Q&A: Lra Lney on Her Return to ‘Tal of the Cy,' Beg a ‘Mi' Gay In & Movg Beyond the Straight, Whe Girl - Pri Source

Contents:

• Q&A: LRA LNEY ON HER RETURN TO ‘TAL OF THE CY,’ BEG A ‘MI’ GAY IN & MOVG BEYOND THE STRAIGHT, WHE GIRL
• THE ORIGAL ‘TAL OF THE CY’ WAS A GAY RIGHTS TRAILBLAZER
• LRA LNEY SAYS WE ARE "HER PEOPLE." WHO ARE WE TO DISAGREE?{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY SNICKSAUGT 16, 2010/12:58 PMBY SNICKSAUGT 16, 2010 / 12:58 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LRA LNEY SAYS WE ARE \"HER PEOPLE.\" WHO ARE WE TO DISAGREE?","DATEPUBLISHED":"2010-08-16T16:58:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2010-08-16T16:58:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SNICKS","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN I WROTE LAST MONTH ABOUT AN UNEXPECTED ENUNTER AT THE TELEVISN CRICS ASSOCIATN SUMMER TOUR WH LRA LNEY, THE STAR OF SHOWTIME'S THE BIG C, I SAID THAT SHE WASN'T JT THE NICT CELEBRY I'D EVER MET, BUT QUE POSSIBLY ONE OF THE NICT PEOPLE I'D EVER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER ALL, WHEN SHE NOTICED ME STANDG BY MYSELF WAG TO TERVIEW SOMEONE ELSE (SOMETHG LNEY DIDN'T KNOW), SHE FIRST WAVED HELLO AT ME AND THEN PULLED ME TO THE NVERSATN SHE WAS HAVG WH IENDS. WHEN I TRODUCED MYSELF AND SAID I EDED A SE FOR GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN, LNEY GRNED WILY AND EXCLAIMED, "MY PEOPLE!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TST ME, THIS IS NOT NORMAL CELEBRY BEHAVR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GIVEN THAT I MET HER AT A PRS EVENT, THE POSSIBILY WASN'T LOST ON ME THAT, AS NICE AS LNEY MIGHT BE HER PERSONAL LIFE, PERHAPS SHE WAS PERFORMG A B AS WELL. HOW BETTER TO GET ME TO WRE ABOUT HER NEW SHOW THAN BY DAZZLG ME WH ATTENTN?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN I READ THIS NEW YORK TIM MAGAZE PROFILE OF LNEY AND TURNS OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THKS LNEY IS ALMOST SURREALLY KD, GRAC AND TELLIGENT.  INED, SOUNDS AS IF ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS MET THE TONY AND OSR NOMATED ACTRS FEELS THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR THOSE NOT FAIAR WH LNEY OR HER NNECTN TO THE GAY MUNY, HERE IS SOME BACKGROUND. LONG BEFORE WILL TMAN MET GRACE ADLER OR CARRIE BRADFORD MET STANFORD BLATCH, A NAïVE GIRL OM THE MIDWT NAMED MARY ANN SGLETON MOVED TO SAN FRANCIS AND MET A GAY MAN NAMED MICHAEL ‘MOE’ TOLLIVER THE ARMISTEAD MP NOVEL TAL OF THE CY. AND 1993, LNEY BROUGHT MARY ANN TO LIFE THE PBS SERI BASED ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT LIBLE PERFORMANCE PROMPTED A GENERATN OF GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN TO FALL LOVE WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE IENDSHIPS BETWEEN GAY MEN AND STRAIGHT WOMEN ARE SO MON ON TELEVISN TODAY AS TO BE A STEREOTYPE, SUCH WASN’T THE SE BACK THE EARLY 90S WHEN THE ACTORS STARRG TAL WERE ACTUALLY DOG SOMETHG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHILE LNEY IS MOST ABOUT , THE ROLE OF MARY ANN MA HER SOMETHG OF AN IN FOR MANY GAY MEN. “NOT FULL-FLEDGED,” SAYS LNEY TO A GROUP OF REPORTERS. “KD OF A MI. MORE OF AN ITE. I LIKE THAT. I'VE GOT A LTLE SPARKLE, A LTLE SASS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY BRGS THAT SAME SPARKLE AND SASS TO HER NEW SHOWTIME DRAMA, THE BIG C BUTG AUGT 16TH AT 10:30 PM EDT. IN THE NEW SERI, LNEY PLAYS CATHY JAMISON, A FORTY-SOMETHG WOMAN WHO LEARNS SHE HAS CURABLE NCER AND LIKELY LS THAN TWO