Photo by: Freedom G Photography

BY CANDY PARKER
Lesbian.com

We all owe one of comedian Sandra Valls’ unnamed ex-girlfriends a sincere “thank you.” Why is that, you ask? Well, some time ago, said ex signed Valls up for a stand-up comedy lesson as an early Christmas present — in effect, giving us all the gift that is Valls’ intelligent, high-energy, brash brand of comedy.

Though the relationship didn’t last, the comedy lesson was well-learned as Valls went on to enjoy a career in which she has appeared in two Showtime hit comedy specials, “The Latin Divas of Comedy” and “Pride: LGBT Comedy Slam!,” been named one of Curve magazine’s Top 10 funniest lesbian comics and, perhaps most enviably, shared the stage with the gorgeous Eva Longoria at the HBO Comedy Festival.

Valls tours regularly with the Latin Divas and Queer Queens of Qomedy and recently wrapped up a stint at the week-long GirlSplash in Provincetown, Massachusetts, but amidst her busy tour schedule she still finds time to give back to the community. Valls volunteers for and produces comedy shows for various causes including benefits/fundraisers for AIDS, sobriety, domestic violence and LGBT rights and was honored in her hometown of Laredo with the International Woman’s Day Award for being a trailblazer and empowering women.

Valls will soon be headed to Michfest, but gladly played along with us in this week’s Fast 5.

1. Which individual has been your greatest professional influence?

Bette Midler. I was very young when I snuck around and watched her HBO Special “Bette Midler Live At Last.” That’s when I knew I wanted to have a career like hers, sans the mermaid outfit, of course.

2. What song can you not get enough of right now?

“Wild Heart” by Stevie Nicks. I love Stevie Nicks! (Editor’s Note: Check out Sandra’s rendition of the tune in the video below — she can sing!)

3. What’s the best thing that’s happened for you so far in 2014?

I bought a Farrah Fawcett t-shirt.

4. Window or aisle seat on the airplane?

Actually it’s the middle seat. I love to be sandwiched between strangers. Feels safe. Oh, especially wedged between large men in short shorts and flip flops that smell like cigarettes. The men — not the flip flops.

5. Tell us one thing about you that most people probably don’t know, but you’re willing to share.

I sleep with a stuffed owl named Owly.

For more on Valls, be sure to check out her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Toothbrush tunes with Sandra Valls

The post Fast 5 with comedian Sandra Valls first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Candy Parker

LPGA golfer Ryann O’Toole is ready for the new season and every indication is that 2017 may be her best yet. O’Toole has a lot to look forward to, professionally and personally, having finished up 2016 by inking both a new sponsorship deal with the market-disrupting PXG and an engagement to her girlfriend, Gina Marra, a powersports executive.

A California native and natural athlete, O’Toole spent her time as a young girl surfing and wakeboarding, playing softball and basketball, training in karate, and skateboarding. She was bitten by the golf bug at age 12, honing her skills on the local municipal course in San Clemente before heading to UCLA to compete for the Lady Bruins.

After college, she turned pro in 2009 and went on to literally get her “Big Break” on the Golf channel’s reality competition show of the same name in 2011. Also that year, following her sixth place finish on the show, O’Toole was named as a Captain’s Pick to the Solheim Cup Team, where she recorded a 2-0-2 record while proudly representing the United States.

These days, O’Toole has solidified her place on the LPGA tour and makes her home in Scottsdale, Ariz., with Gina and their four dogs, Bogey, Chloe, Tory and Brodie. When not on the golf course, she can typically be found shopping, working out or practicing yoga.

I was able to speak with O’Toole as she prepared to depart for the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, which kicks off the 2017 LPGA tour. O’Toole is hoping to build on her three top 10 finishes in 2016 and was happy to indulge in a quick Fast 5 questions before taking on 18 holes on Paradise Island.

1. Do you have a hidden talent? Do tell!

Yes, I do. I can tear an apple in half with my bare hands. I’m also one step below a black belt in karate.

2. If they started offering free trips to the moon tomorrow, would you go?

Definitely! I’m always up for a new adventure and that sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

3. Early bird or night owl?

Early bird all the way. I’m very committed to my fitness routine and that doesn’t allow for too many lazy mornings in bed.

4. If you could have one superpower, what would you want it to be and why?

I think I’d want my superpower to be the ability to take on anyone else’s superpower. That way, I could always disarm them.

5. Finish this sentence. “I think the key to being happy is…”

…following your heart!

If you want to stay up-to-date with O’Toole during the upcoming season, you can visit her website, or follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The post Fast 5 with LPGA golfer Ryann O’Toole first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Tonie Snell (right) and Angella Guadjaro (left)

What do you do and why?

