 1974” mother of Helena Peabody. She’s seduced people of all genders, including younger men: In one scene as Judge Roberta Kittelson on The Practice — a role for which she won an Emmy — Taylor states matter-of-factly, “I gave him the best fellatio known to mankind.” Later she purrs to her prey, “I could give you an erection from across the room.” If you didn’t secretly long for a scolding from Professor Stromwell in Legally Blonde or Mrs. Petrie in D.E.B.S., you’re too good of a student, get out.

It’s worth noting that unlike Weisz (whose standom I do not seek to impugn), Taylor is actually dating a woman, the equally illustrious actress Sarah Paulson. I’ve shipped them since the beginning — and given the Daily Mail too many clicks in pursuit of photos documenting their “intimate LA date night” or one “sweetly wrap[ping]” her arm around the other. The pair consistently chuckle at straight society’s seeming inability to grasp what two women 32 years apart and in love do with each other, which is the no-fucks-to-give, so-all-the-fucks-to-give energy we need from a woman who’s going to commandeer us.

While Taylor’s always owned her confidence, she seems to have leaned into her dommeness with age. (God grant me the aloof assuredness of a woman who’s lived a life.) At 76, she makes a choker look like it should be solely reserved for septuagenarians, lest a foolhardy 20-something attempt to pull off this hardware with such Calvin Klein-influenced ease. You’ll find a dedicated Google search for the suit she wore to a Mr. Mercedes press event. And at this year’s Oscars, she flaunted what appeared to be black lace and satin biker gloves. (I particularly like this photo, as you can easily imagine her wielding a punishing implement.)

If there’s a single photograph that captures Taylor’s clear ability to top, though, it’s the one of her and Paulson from last year’s Vanity Fair Oscars Portrait Studio. The image itself is a work of art — the colors, textures, and staging are stunning. But I can barely appreciate its composition and elegant representation of queer, ageism-fucking love before my body convulses and my superego steps in to scream, “THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK, PLEASE CLOSE YOUR BROWSER YOU ARE NOT IN PRIVATE MODE.” Taylor looming over Paulson, hand on hip, leaning back, clad in that incredible black suit is the holy grail of “I have the authority to rail you.” That Paulson is gazing up at Taylor with eyes of admiration and a hint of “punish me” tells me she’s probably already living that fantasy.

For that, Paulson is lucky — but so are we, vicarious dreamers. There will never be too many queer women to idolize, onto whom we can project our yearning for chic boots on our necks and mutual spit worship. Rachel Weisz has earned her spot as an LGBTQ ambassador, and her red latex nod to queer lust does not go unappreciated. But Holland Taylor has paid her dues. She’s an unmatched sleeper domme who’s built a career and life on roles and personal choices that challenge stereotypes and invite the imagination to descend into dark, consensually vulnerable places. Her fearless command of the selfie, of space, and possibly all of us deserves our worship — and our unabashed submission.

No Filter: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor Ring In 2019 With Extreme Enthusiasm and Silly Hats!

It’s a whole new year and I don’t know about you but I am READY for some 2019 celebrity gossip! What are these people going to DO??? Think about all the famous queer people you know and how they’re all going to date each other and break up and then date other people this year! I can’t wait.

Personally, I am still very invested in finding out as much as I can about Kristen Stewart’s new relationship with self-described “style visionary” Sara Dinkin. Most recently, I learned that Ms Dinkin used to date Brittenelle Fredericks, best known (to me) from the Real L Word and (I’m told) some other stuff:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJjgpgojk9d/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BE-RnnfnYRe/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BD_kcQpnYQa/

My girl has a type.

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We’re hitting the ground running with a hot new contender for Best Celebrity Gal Pals of 2019.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFGsnjlFCo/

You heard it here first – #20BiTeen, we’re having a year.

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A post shared by Jasika Nicole (@jasikaistrycurious)

Believe it or not, this is also the year of these culottes. Plan accordingly.

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A post shared by Sarah Paulson (@mssarahcatharinepaulson)

These guys love dressing up in holiday outfits!!! Sarah and Taylor’s relationship is the only thing that gives me hope in this cold, cruel world.

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A post shared by Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe)

I, too, kicked off 2019 cuddling tenderly with my girlfriend Lena Waithe.

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A post shared by Stephanie Beatriz (@stephaniebeatriz)

Current favorite comment on this post is “Now I continue to see why they call you sassy.”

Truly.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBhJl_Hv26/

Kehlani, I would backyard BBQ for you. I would grill you so many vegetables.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBjWn6ngbT/

Evan Rachel Wood spent New Years in Italy – literally posting from a gondola!! – as if to remind all the rest of us that our New Years plans were boring.

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I mean for me, love is getting two desserts and splitting them. But, you guys do you.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Br5oIg2lN7k/

Honestly what’s gayer than a picture of King Princess being taken in a bathroom by Jughead?

Your 2018 Gal Pal Roundup: The 8 Couples(?!) Who Won 20GayTeen

Guys! What a year! I don’t know about you, but I went on TWO WHOLE DATES in 2018! (This is bullshit, please come at me, 2019.) Instead, I spent the majority of my free time pouring over the love lives of a bunch of rich and famous people I don’t actually know! Please join me on this vicarious journey through other people’s relationships!!!

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Ellen Page & Emma Portner

Honestly, I feel like this year has aged me approximately 10,000 years, but it believe it or not it was only January 3rd when we first reported the marriage of Ellen Page and her very flexible new wife! Since then they’ve smiled together in a lot of Instagrams and made a Christmas soup.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrwDiS3BPlb/

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Sarah Paulson & Holland Taylor

In dark times, Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor have reminded me that love is (maybe) real. When they tweet adoringly, I swear I can hear the sound of woodland creatures singing.