YEARS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN LNEY IS TOLD THAT FOR FANS OF TAL OF THE CY, SHE’S MORE THAN JT AN IN-ETTE, LNEY S AND SAYS, “TAL OF THE CY FANS ARE THE GREATT FANS ON THE PLA. THEY JT ARE. THEY ARE KD AND EFFIVE AND LOVG AND BRIGHT. IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB I'VE EVER HAD AND THE BT TIME I'VE EVER HAD DOG ANYTHG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY ALSO DID THE TAL SEQUELS MORE TAL OF THE CY AND FURTHER TAL OF THE CY (BOTH OF WHICH AIRED ON SHOWTIME AFTER PBS BACKED OUT DUE TO CRICISM OM THE RELIG RIGHT) AND THE IENDSHIPS SHE FORMED FILMG BOTH ARE STILL WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“A LOT OF MY BT IENDS THE WORLD ARE TAL PEOPLE,” SAYS LNEY. “ARMISTEAD AND I ARE EXTREMELY CLOSE. STANLEY DESANTIS, WHO IS SADLY NO LONGER ALIVE, WAS ONE OF MY BT IENDS. ALAN POUL WHO PRODUCED HAS DIRECTED SOME OF OUR EPISOS ON THE BIG C. TAL IS A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE THAT I'M SO PROUD OF.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY REMEMBERS THE AIDS CRISIS WELL AND LOST A NUMBER OF IENDS TO THE DISEASE. DID ALG WH ATH AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE HELP HER E TO TERMS WH HER OWN MORTALY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I THK THAT'S SOMETHG YOU LEARN AND LEARN OVER AGA,” SAYS LNEY THOUGHTFULLY. “EVEN NOW, WHEN I'VE LOST SO MANY IENDS OVER THE YEARS, I STILL N'T WRAP MY BRA AROUND . IT STILL DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT DON’T MEAN THAT PLAYG THE ROLE OF A DYG WOMAN IS HARD FOR LNEY. “IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN MORE POSIVE THAN ANYTHG ELSE,” SHE SAYS. “THE RE REMR IS THERE'S A CERTA AMOUNT OF TIME, ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE. IT DO SORT OF REALIGN MY THKG A HEALTHIER WAY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY DON’T THK HER SHOW IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD NCER THEMSELV OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS SUFFERED THE DISEASE. SAYS LNEY, “IT'S ABOUT ANYONE WHO HAS AN ILLNS, ALL OF MY IENDS WHO I LOST TO AIDS, ANYONE WHO HAS A LIFE-THREATENG ILLNS, OR WHO IS AROUND , WILL BE ABLE TO RELATE AND WILL REGNIZE THGS. YOU ULD SUBSTUTE NCER FOR MANY OTHER DISEAS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN TOLD THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE NCER “FUNNY,” LNEY DISAGRE STRONGLY: “NO, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT. IT'S A EDY ABOUT A WOMAN WHO HAS NCER. IT'S NOT A EDY ABOUT NCER. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. IT'S A EDY ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE STRIPPED OF EVERYTHG YOU THOUGHT WAS GOG TO BE TE, AND THAT'S WHERE I FD EDY TO BE REALLY TERTG, WHEN OM THAT SORT OF LIMBO.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY ALSO SAYS THE SHOW ISN’T ABOUT HAVG NCER, BUT SOMETHG MORE IMPORTANT. “IT'S ABOUT TIME,” SHE SAYS, MAKG CLEAR SHE HAS THOUGHT EPLY ABOUT THE SUBJECT. “WHAT DO YOU DO WH YOUR TIME? HOW DO YOU E THE TIME YOU HAVE? AND 'S ABOUT THE PRIVILEGE OF AGG, MORE THAN ANYTHG, FOR ME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANKFULLY, VIEWERS SHOULD HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHG LNEY FOR MANY YEARS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE BIG C AIRS ON SHOWTIME MONDAYS AT 10:30 PM EDT. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Q&A: LRA LNEY ON HER RETURN TO ‘TAL OF THE CY,’ BEG A ‘MI’ GAY IN & MOVG BEYOND THE STRAIGHT, WHE GIRL