Tonie Snell: I am a problem solver…a socially impactful entrepreneur.  I own 2 companies, 360HR– A DiversityForward talent solutions firm, committed in not only in a diverse workforce but inclusive workplaces where talent can bring their entire selves to work.  We offer talent solutions all geared toward inclusion. We help companies understand they don’t have a diversity problem, they have an inclusion problem. 

Our other company, Ayous Companies, LLC (Ayo is Joy in Yoruba) is our newly founded Tech company launching it’s first app in the Spring, OutNSocial- a social networking event app hybrid. Inspired by but different from Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp or Meetup… OutNSocial aims to move the conversations offline, to put the human back into connections.  Besides, imitation is not the highest form of flattery, inspiration is. 

OutNSocial addresses the fact that we are no longer a separate part of society, longing to be connected, not segregated or “closeted” in exclusive spaces but valued, accepted and respected in all the places we live, work and play.This is not to say exclusive spaces are passe, it only means that it is not the sum of us.

I started both companies because I have to do more than breathe and consume.  I have to create a better place for my 5 children, 11 grands, the spaces I live, work and play. 

What did you do before you started your company? 

Gosh, I did some of everything to stay afloat as a single mom with 5 children.  I have worked in sales, the medical field.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you received when first starting your company? What would you tell a young entrepreneur in turn?

Solve a problem, don’t do it to get rich.  Understand you can never skip the hustle.

Your wife,Angella Guajardo, is also involved in both 360HR and OutNSocial. What is it like working with your wife? How do you two keep work and play separate?

Angella works with our companies part-time and all the time if that makes sense, she’s included in everything.  Her full-time profession is in the Aviation/Aerospace industry as a planner/project planner.  The way that translates into our business – she is very spend conscious and detailed oriented.  I am big picture and just want to know the price, let’s pay and keep it moving.  

We discuss major purchases and processes all the time and if Angella doesn’t agree with the why and the how, she doesn’t pacify me.  LOL, she has “27M questions – her phrase” which keeps me questioning, which lead to better decisions. I am the dreamer, she is practical. It’s a concerted effort, major balance and candid conversations.  6 years and counting!  

What aspect of business ownership came as the biggest surprise to you?

Even when you are smart, have a great idea, execution is where all the work begins.  What do you do first?  What do you do first with a limited budget?  And there is always something else to learn.  It can be overwhelming.

What do you find most rewarding about owning your own business?

Mentoring future business owners, the chance to mellow business owners who want to create an impact.

Where do you see yourself / your company in five years? Hopes / dreams / plans?

I am so humbled to be where I am today.   A child of addicts, a high school drop-out, 5 children by age 21, a survivor of depression until I gave myself the freedom to come out.  It took me 30 years to life. I shouldn’t even be where I am… I am so high on my today that I can’t even begin to imagine the awesomeness of tomorrow.

 What resources would you recommend to someone who is contemplating starting her own business?

My first go round as a business owner with 360HR, I did everything myself, today I know how I to lean to the strengths of others.  So with OutNSocial, we used Legal Zoom, Score is still awesome, read “Play Bigger” and always educate yourself.

What would you say is the single most important key to sustaining a business long term? 

To continue to create meaning over money and solve problems.  Whatever you do, do it for people, to live better, be better, do better.

What obstacles did you face in establishing your company and how did you overcome them?

Understanding what I didn’t and don’t know and connecting with people who can fill the void and bring a different strength.  Groupthink kills…ingenuity, innovation…

For more on 360HR and OutnSocial visit http://360hr.co/ and http://www.outnsocial.com!

The post Enterprising Women: Tonie Snell, 360HR & OutNSocial first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Jenny Block is the master of female orgasm and her latest book, “The Ultimate Guide to Solo Sex: All You Need to Know About Masturbation” hit bookshelves this May. Block has made a name for herself with her previous books, “O Wow! Discovering your Ultimate Orgasm” and “Open” as a sex positive queer writer, who specializes in women’s empowerment through orgasm.

Block’s female positive sex advice has been featured on leading websites such as Huffington Post, Playboy, Bustle and many more. She has also been called to appear on TV, and has been featured on the Tyra Banks Show and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, to name a few. Jenny I sat down to chat about her latest book and masturbation as self care.

How did you come up with the idea to write “The Ultimate Guide to Solo Sex”?  

I was researching for my second book, “O Wow!” and I had interviewed about 150 women and was mesmerized by the answers. It occurred to me that part of the issue is that they were not masturbating. So I starting asking people if they were masturbating. My poor friends would like to have one brunch without me saying “pussy” out loud!

Women act as if masturbation is a mystery that we shouldn’t be talking about. They don’t make the connection that you need to do it yourself so you know what you need when you are with a partner. Women assume all orgasms should be with a partner.