*gasp*

Sweetheart.

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) August 18, 2018

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Cara Delevingne + Paris Jackson

Listen, I know that Cara is (most likely) dating Ashley Benson these days, and Paris Jackson swears up and down that she and Cara never had any kind of monogamous situation in place. Still, the photos/video of Cara and Paris dancing outside a restaurant, while a bemused Macaulay Culkin watches on, remain one of my favorite visuals in this sizzling trash heap of a year. This video is to 2018 as that footage of Miley Cyrus groping Stella Maxwell in the parking lot of a steakhouse was to 2015.

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Hayley Kiyoko + That Girl She Turned Gay

The power of Lesbian Eye Contact cannot be denied.

https://twitter.com/vannyhearts/status/985284390136590336

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Emily Hampshire & Teddy Geiger

These two lovebirds seem to treat their entire social media presence as one giant multimedia love letter to one another, and it’s goddamn adorable. They only confirmed their relationship to the internet at large in mid-August, and already they were engaged in November. Since then, they haven’t stopped staring at one another, and I for one am extremely here for it.

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A post shared by emily hampshire (@emilyhampshire)

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Rutina Wesley & Chef Shonda

My favorite thing about these two is how clearly over-the-moon-in-love Rutina is, and how much she GUSHES about it on Instagram. They got friggin’ ENGAGED at the very tail end of 2017, so I’m including them on this list. I’m primed and ready for many pictures of their goofy smiles in years to come.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbQP0VygM6g/?utm_source=ig_embed

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Kristen Stewart & Whatsherface

Kristen Stewart is perhaps the most important jewel in the Vapid Fluff universe. Not a day goes by that I don’t search the wild internet for freshly harvested pictures of her walking grumpily around Los Feliz with a latte. Can you believe she spent nearly two years dating international supermodel Stella Maxwell and I still wouldn’t recognize that girl if I tripped over her on the street????

Anyway, over the last week and a half, Kristen’s been spotted walking dogs and picking up to-go juices with a Los Angeles-based stylist named Sara Dinkin, so I guess that’s her girlfriend now! Whoever Kristen Stewart is dating, it will always be news. I hope these two eat so many salads together, in front of so many photographers!!!

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Janelle Monáe + Tessa Thompson

Are they or aren’t they? Were they or weren’t they? Would they tell us if they were? Or if they weren’t? Or if they had been? At this point it honestly doesn’t matter if these two were best friends or a couple. Their alleged romantic dalliances captivated us all year long and we covered them exhaustively.

Janelle officially came out! Tessa officially came out! This year Janelle blessed us with the “Make Me Feel” video, captivating audiences and contributing to the popularity of bisexual lighting. Just when we thought things couldn’t get any gayer, the “Pynk” video happened to us and taught us how two very good friends can enjoy each other’s company while wearing vagina pants.

Even if they’ve broken up, or even if they were never actually together to begin with (they SO were), Tessa Thompson and Janelle Monáe reign supreme as Most Important Gal Pals of 2018.

Tessa, play us off with that song Janelle wrote for you that one time.

No Filter: Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor Have Killed Me and I Am Dead Now, Goodbye

Good evening and welcome back to No Filter, a once-weekly guide to the week in queer celebrity Instagram. We have some urgent new business to attend to:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf6swlFg_ms/

EVEN GRIMES CAN’T HANDLE IT.

https://twitter.com/godlycia/status/970453416282607616?s=21

What if this whole column is just dedicated to Tessa Thompson and Janelle Monáe now? It feels like it’s been a natural progression.

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I STILL CRY EVERY TIME THESE GUYS HANG OUT, I’m fine.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf9Q1ZwllwQ/?taken-by=ddlovato

Demi, I see you and your weird product placement and I’m not even mad at it. Oh, while we’re at it we should check in with Kehlani, her tour mate…

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BgAAx5Pn9sl/?taken-by=kehlani

I feel calmer already.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf9nEVRD1AD/?taken-by=cameronesposito

Love it when a bunch of nerds get together to celebrate esteemed multi-hyphenate Brittani Nichols.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BfuoAFPAscM/?taken-by=gabyroad

I honestly don’t like to include pictures I am in for No Filter because it’s against a personal code of conduct I invented for myself but hey, here I am, being that douchebag. Back story: we were at a vegan restaurant, our waitress was cute and these jerks were pushing me to try to talk to her. Mara asked her if she was really vegan or if she just worked there. She told us, “I swing both ways.” Gaby jumped right in with, “You’ve come to the right table.” I died of embarrassment and disappeared into a poof of smoke. Anyway, I’m always looking for excuses to put Mara Wilson in this column so here’s Mara Wilson, noted bisexual Janelle Monáe enthusiast.

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Normally a photo like this wouldn’t qualify for this column because it is not a camera phone picture, but I cannot improve upon the caption so here we are.

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A post shared by Sarah Paulson (@mssarahcatharinepaulson)

This picture made me want to smack the person next to me, but I was alone so instead I actually shouted, “SHUT THE FUCK UP” to no one.

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A post shared by Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe)

Honestly the Vanity Fair Oscar party is the stuff of dreams and – oh, is that Janelle again? It’s Janelle again.

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Weaponry expert Jenny Owen Youngs gives us a simple lesson in knife appreciation.

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Join us next week, when Jenny will walk us through basic archery.

