Profile: Ilene Chaiken
Ilene Chaiken is the creator and executive producer of Showtime's groundbreaking hit series The L Word, about lesbian life in Los Angeles. In 2006, she received the GLAAD Media Award recognizing The L Word as an Outstanding Drama Series. Chaiken currently resides in Los Angeles with her eleven-year-old twin daughters.

―There are a lot of direct criticisms of Bush and fundamental Christians in The L Word. Were you the subject of any protests because of this?

Not that I'm aware. You know, there might have been some, but I tend not to pay too much attention because so much is said, and written, about the show. If I listened to it all, it would make me crazy (laughs). Therefore I try to not pay too much attention to every nuance of how people respond.

―In what ways do you think The L Word has changed the lives of lesbians?

I think that The L Word has just reflected lifestyles, and it has given people the freedom and the courage to be more open about who we are. I think that makes a big difference. Gays have been forced to stay in the closet for so long, that to be given the confidence to be honest about who you are is a very important thing.

―What are some reactions from straight audiences?

We have a lot of straight fans, straight women especially. Because, the truth is, it's not just lesbians who are represented - it's women. The characters in the show, are women first before lesbians. I get feedback from a lot of straight women. They feel that their stories have been told as they haven't been told before, and that they really relate to and identify with many of the stories and the characters.

―Do men also watch the show?

I'm told that there's a large male audience as well. And I think that they watch for many numbers of reasons (laughs).

―(laughs) Yes.

But also, what's most gratifying about it is that there are men who may have initially watched just because they thought it was a sexy idea, but many of them have stayed. That's because they really like the characters and the story.

―Do you feel like it's become easier to be a lesbian nowadays?

I think it depends a little bit on where we are, but I wouldn't say that it's easy to be lesbian. I think we still live in a culture where it's very hard to be gay and where we've been deprived of our rights in many ways. There are places and ways - and choices that some of us are able to make - in which it's not so difficult. But I think that the larger story is that we still have a very big and difficult fight ahead of us and I wouldn't want to ever make the mistake of saying, "Oh, it’s not a big deal".

―Do you think it's more difficult to be a gay man or a lesbian?

I think that's a complex question. On the one hand, men have privileges that women don't have. Women overall are still so oppressed in this culture and so excluded, that I think probably the larger answer would be it's more difficult to be lesbian, because it's more difficult to be a woman. But I do think that in this culture, people have a fear of men, and they fear gay men more than they fear lesbians. There's a bizarre horror about gay men.

―Do you have a favorite lesbian bar or club in LA ?

(laughs) Um, no.. I don't go out that much, although I do like the Falcon.

―Right! In some episodes, I heard a character suggesting that they go to the Falcon.

I think I might have actually said that (laughs). The names have to be true about Los Angeles.

―Do you have a favorite lesbian movie?

I liked "High Art". There are many movies I like because I am a lesbian, but are not necessarily lesbian movies.

Last question, what advice would you give to Japanese lesbians who can't yet be out at work or in their families?

I don't feel that I'm in any position to give advice. But I'd like to give encouragement. I'd like to encourage patience, and encourage women in Japan to find community. They should build community until they feel safe enough to actually come out. I think the community is the most important thing and it's certainly not something that any of us wants to do without.