What was your process for writing this book? 

I did so much research. It felt like an immersion course, it was like when you are learning a language. Read everything I could get my hands on. While I was talking to everyone [about masturbation] I did become a bit of a hermit. I was a college writing professor for about 10 years. There is a lot of writing and re-writing that goes into it. My students would freak out when I told them to throw out 2/3s of what they write.

Photo by Steph Grant – www.stephgrantphotogrpahy.com

I really loved that this book was written by a queer woman, most self-help books aren’t. But there’s a lot of value in a queer woman explaining how women get off. How did you decide how to approach this subject to make it accessible for all women? 

I live in a sex positive bubble and sometimes make assumptions that everyone is on the same wavelength. But sometimes the most well-traveled, lovely people don’t know much about how to get themselves off. It was really a matter of getting my own head out of the sand and taking the temperature of what is really going on out there with women.

Masturbation is the barometer of what’s going on in a woman’s life. Is she stressed? Is she putting herself last? When you are busy and stressed, the first thing to go is self care. Things like eating healthy, exercising and masturbating go out the window. It’s the first thing to go! And that’s terrible!

When we are stressed we give up all the things that help us take care of ourselves. It’s all the same as eating properly and working out. It’s just as important. I don’t get upset about brushing my teeth at night. Masturbation is included in self care and we aren’t taught that. Taking the time and energy to take care of yourself is so important

Don’t feel well? Masturbate! Stressed out? Masturbate!

Yes! That’s so true and so important. 

All that Brock turned shit going around. Lack of value.

If we talked about masturbation maybe we could elevate women in general. Women don’t talk about masturbation, or we don’t do it, or we don’t value it. People always say, ”Oh women can go without it,” when they talk about sex.

There was even an entire Seinfeld episode about masturbation. The men in the show thought Elaine would win, they even wanted to exclude her from the contest. But she was the first one out!

You describe intimate experiences with partners in the book- did you tell any of them they were going to be mentioned beforehand? What did they think of being included? 

That’s almost the thing I lead with! I should get a t-shirt that says, “be careful you might end up in my next book.” I’m really up front with that. People think it’s funny. Even if we are just friends, you’re warned if you hang out with me in any way, things can be very public.

My partner now is relatively conservative in that way. I told her I’m not writing erotica. If I write about how good she is in bed she will be embarrassed. But it’s better than saying she’s bad in bed!

When I was reading this book, I was thinking that it would be really beneficial to straight women. Have you been able to reach out to straight readers? 

I have a good straight following! I hate to be that queer girl that is like, “We do everything better than you do.” But I’ve been on both sides, and I’ve never had to tell a women it’s two inches away from where you think it is.

My book gets sequestered in the LGBT section but it’s probably more needed by straight people.

Which is crazy, because it’s a general self-help book for women. Masturbation isn’t just for gay women. Just because it was written by a queer woman, doesn’t mean it should automatically be shelved in the LGBT section. 

There was a sad comment on my second book. One woman told me we are past all this and we are all sex positive. I was like, “Oh honey, you have no idea.” She said my book about female orgasm was not necessary and that scared me even more. I feel really responsible as a lesbian with all the “secrets.” I feel like we should share them.

One time, I ended up out with three or four straight couples after a reading. The men were looking at their partners saying, “Why don’t you tell me this stuff?” And it was earth shattering for me. We [queer women] are always with our community. It’s not a conversation queer women are having. In the straight community they are saying, ““Of course you can get off in 13 seconds of penis in vagina intercourse and nothing else. That’s what they show in all the movies. That’s what’s in the magazines.”

I’m a writer who sleeps with women. I’m not a queer writer. I want people to know I’m queer, definitely, but it is confounding because this book is universal.

I like to say that I am uniquely qualified, because I did live on the other side of the fence. Theoretically I was a practicing hetero for some time- I know what it is to sleep with men. I would like more straight women to read my book. Straight women find the writing the most profound, queer women are like “right on.”

The community at large thinks of being queer as a lifestyle. But we are all people just trying to figure it out. I get asked relationship questions, it’s a little different, but it’s still two human beings trying to live. The straight community can learn a lot from the queer community meanwhile the straight community has all these rules they have to life by.

Any final thoughts for our readers?

I would like to see the fun put back in sex! If you don’t laugh once during sex you are doing it wrong. Women say they could “never tell” xyz to a partner. But sex should be fun! There’s so much pressure to be hot and have hot, crazy, wild, sex. But good sex involved being connected to another person or humans. Making sex fun again is part of my mission as well.

In the name of women’s empowerment- I want to remind women that masturbation and orgasm is both their right and their responsibility. Masturbation is part of taking care of yourself. Every average, healthy woman should be masturbating.