” There were a lot of gay characters Tal, that was kd of the pot, but my books were never the 70s, Warner Brothers bought the optns, and I got a T-shirt ma that said: “Soon to be major motn picture. Mp surround this woman dog for herself wh a wi array of gay, queer, and trans characters, all of whom help Mary Ann self-actualize. When openly gay thor Armistead Mp’s beloved “Tal of the Cy” novels were origally adapted to a seri that aired on PBS 1994, the mystic grounds opened their doors to a muny of LGBTQ pariahs who hadn’t found their people yet – or themselv.

“Tal of the Cy” has ma you a b of a gay in, hasn’t ? What was to be LGBTQ 1990 is very different than 2019, and what means to be eher gay or trans or non-bary or queer.

Mp, who is openly gay, reunted when he and Lney ro the 2003 gay-pri para San Francis, they sed and waved to the crowd: "Unr her breath, Lra was sgg, 'We're two lonely people a r.

THE ORIGAL ‘TAL OF THE CY’ WAS A GAY RIGHTS TRAILBLAZER

Both the lumns and the seri were s ahead of s time, prentg male gay and bisexual characters who kissed on mera and had sex bathho.

She was Alice a gay Wonrland. Addnally, “Rocketeer” star Billy Campbell was st agast type as gay gyno Jon Fieldg. Wh Mp on board as an executive producer, the seri prents gay characters who feel margalized by the “crypto-currency” tans who now n the former playground for Ameri’s outsts yet they still do their thg.