No Filter: Seriously, Sarah Paulson And Holland Taylor, This Is Too Much

Welcome back to No Filter, a place for friends. This week in Vapid Fluff, Trace Lysette’s flowering plant Margaret is very very ill (I do not have a link; Margaret’s dramatic life mostly plays out in Instagram stories), Caitlyn Jenner is maybe someone’s mommi and Robert Pattinson is avoiding Kristen Stewart because he knows she’s trouble. This is also what I tell myself when I spend a lot of time away from Kristen Stewart. It’s for the best. Also despite what you may have read, as far as we know Janelle Monáe has never publicly confirmed she’s actually queer but we’re about 350% sure she’s currently in a criminally attractive relationship with Tessa Thompson.

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A post shared by Sarah Paulson (@mssarahcatharinepaulson)

These two can do no wrong. I’ve been staring into Sarah Paulson’s deep lovely doe eyes for about 15 minutes.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba1tHxJFYJf/?taken-by=amandlastenberg
Amandla Stenberg is arm wrestling an arcade game and I think I’m okay with it.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BaxyJ_wFTT-/?taken-by=stellamaxwell
Stella Maxwell, bedazzled and virtually unrecognizable.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba1cZFVBVH9/?taken-by=daniebb3
Danielle Brooks sang at a Lea DeLaria show and it was obviously amazing.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laura Jane Grace (@laurajanegrace)

Same.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba6xHhjjsqf/?taken-by=cameronesposito
File under: most predictable, but still oddly pleasing.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne)

Author Cara Delevingne JUMPED OUT OF AN AIRPLANE, wrote SOMETHING on her hand (CANNIE FOREVER???).

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephanie Beatriz (@stephaniebeatriz)

Stephanie Beatriz KILLED ALL OF US.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samira Wiley (@whododatlikedat)

Sometimes I feel like Samira Wiley posts cute selfies on Wednesday to thwart me, but joke’s on her cos now it’s in this week’s No Filter instead.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba7-Jntl_6P/?taken-by=evanrachelwood
This looks like a pair of pajamas my parents had me wear a lot in the 80s but I’m not mad at it even a little bit. I also appreciate how Evan was careful to tag two separate Gal Gadot accounts just in case, because you can never be too careful when trying to get Gal Gadot’s attention.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Daniel Lavery (@daniel_m_lavery)

Mallory Ortberg jumped on the 90s Hot Topic fashion train and boldly showed the world her vest, made of real gorilla chest.

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“Why so serious?”-The Joker 🃏 pic.twitter.com/DwUbIX9G2t

— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) November 1, 2017

Janelle Monáe’s skin remains flawless even under Halloween makeup and she manages to look beautiful even when playing some sort of Joker mime. It’s actually not fair.

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Join us next week, when I guess it’ll be Christmas.

No Filter: Sarah Paulson And Holland Taylor Get Festive

Hello and welcome back to another weekly dose of No Filter, and oh what a week it’s been! This week, the rest of the media finally acknowledged that Kristen Stewart and Stella Maxwell are (almost definitely) dating, and the pair celebrated by going to a Thai grocery and buying some spring rolls:

https://twitter.com/KStewartBR/status/813175665306570752

What’s going on with these famous queer celebrities? Are Cara Delevingne and Amber Heard doin’ it, as the Daily Mail loves to periodically speculate? Maybe! We have a lot to cover, so let’s get to work.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BOcnfgWBxbB/
Lauren Jauregui and her girlfriend Lucy Vives had a pretty fucking cute Christmas despite love being a lie, nobody tell them. Camila Cabello quit Fifth Harmony a couple of weeks ago and according to this very reliable wiki, Camila and Lauren were probably an item at some point. We know this because of definitive proof like, “Camila said if Lauren got arrested for something, she would get arrested for being so sweet.” Anyway, nobody knows anything for sure and hey, Lauren and Lucy look pretty cozy these days.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BOicexSDyTL/
I can’t deal with sweet baby Gaby Dunn as Princess Leia, looking very earnest and ready to defeat the Imperial army and/or get out of jury duty.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Morelli (@lomorelli)

This has been maybe the most heartwarmingly adorable No Filter I’ve ever put together.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BOYZv9tDK1v/
Meanwhile, Brittani Nichols decided to rebrand; she is no longer the Bad Boi of Instagram and is instead leaning more towards Tender Boi for 2017.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephanie Beatriz (@stephaniebeatriz)

Stephanie Beatriz! She’s in London.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne)

Cara Delevingne is a very famous supermodel whose unique look is prized by clothing designers.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BOdVvbhDXna/
Families who do this freak me out, if I’m being real with you.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BOaguHDjglS/
Above-average fondness for Dubsmash and really excellent haircuts seem to run in Evan Rachel Wood’s family.

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Happy Holidays from our house to yours. #GoHigh2017 pic.twitter.com/AfBIB6Obf1

— Sarah Paulson (@MsSarahPaulson) December 26, 2016

I can’t with these two anymore.

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Join us next week, when it’ll finally be 2017 and probably all the celebrities who died this year will rise from the dead. Here’s hopin!

No Filter: Brittani Nichols Didn’t Understand The Assignment

Hello and welcome back to No Filter, your weekly collection of the week in celebrity Instagram. By the time you read this, I’ll be at A-Camp and I don’t know how to deal with that information because as far as I know it’s not on a mountain and I might even have cell reception. What will I do if there’s a bisexual celebrity emergency while I’m there?

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samira Wiley (@whododatlikedat)

Would you like this very intimate look into the relationship between Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli? What could Lauren possibly be texting other than pictures of how cute those two look in robes together?

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brittani Nichols (@bishilarious)

Brittani Nichols plays herself in every single role, so this is both terribly accurate and wildly inaccurate. What were your three? Mine were Strongbad, Oscar the Grouch and George Costanza.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BK12RJRDp0f/
Very Famous Millennial Gaby Dunn was elected Senator of bisexuality this week!