As I say in my book, “Your orgasm is your responsibility. No one else can make you come. Another people can help facilitate your orgasm. But they can’t make you come. If you can’t make yourself come, you can’t expect anyone else to be a part of making you come. How can your partner help you if you don’t know how it works yourself?”

You heard Jenny! Go out and masturbate! You can find Jenny at her website, www.thejennyblock.com. Purchase her books on Amazon, and like her on Facebook.

This interview has been edited and condensed. 

The post Author Jenny Block on masturbation as self care and female orgasm as empowerment first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Comedian Dana Goldberg

Comedian Dana Goldberg is set to headline at Seattle Women’s Pride this June. Goldberg is a highly acclaimed comedian, who has shared the a stage with President Barack Obama, Portia DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Jane Lynch, Kathy Griffin and many more. She has also been named one of CURVE Magazine’s top five funniest lesbian comedians in America. In addition to being incredibly funny, Goldberg also gives back to the community- frequently performing at fundraisers for HIV/AIDS and LGBT awareness.

Goldberg is a natural fit to headline at Seattle Women’s Pride. “Dana is a hoot! We absolutely love her, and she is a good friend,” said Seattle Women’s Pride founder and producer Sarah Toce. “We’re so glad she accepted our offer to come out and play this Pride.”

We sat down with Goldberg to discuss her upcoming performance at Seattle Women’s Pride, what to do when you run into an ex at Pride and her best Pride memory.

How do comedians celebrate pride?

Well, I can’t speak for all of us, but I day drink and make poor life choices.  Kidding…sorta. Usually we’re on stage entertaining the masses with a lot of drunk screaming sunburned proud gays in the audience. I actually really enjoy going to the parades and having an adult beverage or two with some friends. I don’t work a lot of the pride festivals so I’m excited to headline Seattle Women’s Pride this year.

How did you get involved with Seattle Women’s Pride?

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to build a relationship with Sarah Toce, the creator and producer of the event. I’ve been performing once a year in Seattle at Theater Off Jackson to an awesome sold out crowd, so I’m excited to bring my long show to the pride stage for the ladies. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend.

If you’re at Seattle Women’s Pride and you see your ex-girlfriend. What should you do?

Assuming you aren’t actually there with her? You know we’re all friends six months later. If it was a good break up, say hi, visit, you might even make out after a couple of dances and some vodka. If it was a bad breakup, just turn around and walk the other direction. No one needs that kinda drama at pride. Be smart ladies *cue shooting star* The more you know.

What advice would you give to people looking to hook up at Pride?

Make sure the girl is single! Other than that, just be careful of still photography. That shit will end up on Facebook before the night is over.

Tell me your favorite Pride memory.

I had the pleasure of marching in San Francisco’s Pride parade a couple of years ago and there was a sweet male couple in front of me holding hands with a sign that read “47 years together…and finally legally married.” It really puts things into perspective what the LGBT community has accomplished over the years, and now Pride is more of a reason to celebrate those accomplishments…while day drinking! Unfortunately, that couple is never the one who is featured on the front page of the newspaper the next day. It’s always someone in ass chaps with no pants wearing a rainbow boa in 6 inch heels and I’m like, “Is that my English professor?!”

Want to see Dana perform at Seattle Women’s Pride? Tickets are available via Stranger Tickets at $30 General Admission and $45 VIP. The VIP Experience gets guests closer to the action with Priority Entrance, a Meet-and-Greet with Dana after the show, Swag Bags, and more. Visit seattlewomenspride or strangertickets.com/events/31940901/comedian-dana-goldberg-at-seattle-womens-pride for more information.

The post Seattle Pride headliner Dana Goldberg on how to survive pride in the social media age and more first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Comedian Rosie Wilby

Comedian Rosie Wilby has been making audiences laugh around the world for years. Wilby is based in London, but she has performed in NYC, Australia, the Edinburgh Fringe Show and various other venues in her career. She also has a popular podcast. An out lesbian, Wilby pulls no punches when it comes to calling out sexism and homophobia in the entertainment industry. I sat down with Wilby to chat about the competitive world of comedy, coming out to audiences night after night and the crazy things that happen during a live show.

How did you get into comedy? 

I was a singer songwriter fronting my own band in my twenties and used to always chat between the songs in a fairly self deprecating way. Audiences often said I should have a go at comedy. When the band broke up, I entered a few competitions and found myself getting through to finals and semi finals. There was quite a protracted period where I was doing a bit of both and couldn’t decide between music and comedy. I didn’t really want to do comedy songs and mix them. They’re separate in my head as music is something I feel quite serious about.

The world of stand up comedy is super competitive. How do you stay in the game without losing your sense of humor? 