LRA LNEY SAYS WE ARE "HER PEOPLE." WHO ARE WE TO DISAGREE?{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY SNICKSAUGT 16, 2010/12:58 PMBY SNICKSAUGT 16, 2010 / 12:58 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LRA LNEY SAYS WE ARE \"HER PEOPLE.\" WHO ARE WE TO DISAGREE?","DATEPUBLISHED":"2010-08-16T16:58:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2010-08-16T16:58:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SNICKS","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN I WROTE LAST MONTH ABOUT AN UNEXPECTED ENUNTER AT THE TELEVISN CRICS ASSOCIATN SUMMER TOUR WH LRA LNEY, THE STAR OF SHOWTIME'S THE BIG C, I SAID THAT SHE WASN'T JT THE NICT CELEBRY I'D EVER MET, BUT QUE POSSIBLY ONE OF THE NICT PEOPLE I'D EVER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER ALL, WHEN SHE NOTICED ME STANDG BY MYSELF WAG TO TERVIEW SOMEONE ELSE (SOMETHG LNEY DIDN'T KNOW), SHE FIRST WAVED HELLO AT ME AND THEN PULLED ME TO THE NVERSATN SHE WAS HAVG WH IENDS. WHEN I TRODUCED MYSELF AND SAID I EDED A SE FOR GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN, LNEY GRNED WILY AND EXCLAIMED, "MY PEOPLE!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TST ME, THIS IS NOT NORMAL CELEBRY BEHAVR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GIVEN THAT I MET HER AT A PRS EVENT, THE POSSIBILY WASN'T LOST ON ME THAT, AS NICE AS LNEY MIGHT BE HER PERSONAL LIFE, PERHAPS SHE WAS PERFORMG A B AS WELL. HOW BETTER TO GET ME TO WRE ABOUT HER NEW SHOW THAN BY DAZZLG ME WH ATTENTN?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN I READ THIS NEW YORK TIM MAGAZE PROFILE OF LNEY AND TURNS OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THKS LNEY IS ALMOST SURREALLY KD, GRAC AND TELLIGENT.  INED, SOUNDS AS IF ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS MET THE TONY AND OSR NOMATED ACTRS FEELS THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR THOSE NOT FAIAR WH LNEY OR HER NNECTN TO THE GAY MUNY, HERE IS SOME BACKGROUND. LONG BEFORE WILL TMAN MET GRACE ADLER OR CARRIE BRADFORD MET STANFORD BLATCH, A NAïVE GIRL OM THE MIDWT NAMED MARY ANN SGLETON MOVED TO SAN FRANCIS AND MET A GAY MAN NAMED MICHAEL ‘MOE’ TOLLIVER THE ARMISTEAD MP NOVEL TAL OF THE CY. AND 1993, LNEY BROUGHT MARY ANN TO LIFE THE PBS SERI BASED ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT LIBLE PERFORMANCE PROMPTED A GENERATN OF GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN TO FALL LOVE WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE IENDSHIPS BETWEEN GAY MEN AND STRAIGHT WOMEN ARE SO MON ON TELEVISN TODAY AS TO BE A STEREOTYPE, SUCH WASN’T THE SE BACK THE EARLY 90S WHEN THE ACTORS STARRG TAL WERE ACTUALLY DOG SOMETHG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHILE LNEY IS MOST ABOUT , THE ROLE OF MARY ANN MA HER SOMETHG OF AN IN FOR MANY GAY MEN. “NOT FULL-FLEDGED,” SAYS LNEY TO A GROUP OF REPORTERS. “KD OF A MI. MORE OF AN ITE. I LIKE THAT. I'VE GOT A LTLE SPARKLE, A LTLE SASS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY BRGS THAT SAME SPARKLE AND SASS TO HER NEW SHOWTIME DRAMA, THE BIG C BUTG AUGT 16TH AT 10:30 PM EDT. IN THE NEW SERI, LNEY PLAYS CATHY JAMISON, A FORTY-SOMETHG WOMAN WHO LEARNS SHE HAS CURABLE NCER AND LIKELY LS THAN TWO YEARS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN LNEY IS TOLD THAT FOR FANS OF TAL OF THE CY, SHE’S MORE THAN JT AN IN-ETTE, LNEY S AND SAYS, “TAL OF THE CY FANS ARE THE GREATT FANS ON THE PLA. THEY JT ARE. THEY ARE KD AND EFFIVE AND LOVG AND BRIGHT. IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB I'VE EVER HAD AND THE BT TIME I'VE EVER HAD DOG ANYTHG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY ALSO DID THE TAL SEQUELS MORE TAL OF THE CY AND FURTHER TAL OF THE CY (BOTH OF WHICH AIRED ON SHOWTIME AFTER PBS BACKED OUT DUE TO CRICISM OM THE RELIG RIGHT) AND THE IENDSHIPS SHE FORMED FILMG BOTH ARE STILL WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“A LOT OF MY BT IENDS THE WORLD ARE TAL PEOPLE,” SAYS LNEY. “ARMISTEAD AND I ARE EXTREMELY CLOSE. STANLEY DESANTIS, WHO IS SADLY NO LONGER ALIVE, WAS ONE OF MY BT IENDS. ALAN POUL WHO PRODUCED HAS DIRECTED SOME OF OUR EPISOS ON THE BIG C. TAL IS A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE THAT I'M SO PROUD OF.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY REMEMBERS THE AIDS CRISIS WELL AND LOST A NUMBER OF IENDS TO THE DISEASE. DID ALG WH ATH AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE HELP HER E TO TERMS WH HER OWN MORTALY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“I THK THAT'S SOMETHG YOU LEARN AND LEARN OVER AGA,” SAYS LNEY THOUGHTFULLY. “EVEN NOW, WHEN I'VE LOST SO MANY IENDS OVER THE YEARS, I STILL N'T WRAP MY BRA AROUND . IT STILL DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT DON’T MEAN THAT PLAYG THE ROLE OF A DYG WOMAN IS HARD FOR LNEY. “IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN MORE POSIVE THAN ANYTHG ELSE,” SHE SAYS. “THE RE REMR IS THERE'S A CERTA AMOUNT OF TIME, ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE. IT DO SORT OF REALIGN MY THKG A HEALTHIER WAY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY DON’T THK HER SHOW IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD NCER THEMSELV OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS SUFFERED THE DISEASE. SAYS LNEY, “IT'S ABOUT ANYONE WHO HAS AN ILLNS, ALL OF MY IENDS WHO I LOST TO AIDS, ANYONE WHO HAS A LIFE-THREATENG ILLNS, OR WHO IS AROUND , WILL BE ABLE TO RELATE AND WILL REGNIZE THGS. YOU ULD SUBSTUTE NCER FOR MANY OTHER DISEAS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN TOLD THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE NCER “FUNNY,” LNEY DISAGRE STRONGLY: “NO, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT. IT'S A EDY ABOUT A WOMAN WHO HAS NCER. IT'S NOT A EDY ABOUT NCER. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. IT'S A EDY ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE STRIPPED OF EVERYTHG YOU THOUGHT WAS GOG TO BE TE, AND THAT'S WHERE I FD EDY TO BE REALLY TERTG, WHEN OM THAT SORT OF LIMBO.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LNEY ALSO SAYS THE SHOW ISN’T ABOUT HAVG NCER, BUT SOMETHG MORE IMPORTANT. “IT'S ABOUT TIME,” SHE SAYS, MAKG CLEAR SHE HAS THOUGHT EPLY ABOUT THE SUBJECT. “WHAT DO YOU DO WH YOUR TIME? HOW DO YOU E THE TIME YOU HAVE? AND 'S ABOUT THE PRIVILEGE OF AGG, MORE THAN ANYTHG, FOR ME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANKFULLY, VIEWERS SHOULD HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHG LNEY FOR MANY YEARS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE BIG C AIRS ON SHOWTIME MONDAYS AT 10:30 PM EDT. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

“Girls” alumna Zosia Mamet plays an aspirg filmmaker who wants to document the evolutn of the cy’s transgenr movement, givg the wrers a chance to memorate such real-life events as the 1966 Compton Cafeteria Rt, which predated Stonewall by three years the history of gay-transgenr activism. ” The seri was the first of s kd and is poised now to offer a valente to the cy where gay rights started while showg why some people always leave their hearts San Francis.

When I troduced myself and said I eded a se for gay and bisexual men, Lney grned wily and exclaimed, "My people! Ined, sounds as if almost everyone who has met the Tony and Osr nomated actrs feels that those not faiar wh Lney or her nnectn to the gay muny, here is some background.