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by St. Vincent (@st_vincent)

Annie Clark has no time for your bullshit. It’s starting to look a whole lot like she and Cara are done, huh? I feel nothing.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Queen Latifah (@queenlatifah)

Queen Latifah is starting her own line of flowers or something? She’s very excited about that but really confused about what she’s doing in this column.

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Finally I get MY copy. What a senSATionally beautiful cover. What a sensational actress! What a thrilling win! Sometimes it turns out right pic.twitter.com/brnyqNDscu

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) September 25, 2016

Would you believe Holland Taylor legit has a shrine to Sarah Paulson in her home? Because I believe it.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jen Richards (@smartassjen)

Jen Richards has got jokes.

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-B.C. Portrait by @NathanJohnsonNY At @ElsieFest 💙⚡️ pic.twitter.com/D1k9kBNCVT

— RebelAndABasketcase (@RebelCase) September 23, 2016

THIS IS A FUCKED UP THING TO DO TO US, EVAN RACHEL WOOD.

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Join us next week, when Queen Latifah comes up with her own line of trees, available at Kohl’s.

No Filter: Holland Taylor And Sarah Paulson Are The Only Proof Love Still Exists

Welcome back to No Filter, a column currently in Situation Room mode. The demise of the tabloid unit previously known as Brangelina has thrown the (mostly heterosexual) vapid fluff internet into panic mode as various esteemed publications attempt to figure out exactly why two very famous strangers decided to not be married anymore. Do we even believe in love anymore?? (No.)

While we are all in a tailspin trying to figure out how to live our lives in the wake of this tragedy, there is one inspiring tale of love that lifts us up and proves that happiness is possible, and that is the love between Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor. Holland’s twitter feed during the Emmys was a goddamn delight.

If I'm watching…?? If I'm WATCHING???
YES, I'm watching–!!!
good LORD! …
I LOVE you!!! pic.twitter.com/63341mz81C

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) September 18, 2016

Seriously, you two.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BKZHravjFaP/
Brittani Nichols knows exactly what we needed this week. Also, her movie Suicide Kale is continuing to win awards all over the place and is probably screening in a city near you, so you should probably check it out.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BKHCPsHjkd2/
Something about how Brad Paisley wants to check her for ticks, I don’t know. Demi Lovato recently told Women’s Health that although “Cool For The Summer” is obvs a pretty gay song, she believes in “experimentation, not labels.” Mey, I’m sorry you had to find out this way.

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https://instagram.com/p/BKXONQUAxMz/
I like it when Carrie Brownstein posts old pictures of herself where her hair is messy and her outfit is sorta geeky because it gives me hope that one day I’ll dress well and look nice.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BKeaOsLh3lW/
I’m not sure I’d spend my birthday at SoulCycle but I’m also not Danielle Brooks. They did get her cupcakes… with little exercise bikes on them.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jiz Lee (@jizlee)

OH OKAY.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gigi Gorgeous Getty (@gigigorgeous)

Gigi Gorgeous and her adorable partner are a very sultry addition to this column.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe)

Your girlfriend Lena Waithe is at the gym. She looks like she likes it there about as much as I do; maybe Danielle Brooks didn’t invite her upstairs for the SoulCycle class.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BKlmBe_j527/

Amandla Stenberg knows you guys are really invested in those kids from Stranger Things! Oh, not that one? OK.

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https://twitter.com/evanrachelwood/status/776322518038609920

Instagram holdout Evan Rachel Wood Bisexual sorta missed the point of this ad, but I’m gonna let it slide. Don’t smoke, kids.

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Join us next week, when Angelina Jolie will probably start dating Demi Lovato and we can all calm down.

Drawn to Comics: Who Should Star in the Captain Marvel Movie?

Last month, Kevin Fiege, who runs the MCU, announced that we’d soon find out who’s playing Captain Marvel in her upcoming movie as well as other members of the cast and the director. Out of excitement and anticipation, I’m going to do a little bit of speculation and say who I’d like to see star in the film. Some of my picks might seem a little strange at first, but I think if you just give them a chance, you’ll end up feeling the same way I do about them.

This movie needs to have a mainly female cast, because, well, it’s Captain Marvel. It should be a movie that’s totally centered around empowering women and showing how awesome and powerful we can be. I’m really, really hoping that they’ll borrow heavily from Kelly Sue DeConnick’s writing of the character, because those are some of the best superhero comics of all time. DeConnick really relaunched the character in a brilliant way and set the tone for her voice and personality that’s still used today. With those two things in mind, here are my picks for the main cast of the Marvel Captain Marvel movie.

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Carol Danvers: Gina Rodriguez

Apart from being a total badass superhero and pilot, Captain Marvel is also a real hero of the people. She’s got a killer smile and she’s fiercely protective of her friends and the people she loves, and she’s not afraid to show them that she loves them. The actor playing her needs to have tons of charisma and spark. Nobody has more of those things than Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez. Plus, with her recent appearance in Women’s Health looking super tough and with that great new haircut, it looks like she’s already working on getting the Captain Marvel look down. I mean, just look at Rodriguez and try to tell me she wouldn’t be perfect for the role. Can’t you just see her flying around, punching dinosaurs, taking care of her pet cat, being friends with cranky old women and inspiring her city? Of course you can. I’d pay a year’s salary to see a Captain Marvel movie starring Gina Rodriguez.

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Jessica Drew: Olivia Thirlby

Jessica is one of Carol’s best friends and she needs to be able to balance a lot of attitude, humor and personality. Thirlby is hilarious and tough (I mean, have you seen Dredd?) and I think she’d have amazing chemistry with Rodriguez’s Danvers. Just imagine how great their banter would be. And hey, it’s always good to introduce another female superhero into the MCU.