I think I’ve handled the competition factor by carving out my own niche. My solo shows have tended towards very personal narratives that blend genres (theatre, storytelling, multimedia, comedy). I mean, if I’m telling my own life story, surely people can’t say they’ve heard that somewhere else. Whether they want to hear it is another matter.

As a lesbian comedian, you must be coming out to audiences continually. Does it get exhausting? 

When I started stand up, I would sometimes try and de-gay my set for straight audiences. However, I was getting chatted up by men afterwards. So I thought well maybe I should be honest and gay it up again and hopefully I will get asked out by women. I’ve tried to make my stuff about relationships dwell on the universal aspects and, in general, audiences are cool about queer stuff. I think agents looking for comedians for TV, radio etc often assume that gay acts who talk about their sexuality will be too niche. It’s frustrating because it’s not really the truth. If gay people can listen to straight love stories, then straights can enjoy gay stuff. We are all humans.

You’ve been pretty vocal about the underlying homophobia in comedy. Personally, I love stand up comedy but I’ve been to shows where the comedian takes cheap shots at gay people and it’s definitely led to me going less. Do you think any progress is being made?

When I started, there were a few good comedy nights catering specifically for a gay audience. If Comedy Camp in London hadn’t existed then I probably would have never started comedy. But it was a wonderful event where gay acts and straight female ones would often steal the show. It was frustrating then to find the dynamic reversed at the more ‘mainstream’ events. A lot of these gay comedy nights have now stopped running. There’s an argument for saying that’s a real shame and a valuable space has been lost and one for saying it’s a sign of progress and that gay audiences now feel more comfortable going to mainstream nights. It’s the same uneasy paradox of progress that sees all our historic gay venues here in London closing down. In one way, it’s good that we don’t need them any more. But in another way, profoundly tragic to lose that sense of community. The really interesting thing alongside all this is that women’s comedy nights right across the UK have really grown over the last few years and there are some very good events putting on female acts for (largely) female audiences. Men are welcome in the audience but few come. The events are largely populated by lesbians who clearly feel that mainstream nights still don’t really cater for them. But it’s odd to think that female comedy needs to be a sort of specialist niche that only women will enjoy. Perhaps sexism is more of a persistent problem than homophobia now.

Most stand-up is at least loosely based on the life of the comedian. Has this affected your dating life? Are your exes ready to murder you? 

Maybe you should interview some of my exes! I don’t name them and make things too specific. In fact, my ex-partners have all sort of merged into one generic mass of eccentricity and neuroses. So nobody really knows which one I’m talking about… And sometimes, neither do I.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at one of your shows? 

Animal invasions often cause mayhem. I once had a dog run onstage and start eating my props then its owner ran onstage to grab it. Another time, a huge scary looking insect landed on me and I batted it away but it flew towards a bunch of girls on the front row who went absolutely nuts screaming, running around, standing on the chairs. Fire alarms have gone off during crucial moments and everyone has to be evacuated. Lots of disruptions like that.

Do you have any shows coming up? 

I have my Edinburgh Fringe run coming up. I will be on at Sneaky Pete’s on Cowgate from 8-15 August at 5pm.

(Fan of Rosie’s? You can buy tickets for her Edinburgh show here!) 

Any advice for queer lady comedians?

Queer lady comedians – be yourself, enjoy it, talk to and support each other.

Need more Rosie? Find her at www.rosiewilby.com , Facebook.com/rosiewilby and on twitter @rosiewilby

The post Interview with Comedian Rosie Wilby first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Chef Victoria Scroggins

Chef Victoria Scroggins recently proved her mettle on reality TV; braving the Gordon Ramsay joint “MasterChef” in it’s fifth season. The Texan native invited me to her Brooklyn home to tell me about her adventures on MasterChef, her catering company “Scout” and why queer women kick serious butt in the culinary world. Oh and! Lucky you, she decided to each us all how to cook perfectly seasoned, grilled pork chops, red cabbage cole slaw and Texas black eyed peas.

The final product! Watch the video for step by step instructions!

Need more Victoria? Follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/mister_victoria or like her on Facebook!

The post Going Down in the Kitchen with Chef Victoria Scroggins first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Have you ever truly laughed so hard and so long that your cheek muscles ached? I have — and it was at one of comedian Jessica Kirson’s shows.

I had the opportunity to witness the controlled chaos that is a Jessica Kirson set during a Queer Queens of Qomedy tour stop several years ago and have continued to rave about the high-energy, no-holds-barred comic ever since.

Kirson traces her love of comedy to old school influences like “I Love Lucy,” Jerry Lewis, “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Saturday Night Live,” and has always loved making others laugh. Torn between a career as a DJ or comedian, the latter won out when Kirson took a comedy class in 1998.

