Web Series Wednesday – Celebrate Pride Month

By: Krista Ann Freego

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! Starry Constellation Magazine has always prided itself on supporting the LGBTQ+ community. As an out lesbian, Starry Constellation Magazine has always supported me and provided me with a platform to talk about my experiences and review and comment on web series, many of which have discussed LGBTQ+ issues. In honor of Pride Month, we interrupt our regularly scheduled Web Series Wednesday to shine the spotlight on various web series that help us celebrate our PRIDE this month and every month!

1. The Leslie:

Words alone cannot do justice to how much I love this series. It is written and starring an amazing human, Kate Johnson. If while watching the first episode you are asking who she reminds you of, the answer for me was Erin Daniels from “The L Word.” While Leslie and Dana do have a lot of adorkable characteristics in common, Leslie is her own fully formed character.  The premise is that Leslie has just come out as a lesbian and she is now navigating the ups and downs of the LGBTQ+ community and trying her best to find love along the way. The way in which Leslie brings us on this journey is pure joy. While you are laughing at cat sounds and wayward condoms and imperfect timing, you are also watching a three-dimensional character deal with serious issues and heartbreak in a very realistic and relatable way. The Leslie is now in its second season and a new episode is released every Thursday. If you aren’t already watching, I highly recommend you start! You’ll never look at violets the same way!

Watch “The Leslie”

2. Couple-ish:

What can I say, I am a sucker for a British accent and interesting and complex characters. I am also a sucker for love triangles, of which there are plenty in this series. The main character, played by Kaitlyn Alexander, is Dee. Dee is an artist who identifies as non-binary. This is the first web series I came across with a non-binary character as a lead. Not only does Kaitlyn Alexander provide much needed representation in the media, but their portrayal of this complex character is downright heart breaking at times. If you aren’t rooting for Dee’s true happiness, then you clearly aren’t paying attention to the amazing levels of vulnerability and defensiveness that Alexander brings to the role. The series starts off when Dee is looking for a roommate and agrees that Rachel (played by Sharon Belle) can move in. Rachel is from England and, unbeknownst to Dee at the time, has told Immigration that she is engaged to Dee so that she can stay in the country. The journey that these two characters go on with each other over the span of two seasons is memorable and heartbreaking. Both of these leads complement each other perfectly. This is another series that deals with serious issues such as parents not accepting you for who you are coupled with fantastic humor.

Watch “Couple-ish”

3. Barbelle:

It should come as no surprise that Barbelle made this list. For 2018, I chose this series as my number one pick of what to watch. Barbelle stars Gwenlyn Cumyn and Karen Xavier Knox as a singing duo who was together but who broke up with each other and now for purposes of contact obligations have to pretend to be together. We have only had one season of this series and my hope is that we get another season or three. Cumyn and Knox, who also wrote this series, were able to combine a beautiful, entertaining and complicated love story with fun music and a crazy and endearing supporting cast of characters.  One of my favorite characters was Brooklyn and the journey that she goes on throughout season one was nothing short of spectacular, poignant and beautiful.  Come for the pop music and creative pie eating and stay for the heart and serious portrayal of important issues such as eating disorders, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, intolerance and homophobia.

Watch “Barbelle”

4. Clairevoyant:

One aspect I really enjoyed about this series is that the orientation of the main characters was not the driving force of the series or the plot; it was merely just one of many aspects of the character’s personality. I love the prior series mentioned that dealt seriously with the many up and downs of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but every once and a while it is nice to just watch a story where one of the main characters is a member of the LGBTQ+ community but that is not the driving force of the story. Here we see Natasha Negovanlis and Annie Briggs reunited as they both created and star in this series. It was such a pleasure to see these two enchanting and impressive actresses play roles unlike the ones we have previously seen them in. A further treat is the amazing chemistry these two actresses have with each. The two play off of each other effortlessly.  If you are looking for a series that is less serious than the ones mentioned above yet still provides excellent representation and provides a fun and entertaining story of two best friends doing their best to not be evicted and discovering fortune telling powers along the way, then look up this series on YouTube. A word of advice, NEVER eat Ruby’s cooking. Hopefully, this series will be back for a second season.

Watch “Clairevoyant”

5. All For One:

My final must see choice for Pride is All For One. This season, All For One confronted the significant issue of mental health with grace and sincerity. The storyline that the characters dealt with was relatable and realistic and was a story that needed to be told and dealt with an issue that sorely needs to be discussed. If I had to pinpoint an overarching theme for Season 2 of this series it would be “it’s okay to not be okay.” Each and every member of the cast delivered all-star performances. Even though this series takes place in a college and focuses on the main character Dorothy ( ) who is a Sophomore in Season 2, there is nothing sophomoric about this series.  It provides much needed representation in the areas of LGBTQ+ and mental health. The writers are able to deal with serious and dire issues while still being able to have light hearted and less serious moments. Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger so hopefully we will get to spend more time with these amazing and endearing characters.

Watch “All For One”

Pride month is about celebrating who you are and who you love. Myself and Starry Constellation Magazine realize that not everyone is in the position to celebrate this outwardly. Sometimes it is not safe to do so and sometimes the journey you take can take a lifetime to get to the other side. For me, it took fourteen years to fully accept myself and celebrate myself and my place in the LGBTQ+ community.  One of the best parts of the LGBTQ+ community is that you are never alone and whether you are ready to accept your place in the community or not, there will always be a place for you. Each person in their own time. So, whether you are out of the closet and in the parade or you are only out to some or even if you are only out to yourself, celebrate your pride! This world is a better place because you are a part of it! Celebrate yourself, celebrate each other and celebrate love, acceptance, strength and community! For myself and everyone at Starry Constellation Magazine, we celebrate you, we support you and we are here for you! Happy Pride!