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Monica Rambeau: Rutina Wesley

Monica Rambeau is the woman who was Captain Marvel before Carol Danvers was, so I really, really hope she shows up in the MCU too. I think Rutina Wesley, probably best known for playing Tara on True Blood, would be absolutely perfect. Rambeau could show up as someone who’s had powers longer than Danvers and knows what’s going on with all this Kree and Shi’ar alien nonsense and help the younger Danvers out. And more women of color superheroes in the MCU are definitely needed.

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Tracy Burke and Teddy Matthews: Holland Taylor and Jessica Lange

Tracy is Carol’s best friend who isn’t a superhero, and she’s a super awesome lesbian photographer. Teddy is her long term partner and the love of her life. They’re an awesome, funny, cranky elderly lesbian couple who help to humanize Carol, one of the most powerful superheroes in the whole Marvel Universe. I think these two might literally based on Taylor and Lange? Like, just look at the pictures (with a bonus Holland Taylor’s girlfriend, Sarah Paulson, in the picture)!

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Kit: Ella Hampton

One of the great things about DeConnicks’ run was seeing how Carol interacted with the people of her city. She’s a dedicated member of her community and her community helped to make her into the hero she is. One of the best examples is Kit, the young girl who looks up to her and helps inspire her to always do her best. New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world, so why not show that by casting Hampton, who played 8-year-old Soso in Season 2 of Orange is the New Black?

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Deathbird: Zoe Bell

Deathbird is a butt-kicking Shi’ar warrior and Zoe Bell is a butt-kicking stunt woman and actor; they’re a perfect match. With Bell’s great stunt pedigree, we’d be sure to get some jaw-dropping action sequences.

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Yon Rogg: Iko Uwais

Yon Rogg, a Kree warrior who hates Captain Marvel and played a part in her getting her powers, would be the token male in the cast, so I wanted to make sure I picked someone great. Honestly, Uwais is the best action star in the world right now, and I’m just dying for him to become the international superstar he deserves to be. It would be great to see the kind of fight scenes we get with Uwais, the star of The Raid films, playing the main villain.

Who do you think should star in the Captain Marvel film?

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New Releases (May 25)

Batgirl #52

DC Comics Bombhsells #13

Secret Six #14

Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot/Katana #5

We Are Robin #12

Jem & The Holograms #15

Orphan Black Helsinki #5

X-Files #2

Monstress #6

Octopus Pie TP Vol 4

Captain Marvel #5

Mighty Thor #7

Mockingbird #3

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #7

Ms. Marvel #7

Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #6

Star Wars #19

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #8

Weirdworld #6

Another Castle #3

Jonesy #4

Princeless Raven the Pirate Princess #8

Steven Universe & The Crystal Gems

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Welcome to Drawn to Comics! From diary comics to superheroes, from webcomics to graphic novels – this is where we’ll be taking a look at comics by, featuring and for queer ladies. So whether you love to look at detailed personal accounts of other people’s lives, explore new and creative worlds, or you just love to see hot ladies in spandex, we’ve got something for you.

If you have a comic that you’d like to see me review, you can email me at mey [at] autostraddle [dot] com.

Pop Culture Fix: Sarah Paulson Has Always Been In Love With Older Women, Deal With It

Welcome to your weekly Pop Culture Fix, the place where we talk about famous women kissing other famous women, IRL and on teevee.

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Queer People Doing Things In the Big Gay World

+ NYT profiled Sarah Paulson today. In the interview she swoons so hard over Holland Taylor you’re going to need to ready yourself on your fainting couch before you click this link.

“There’s a poignancy to being with someone older,” she observed. “I think there’s a greater appreciation of time and what you have together and what’s important, and it can make the little things seem very small. It puts a kind of sharp light mixed with a sort of diffused light on something. I can’t say it any other way than there’s a poignancy to it, and a heightened sense of time and the value of time.”

And:

“If my life choices had to be predicated based on what was expected of me from a community on either side, that’s going to make me feel really straitjacketed, and I don’t want to feel that,” she said. “What I can say absolutely is that I am in love, and that person happens to be Holland Taylor.”

The whole thing is fascinating, one of the best interviews I’ve ever read with Sarah Paulson, who has often been at least a little cagey when talking about her girlfriends with the press. Not anymore!

+ Ellen Page is all locked into be the keynote speaker at SXSW. She’ll be talking about “the equality movement and cultural attitudes towards LGBT people.”

+ In a HuffPo Live interview, Lita Ford said she quit The Runaways when she found out everyone was a lesbian, but then she came right back when she realized being a lesbian’s actually not a big deal (and also she didn’t want them to go on to be big huge superstars without her).

“I didn’t know anything about [being gay], and it was still in the closet. Nobody came out and said, I’m gay. When I found out that the girls were all gay in the band, I wasn’t sure how to take it. I didn’t know what it was.”

You can listen to the whole interview right here.

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Moving Pictures on the Teevee Screen

+ Orange Is the New Black released a few seconds of new footage in this season four trailer Netflix cut to clown on the Oscars. Looks like Sophia is still in SHU and a riot is on the way. OITNB will return to our open arms on June 17!

https://youtu.be/dtC8y6YmgpY

+ Robin Roberts stopped by Ellen on Monday and it’s the first time I’ve seen her talking so openly and casually about her partner! (Also, Ellen has a cold; it’s very sad.)

+ The women of Broad City are featured on the cover of Out magazine this month in a story called “How Broad City Became the Greatest Show on Television.” My goodness, what an audacious claim! I like it! I like talking about women taking over comedy! I also like talking about how everyone is gay.

Glazer: It’s a privilege that we get to be this fluid. Also, women’s sexuality—women’s queerdom—is much less threatening to the mainstream than men’s.