Now far removed from her days performing at delis, laundromats and the local Krispy Kreme, Kirson is a regular at every major comedy venue in New York City, including the Gotham Comedy Club, Laugh Factory, Caroline’s, and the Improv.

Kirson has also appeared on a number of television shows, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Last Comic Standing,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and “The View.” She also has a one hour special on the Logo Channel called “My Cookie’s Gone” and has appeared on “The Joy Behar Show” on CNN-HLN numerous times. She just made her big screen debut in Nick Cannon’s “School Dance” with Jim Breuer and George Lopez.

Kirson was gracious enough to play along with our Fast 5 this week.

1. Which individual has been your greatest professional influence?

I would have to say Lucille Ball. She had incredible talent. She was original and always stayed true to herself. She was also an incredible business woman

2. What song can you not get enough of right now?

“Stay with Me” by, Sam Smith

3. What’s the best thing that’s happened for you so far in 2014?

I am in a movie that just came out, “School Dance,” written and directed by Nick Cannon, and I just filmed a cameo in Amy Schumer’s new film, “Trainwreck.”

4. Do you have any phobias?

Yes, I am filled with fear. My biggest one is rats. I am deathly afraid of rats.

5. Window or aisle seat on the airplane?

Window, so that I can ponder my life choices and cry in private. I hate the aisle. I constantly get knocked into.

Stay up-to-date with Kirson by bookmarking her website and following her on Facebook and Twitter — and be sure to visit her YouTube Channel “The Jessy K Show” and check out her podcast.

The post Fast 5 with comedian Jessica Kirson first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY CANDY PARKER

“Natalia’s voice could send an orchid into bloom while her guitar playing can open a beer bottle with its teeth.” – New Yorker

Gee, how can I even begin to describe Natalia Zukerman‘s musical style any better than that? I can’t, so I’ll just tell you a little bit about her and encourage you to check out the multi-talented artist for yourself. You can thank me later.

The daughter of violist/conductor Pinchas Zukerman and flutist/writer Eugenia Zukerman, and the sister of opera singer Arianna Zukerman, Natalia found her sound in other strings — those on slide guitar, lap steel and dobro. Her music — a fusion of blues, jazz, bluegrass and folk — was influenced by varied performers, including Ma Rainey, Memphis Minnie, Bonnie Raitt, Erika Luckett, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones and Ani DiFranco.

Currently, Zukerman is working on her seventh studio album “Come Thief, Come Fire,” and has launched a pledge campaign to help fund promotion and touring to support the release. The campaign joins Zukerman’s musical and painting talents, offering those who pledge an opportunity to receive autographed prints of Zukerman’s work or even a commissioned mural.

Zukerman put down the stringed instruments and paint brushes long enough to play along with our Fast 5 this week.

1. If you had to give up one of the following for an entire year, which would you choose to live without: cell phone, television, hair products or chocolate?

Does Netflix count? I actually haven’t had a TV since college but I sure do watch the internet. If I gave up hair products, we’d all suffer from the glory that would be my ‘fro. On second thought, I guess that could be a good thing!

2. What’s the maximum number of cats you’d feel comfortable owning before worrying that the neighbors were starting to whisper, “There goes the cat lady?”

I think the more pertinent question is how many lint roller/hair removers would I be allowed to own? No one needs to know about my 100 cats.

3. Early bird or night owl?

Kinda both. But I love the early morning so much that I’ve had to give up some of the night owl when I’m not on the road.

4. What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

Anything home cooked is my favorite.

5. If you could have one super power, what would you want it to be and why?

Teleportation! Sure would make touring easier!

To stay up-to-date on Zukerman, be sure to visit her website, check out her pledge campaign and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Fast 5 with singer Natalia Zukerman first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Like most millennials, I was introduced to Guinevere Turner as the heart breaker Gabby on “The L Word.” She played every queer girl’s cruel, beautiful ex-girlfriend — the one that doesn’t want you, but won’t let you go.

I was in a grrlbar when Alice, the object of Gabby’s torturous affection, yelled “Step off, bitch,” at her in order to break cycle of dysfunction. The bar erupted in applause and Gabby, with an arch of her perfect eyebrows, stepped off.

Turner remained with “The L Word” as a writer through the first two seasons and briefly reprised her role as Gabby in later seasons, returning primarily to eat a sandwich and disappear into Papi’s bedroom. And while Turner’s work on “The L Word” was my introduction to the talented performer, it was far from her first work.

Turner initially made a splash on the queer entertainment scene twenty years ago in “Go Fish,” a product of Turner’s collaboration with her then girlfriend Rose Troche, who also directed the film.

The movie, produced on a shoestring budget and requiring over two years to complete, told the story of Max West and her Gen X lesbian friends. Unlike most of the other available queer content of the time, “Go Fish” wasn’t a coming out story – all the women in the cast already knew they were gay. Instead, the women dealt with familiar issues such as homophobic families, meeting the right woman, keeping a relationship together and coping with the often harsh expectations that we impose on each other as women. “Go Fish” also included the stories of queer women of color, a rarity as the lack of minority representation in queer film remains a hot-button issue in the community 20 years later.

Turner’s Max West was both likeable and bratty — pathetic but relatable. She represented every young lesbian coming out, paradoxically both full of herself and full of self-loathing.

In the 20 years since “Go Fish,” Turner’s career has grown and evolved as she applied her ample talents to all aspects of production — writing, acting, directing and producing on various projects. In this interview, Turner discusses her career, favorite projects, funniest moments and what we can expect from her in the future.

Turner caught me off guard, initiating the interview with a question of her own.

Do you know that I’m gay?

Um, I think I do. From your work I would guess so. You recently co-starred in the SHE4ME PSA for marriage equality. Do you have plans to get hitched anytime soon?

Oh my god! I believe in everybody’s right to get married. I myself, no, never! It just seems like a really crazy thing to do.

Your latest full length film, “Crazy Bitches,” is about several friends who go away together for a weekend and fall prey to a psychotic killer. Why did you choose to get involved in this project?

I met the director, Jane Clark, at a party and we really hit it off. And by hit it off I mean, I said, “Are you making a movie? Is there a part for me in it?”

I thought the title (of the movie) was really funny. Jane said, “Actually you’re too old. All of the characters are in their 30s.” A week later she came back to me and said. “You know what, I found a way to make one of the characters older.”

Was that kind of hard to hear, to be told you’re too old?

No, as someone who has been in casting and directed, sometimes people are just too old. I know I look good for 45, but no one is going to believe I’m 32. Remember in “Beverly Hills 90210” where there were actors in their 30s pretending to be in high school? I wouldn’t want to do something like that.

I’ve lived with the realities of Hollywood for a long time now. The reality is that I’m a woman in my 40s and there are fewer roles for us than there are for women in their 20s certainly, and women in their 30s, as well.

“Crazy Bitches,” is a black comedy much like the film you co-wrote, “American Psycho” and your latest pet project “Creeps.” What is it that draws you to this genre?

It’s funny because all of those movies are so different, but they could be called dark comedies.

“American Psycho” was different. Mary Harron, the director, asked me write it with her. I’m such a total scaredy cat when it comes to anything like horror. Mary told me I would have to read the book and she was like, “I’m sorry you have to read this!”

I just thought the book was funny! I think that dark things are funny.

Have you ever heard of the movie “Happiness?”

No.

It’s from the late 90s and it’s the most hilarious movie. It makes my work look like the family channel. How the heck did the movie get made? It’s about Philip Seymour Hoffman as a pedophile.

I can see how a lot of people wouldn’t think that was funny.

You recently had an Indiegogo campaign to fund your latest black comedy concept “Creeps,” which is about two queer best friends who decide to stay sober for a week so they can have great skin for a party — is it still going to happen?

Yes, we are still doing fundraising on it. We are reworking it, we feel accountable to the people who gave money to the Indiegogo campaign so we are repurposing it as a TV pilot. We see it as a long-term story arc and with all these new platforms that have original programming. It’s a really great moment to target some of that.

Things like Amazon and Netflix, it’s the wave of the future. Actually watching TV shows on the TV as they air is becoming antiquated. Although the campaign has ended you can still learn about the project and donate on the website.

You’ve been on all sides of the camera as an actress, writer, director and producer. Which of these roles do you enjoy the most?

Writer first and foremost; always will be, always have been — even as a kid. I am more comfortable with writing because I know I’m good at it and I like doing it. But then it’s really lonely.

And then I love being an actor and director. I love being on the set and collaborating with people. But then I get a little overwhelmed and I can be alone and write again. Being a producer sucks — it’s the hardest job. I’ve only done it when I’ve had to. Other than that I love it all.

You’ve played a huge role in queer visibility in film — starting with writing and starring in the groundbreaking “Go Fish,” to being the inspiration behind the titular character in “Chasing Amy,” writing and acting in “The L Word” and even writing “Bloodrayne,” which produced Michelle Rodriquez’s and Kristanna Loken’s amazing, but brief, romance. Where do you see the future of queer entertainment headed and what part do you see yourself playing?

I didn’t know that they dated — that’s so funny! When I wrote that script I had no idea who would be playing those parts. But I thought, “How can I lez this up?” The answer — gratuitous underwater girl-on-girl fights. So, you’re welcome, lesbians.