Jacobson: It shouldn’t be.

Glazer: But I think straight men are uncomfortable, thinking that their dicks might quiver if they’re watching a gay dude.

Jacobson: I think when people watch it, they’re like, “What’s the deal?” [with the sexual ambiguity] but it shouldn’t be a deal. It’s like, why can’t anyone hook up with whoever they want?

Glazer: When we were pitching, Amy was like, “Everyone under 30 is gay,” but this was, like, five years ago. Now I think everyone under 40 is gay or fluid—the mentality is different. It’s cool that this show is marking time.

+ Are you watching Fuller House? If so, good news! It has already been renewed for a second season.

+ Angela Bassett’s husband didn’t know she was going to be scissoring with Lady Gaga on American Horror Story: Hotel until he saw it happening on the television.

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Just Keep Swimming to the Movie Theater

+ Oh hey, a new Finding Dory trailer is here! (The movie opens on June 17.)

+ Well, apparently Cruel Intentions is getting a remake. A TV one on NBC. Drop Dead Diva‘s Kate Levering will play  Annette. No word yet on who will play Kathryn or Cecile, or how much they’ll smooch on the lips.

+ Jane Lynch will star in Christopher Guests’s new Netflix comedy later this year. (Duh.)

+ Get’cha head in the game! High School Musical 4 is in the works!

No Filter: Did You Give Cara Delevingne This Baby?

Welcome back to No Filter, the column that best shows off what an intellectually stimulating life I lead. I spend all week lurking your favorite celebrities and choosing their best Instagram posts for this column, but what about the famous people who don’t have Instagram? What about the Kristen Stewarts of the world, who probably take the most amazing bathroom selfies and never even bother to share them with their adoring (greedy) public? Evan Rachel Wood, when will you get an Instagram?

Anyway I thought we could stand to take a look at this slightly dated portrait of what Holland Taylor was looking at when the clock struck midnight a few weeks ago:

Happy New Year! pic.twitter.com/aQ86w3DcQK

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) January 1, 2016

Sarah Paulson, I like your style. Anyway, let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about Samira Wiley.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samira Wiley (@whododatlikedat)

Mission accomplished.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ellen DeGeneres (@ellendegeneres)

Ellen and Portia acquired a dog, and he looks like he’d be best buddies with Patter Page.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe)

This is what your girlfriend Lena Waithe looked like when she hopped into the limo to pick you up for the Critics Choice Awards.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BAqCAIUsZRa/
Ruby Rose is on a boat. There she is.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BAY63slK6RV/
I thought maybe we could talk about Brittani Nichols’ hair situation.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Laura Jane Grace (@laurajanegrace)

Or maybe we could talk about Laura Jane Grace being cute as a goddamn button.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BAdwCA9wTVp/
Remember last week, when St. Vincent was incredibly broken up about the death of David Bowie and Cara Delevingne was posting the sweetest messages to cheer her up? Looks like it worked. Also, they found this baby. Is anybody missing a baby?

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We close obviously with the most important thing that’s ever happened to social media, Ellen Page’s appreciation of our Presidential Candidates Who Dress Like Lesbians article. Moe Stanton would like for you to know that there is nothing gay about wearing flannel, or reading a queer women’s website, or being Ellen Page.

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Join us next week, when Ellen Page posts a screenshot of THIS SENTENCE and this whole thing gets even more meta.

Top 9 Celeb Couples of 2015: The Gal Pals That Made Our Year

All things considered, 2015 was a pretty great year for the Vapid Fluff community, where celebrities dated or broke up with each other and we breathlessly reported it as though these people were our actual friends and their relationships affected our actual lives in some way. If you’re like me, you are probably still somewhere in the middle of the Kubler-Ross stages of grief regarding the apparent demise of the relationship between reluctant wolf-person Kristen Stewart and her cute Tumblr friend Alicia Cargile. Even though love is a lie and we all inevitably die alone, here are some adorable couples who continued to fascinate us all year long.

Jasika Nicole and Claire Savage

Out actress Jasika Nicole and her photographer wife Claire Savage are living some kind of queer Martha Stewart fantasy life, filled with gluten-free home-baked goods, handmade clothes and an adorable pit bull named Rosie. The pair married in 2013 but spent most of 2015 being perfect and adorable.

Hannah Hart and Ingrid Nilsen

Dedicated fans of YouTubers Hannah Hart and Ingrid Nilsen figured this out long before the couple were ready to announce that they were in fact a thing, but Hart finally spilled the proverbial beans in an interview with DIVA Magazine. Describing Nilsen as “one of the most brilliant, soulful people I’ve ever met,” Hart explained how their relationship developed from an initial friendship into something more. The pair went on to enjoy many food-related Instagram puns.

Julia Nunes and Dannielle Owens-Reid

If you have seen two human beings more disgustingly besotted with one another than Julia and Dannielle, please let me know. Julia managed to capture the early moments of giddy infatuation she shared with Dannielle on her new song “Make Out.”

Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli

Since their relationship became public knowledge in 2014, the Orange is the New Black actress and writer (respectively) have continued being lowkey totally charming on Instagram.

Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher

If you aren’t here for Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher, I don’t know what to tell you. These hilarious humans aren’t just engaged, they’re BFFs and business partners. They tour together and even collaborated on this amazing Butch-Ups pinup calendar, which is currently sold out and now I don’t know how to go on.

Annie Clark and Cara Delevingne

These two haven’t been as demonstrative on social media as they once were, but we do know that Cara’s been spending time at the Mexican restaurant Annie’s family recently opened in Texas. They hold a special place in our hearts because of that time Cara got Annie a guitar signed by friggin’ David Bowie.

Beth Ditto and Kristin Ogata

We didn’t start covering these guys in No Filter until a couple of weeks ago, which is a grievous error on our part. Beth and Kristin look like they’re always having the best day ever in just about every single picture.

Ellen Page and Samantha Thomas

Despite at least two commenters on Instagram who are pretty sure Samantha Thomas can’t possibly really be Ellen’s girlfriend, these two flawless babes have been adorably smitten with each other for several months now. Lately, they can be seen taking long walks on the beach with their rescue dog. They are living my dream life.

Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson

Peggy Peabody and Hypodermic Sally wisely chose to sneak in just under the wire, becoming the sleeper hit gal pals of 2015. Their relationship seems to consist primarily of attending plays and museums, sending each other flowers and complimenting each other on Twitter. We should all be so lucky.

29 Excerpts From Super-Cool Comments Left On Mainstream Media Stories About Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson

Once upon a time (last week) we were 99% positive that Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson were dating and The Daily Fail noticed and wrote about it (citing us) and then the mainstream media caught on, ET Online allegedly found somebody to confirm it, and the entire mass media had chance to weigh in (not citing us). Something about this pairing, the age difference, and the actresses in it are bringing out some really special responses — some from lesbians, some from straight people, and some from Two and Half Men fandom.

Here are bits from some of those comments, ripped mercilessly out of context for your viewing enjoyment.

1. I would like to see Holland Taylor(Evelyn Harper) with her own comedy show & Conchata Ferrell(Berta)

2. I didn’t know either was gay. I don’t really keep up with that sort of thing. Just TV shows and movies.

3. Holland and Sarah are both such elegant women one can definitely see what they see in each other…I loved Holland in L Word…I can imagine the quintessential New York lifestyle…the theatre, the art galleries

4. “Let’s see how cute it is in 10 or 15 years…”

[same commenter, a few minutes later]

“So many ifs”

5. Holland Taylor, the older lady was the mother on Two and a half Men. She was hilarious on the show!

6. Just wonder what Charlie thinks about it…that would be an interesting 2 1/2 men episode…

7. Don’t use the word GUSHING when talking bout these clam diggers…

8. I’m in shock i mean literally.

9. Shame on those that say their relationship is disgusting. Love is about more than sex. Grow up.

10. They look like mother and daughter. It is their business, of course, but they do not seem that they’d have anything in common.

11. This couple is very cute, but I think I squeed a bit more over Lin-Manuel. Just a weird, ‘me’ personal thing *Sigh* The man is too adorable.

12. I’m jealous. I wanted to date Holland Taylor. But … mazel tov.

13. Lol, gross. One of them is going to die soon.

14. Are they related to Casper the ghost. Yikes!!!!

15. Finally! A contemporary celebrity couple to care about and cheer on. Nice, fun article but… “dating” doesn’t seem the appropriate word for what’s going on between these two. This is a forever kind of love, methinks. A serious, solid, joyful coupling.

16. like wine, the older you get, the tastier you become

17. What!!? You go gurl. Cougar, meow. Love them both.

18. She’s in her seventies. BTW anybody who needs to put down any person with the word ‘yuck’ must have some serious mental issues. So sorry for you not getting any lately but you seriously need some hormones.

19. Who? and Who???

20. Taylor was fantastic as the realtor Mom in Two and a Half Men. Loved her and Bertha’s characters. When her show’s grandson asked her to take him to Disneyland she answered, “No, Dear. Grandmama doesn’t do Anaheim”.

21. “It’s me, Lana Banana”

22. Did you not read the comments on Mary Kate Ashley and her new husband, whatever his name is…

23. They could do it around her real-estate maybe like a camera crew follows her around some time, like Million dollar listing L.A.

24. I think the hardest thing for a young lesbian is getting older women to take interest in you. Sarah Paulson, I bow my hat to you.

25. I may be straight, but I’m totally jealous. SP is an incredible actress and soooo freaking gorgeous! You can feel their happiness; joy is contagious! Warm fuzzies for the rest of the night!

26. I’m sure if it were a 72-year-old dude and a 40-year-old chick, heads would be rolling, but no, in this case it’s ‘cute’ because gay is the new black. Say anything to the contrary then prepare to have your life ruined by George Takei and his minions.

27. Leave them alone. On another note, Holland looks absolutely stunning.

28. She was awesome in Bosom Buddies!!! Remember back when they played the ENTIRE song for the opening credits…. and commercial breaks lasted 60 seconds….

29. my neighbor’s mother-in-law Jane A. Flynn makes $63 every hour on the laptop . She has been out of work for 7 months but last month her pay check was $16646 just working on the laptop for a few hours. hop over to this web-site….

Pop Culture Fix: Transparent S2 Getting Even Queerer, Holland Taylor & Sarah Paulson Getting Even Cuter

Hello and welcome to the pop culture fix, your weekly look at all the important pop culture stories you need to know about. You are honestly so lucky to be here, now, with me, reading this. I’m so glad we decided to this together on the very same day that I ran out of fruit snacks.

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Transparent

+ If you would like to torture yourself by watching one episode of Transparent Season Two before the rest of the episodes are actually released, you can do that! Episode 201 is available now on Amazon Prime, and you can read Mey’s take on it here.

+ Mey Rude spent eight hours on the set of Transparent and is writing all about it for you in an Autostraddle article we’re all looking forward to! In the meantime, a Buzzfeed writer apparently spent 48 hours on the set of Transparent and you can read all about that in “48 Hours On The First Trans-Centric Set In The Heart of Hollywood.”