Whenever anyone says that I’m the inspiration for “Chasing Amy” I want to make it clear that I’ve never had sex with Kevin Smith. The second part of that movie has nothing to do with me!

What’s interesting about what’s happening right now is trans and gender-queer visibility is skyrocketing. It’s happening so quickly everyone is going to be over the “LGB” and focus on the “T.” The “T” is so new to people but, obviously, it’s not new to me, I’ve been in friendships like that since my early 20s.

People are putting transgender characters in their stories the same way they used to use gay characters in their stories. There’s even a show on Amazon called “Transparent” about transitioning.

I feel like with things like the new online way of watching television there are so many more opportunities for even more LGBT queer stuff to be available online. I was just talking about the show “The Fosters” on ABC Family. I watched it when it first started airing and I was like it’s good, its a little too ABC Family for me — it’s vanilla. I’m glad it’s on, but I’m not going to watch it. And to be like, “its here but I’m not going to watch it” is progress! It’s a show about a lesbian family.

There are also shows like “Orange is the New Black.” It’s just exciting there are so many ways to create queer characters and get them out there. It’s a little sad that people aren’t going to movies as much, which means indie movies aren’t getting out there as much. I might sound like an old lady when I say that; it’s nostalgic. People that are outside of the urban areas and more isolated have so much access to everything. There’s more out there than when I was in my 20s. The future is exciting is the short answer to that.

Aside from “Creeps,” are there other projects you’re working on?

I’m writing a TV pilot, that centers around a CODA [Child of Deaf Adult]. Working on that and putting deaf characters out there is a big deal to me.

I’m working on other cool projects but I’m afraid I’ll jinx it! Check back in with me.

Let’s bring this conversation back around to “The L Word.” As both a writer and an actress on the show, how do you feel about the fans’ “love/hate” relationship with it?

I feel like, of course, the community is going to be hypercritical of the show. Especially when it was airing — it was the first of its kind and the first time the general public was having access to our lives. Of course everyone is going to be hypercritical!

It was such a huge thing for six years and it all came down to one person — one person’s vision, Ilene Chaiken, who created the show. She controlled what was on the page and what ended up on the screen. It’s one person’s perspective and vision — of course other people are going to love it or hate it. If I were at home watching it I would probably be throwing popcorn at the screen during some scenes. Buzzfeed had one of those lists and it included “A thing that lesbians do is hate ‘The L Word,’ but we all secretly watch it.”

What’s your favorite “on set” memory from “The L Word”?

An episode that I had written was being shot with Kate Moennig and Susan Arquette. It was directed by Mary Harron who is my friend. I was in the production office it came over the walkie. Mary said, “When she calls for a blue dolphin dildo in the script, does she really mean a dolphin dildo? Does such a thing exist?” — that’s working on “The L Word!” And I said, “It sure does!”

I have a real life dating experience with it. A girl I was seeing was all excited whipping out her dolphin-shaped dildo and I was like really? Am I supposed to be turned on right now?

I think the sad part is that I’ve also had that happen!

I don’t want to sexualize a dolphin in that way.

Out of all the projects you have worked on, do you have a favorite?

It’s all been so great and nighmare-ish all at once. I think the most fun I’ve had was a movie that I acted in called, “Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf” that’s going to available for streaming this summer. I’m playing the part of Elizabeth Taylor in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” I told the director “I’m not going to play a good actor,” which was great because nothing was too over the top. I could be the most outrageous actor and also the director is a good friend — it was just really a fun set to be on. It was my idea of a good time.

What advice would you give young, queer women who are just starting out in their careers?

Stay passionate. I feel like when I watch “Go Fish” I think, “Wow, we were so passionate about what we were doing I cant believe we actually got that done!” — with no money, no email, no smartphones. It took two years; we broke up, but we were just really passionate about getting this message out there.

If you want to make money there are a lot of different ways to do that, but if what you want is to be happy, do what you’re passionate about. In my career I’ve taken jobs because I needed to pay the bills and ultimately that made me miserable and I didn’t do great work. So I try to make sure I don’t do what I love for money. If I do it, I love it and hopefully I make some money.

You’ve been in the entertainment business for over 20 years — what do you want your professional legacy to be?

Surprising! Some filmmakers get stuck doing the same particular genre of film and my work is all so different. I want my legacy to be, “she was good at everything.”

When you say legacy like that it scares me — I’m only 45. I’m extremely confident it’s only going to get better from here. What I’ve done so far, it’s not going to be what I’m known for.

Follow Guinevere on Twitter or Facebook to keep track of her latest projects.

The post Guinevere Turner on the past, present, future of queer girl entertainment first appeared on Lesbian.com.