+ Kayla’s writing a thing for Autostraddle about what you can expect in Season Two of Transparent which we’re all looking forward to! In the meantime, AfterEllen has a piece about how Syd and Ali will be giving lesbian love a chance this season. I can’t tell you anything more than that because I hate spoilers so I only read the headline and the spoiler warning before fleeing AfterEllen in a hot panic, as we do.

+ Hari Nef, the first transgender model signed to IMG and a guest star on Season Two of Transparent, talks to The New York Times about coming out and playing a Pfefferman from a time long ago.

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Famous People Are More Important Than Other People

+ Holland Taylor spoke openly about her relationships with women on WNYC last week AND ALSO Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson are girlfriends and it’s ADORABLE. They’ve been dating for about four months, as their respective twitter feeds have made fairly clear (here’s Sarah’s and here’s Holland’s.)

+ The Advocate is honoring 40 Under 40 in its new issue, which features Tyler Oakley on the cover. The only woman up on the site so far is bisexual bipolar musician Halsey. She’s awesome and you should read about her!

+ Wanda Sykes was on Ellen yesterday!

+ Here are 12 Queer Hip-Hop Artists for you.

+ Kristen Kish wears sweatpants and a t-shirt when she’s cooking at home.

+ Serena Williams, Amy Schumer, Patti Smith and Yao Chen model for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar.

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Teevee and The Movies

+ “Kilgrave is the abuser that so many victims of abuse are familiar with: Everyone on the outside sees a charming, friendly, affable man. On the inside, within his relationships, he is completely and totally in control. And just like real life, he doesn’t see anything wrong with what he does.”

+ 10 TV Events to look forward to in December: Yael Stone in a cool-looking new SyFy mini-series, Netflix’s true crime series that’ll fill a Jinx-sized hole in our hearts, The Wiz and an Empire-ish Christmas special.

+ On the art of splitting one book into two films.

+ There was a secret meeting about Gender Bias in Hollywood and I’m pretty sure our invitations got lost in the mail.

+ The Daily Beast talks to Carrie-Ann Moss about playing Marvel’s first lesbian character.

Holland Taylor Has a Girlfriend, Is Hopefully Writing Fabulous, Tortured Love Poems

Holland Taylor, an actress best known to the lesbian community as either Peggy Peabody in The L Word, Mrs. Petrie in D.E.B.S or Professor Stromwell in Legally Blonde, appeared on WYNC’s “Death, Sex and Money” podcast last week. In her interview with podcast host Anna Sale, Holland Taylor revealed that as she enters her eighth decade of life on this earth, she’s become increasingly interested in developing deeper and more meaningful relationships, including romantic ones. For example, the romantic relationship she is in right now WITH A WOMAN:

But now, at 72, Holland says that without that period of breakdown, she wouldn’t have been able to get where she is today—in her first-ever deeply committed relationship. “It’s the most wonderful extraordinary thing that could have ever possibly happened in my life,” she says. Holland didn’t want to discuss her partner’s identity in detail, nor did she want to turn her own sexuality into a political conversation (“I haven’t come out because I am out,” she says, adding, “I live out.”). But she did share that she’s with a younger woman—and that they’ve started to talk about marriage. “Given my generation it would not be something that would automatically occur to me,” Holland says, adding, “But as a symbol, as a pledge, as a plighting one’s troth, it would be a wonderful thing to do.”

ETA: Although Taylor declined to reveal the identity of her girlfriend, it has since been confirmed that the lucky lady is, indeed, out actress Sarah Paulson.

My reaction to this news can best be described as “shock” followed by “elation” followed by “shocked elation.”

Taylor is an enormously prolific actress who has been working in theater, film and television since the 1960’s. She got her start in theater, and in 1983 was declared by New York Magazine theatre critic John Simon as “one of the few utterly graceful, attractive, elegant and technically accomplished actresses in our theatre.” In 2013, she was nominated for a Best Actress Tony for her starring role in the solo show Ann, which she also wrote, about Texas governor Ann Richards.

More recently she’s become a household name for her role in the terrible television show Two and a Half Men, and other memorable recurring roles include parts in The Powers That Be, Bosom Buddies and The Practice. Movie roles include Spy Kids 2, Baby Mama,The Truman Show, One Fine Day, Legally Blonde, To Die For and George of the Jungle.

In the podcast, Taylor says she’s always been a bit of a loner who thrived while working and felt lost when work was slow. She spoke about always financially supporting herself, and how horrified she felt many decades ago when her then-boyfriend suggested getting married — she never wanted to marry, having seen that particular arrangement work out so poorly for her own mother, whose husband was an alcoholic. “I knew I wanted to be very free agent, and travel, and not really be beholden to anyone,” she tells Sale.

She explains that now, at this stage in her life, she finally feels prepared to give a relationship the care it deserves, and that she finds the experience exciting, both emotionally and intellectually. Sale asks Taylor if she’s enticed by marriage, which is when Taylor reveals that her current relationship is with a woman, as an entry point to discussing the fact that same-sex marriage is a new concept for her generation. However, she tells Sale that if she were to get married, she would do so privately. She says that although most of her relationships have been with women, but she’s hesitated to speak about it because she’s “not political.”

Furthermore, it seems safe to say that her girlfriend got her a bunch of roses on Valentine’s Day:

By day-the shortcomings of the phone are glaring. The blood velvet, the lushness, well– I can't tell you.
Smitten. pic.twitter.com/Z0PmQPN1p0

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) February 15, 2015

Holland Taylor is currently appearing Off-Broadway in “Ripcord.” She’s also been spending a lot of time engaging in hijinks with aforementioned Sarah Paulson, if her twitter feed is any indication…

In conclusion:

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ETA:

When captions fail… pic.twitter.com/b6ECRSA6D3

— Holland Taylor (@HollandTaylor) November 17, 2015