An Interview with The Real L Word and Hunter Valentine Star, Kiyomi!

Hey you gays, its finally that moment you've all been waiting for: an interview with the absolutely darling and gorgeous Kiyomi!

Let's not delay it any longer!

All Things Lesbian: When I saw Hunter Valentine live in Peterborough, Ontario, there was quite a small crowd. How has the rest of the tour been so far? 

Kiyomi: The tour was actually very successful. I think that was probably one of the smallest dates we did on the whole thing. We sold out majority of the rooms across North America.

ATL: What can we expect from your new album, Collide and Conquer? Can you describe it in 3 words? 

K: Vulnerable, gritty and catchy 

ATL: We saw the arrival of new band member, Aimee, on the Real L Word. Do you think she’s in it for the long run? 

K: I would love to have Aimee along for the ride. She is an amazing musician and an even better friend. She’s is incredibly easy to work with and we are extremely happy with the addition of her in the band. 

ATL: As a HV fan from the UK, I’ve noticed you rarely gig over there. Are there any plans for European dates any time soon? 

K: We are trying to get over there as soon as possible! We have gone to Germany a few times, but never really spent much time in the UK. It’s definitely in our future plans. 

ATL: So we already know you’re extremely invested in the band and spend a lot of time working. Do you ever have spare time and what do you like to do when you’re free? 

K: I rarely have free time these days. I am a bit of a workaholic. When I am not doing band stuff, I am working on other projects. I have some acting stuff on the go and also the beginnings of a clothing line. In the free time that I do get..I love hanging out with my girlfriend, cooking, going to live shows and just relaxing in my home.

ATL: Let’s talk The Real L Word. If it gets picked up for a fourth season will you and your band mates be appearing? 

K: We are still waiting on word from the network, so we will all just have to sit tight and see.. 

And some quick fan questions… 

What is something you and Lauren want for your future as a couple? - @TheIslandLez, Canada 

K: We want so many things in the future! I definitely want to have kids and Lauren shares that passion. 

On a more serious note, Danielle from California asked: Do you think marriage is a possibility for Lauren and yourself in the future?  

K: Marriage is also something that we think about already, but right now we are both very much focused on our careers and learning the ins and outs of each other. We believe you should know everything about each other before you make such a big commitment! 

Do you have any favourite bands (except Hunter Valentine)? – Fay, Oklahoma City 

K: I love the Distillers, Muse, Kings of Leon, Andrew Bird, Rihanna, Calvin Harris and the list goes on!

Kiyomi loves the Distillers? Right on!

What do you think about Kiyomi? So much nicer than they portrayed her on The Real L Word, am I right?

Check out Hunter Valentine's official website: http://www.huntervalentine.com/

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Hunter Valentine & Lauren Russell at Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors Fund"

Don't you love it when your favourite reality lesbians get on the charity work?

So do we!

Check out these awesome photos from NYC on December 8th.

Hunter Valentine and Lauren Bedford Russell ("The Real L Word") attend the 2nd annual Cyndi Lauper and Friends: 

Home For The Holidays presented by Lauper’s True Colors Fund  

at The Beacon Theatre on December 8, 2012 in New York City.

The event helps to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness and raises money for the organization's Forty to None Project.

Other celebrities in attendance included: Adam Lambert, Andy Cohen, Sarah McLachlan, Carmen Electra, Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, Terri Nunn, Jason Mraz and Cyndi Lauper, among others.

Hunter Valentine looking hot as balls - as always.

Is that Adam Lambert?!

Look! Its everyone's favourite couple - Lauren & Kiyomi.

Gorgeous, right?

What do you think of the photos? And don't you just wish you were there?!

"Grey's Anatomy" Creator On Why She Includes Gay Characters

You know that little, low key drama on television, Grey's Anatomy? Of course you do.

Well Shonda Rhimes, the show's creator is responsible for one of lesbianism's current favourite television couples, Calzona.

And as usual, Ms. Rhimes succeeded in giving an applause-worthy response when asked "why she has all the gays on her shows".

Check it out:

“And because I love all my gay and lesbian friends. AND because I think same-sex marriage is the civil rights fight of our era and back when being a person of color was the civil rights fight, people like Norman Lear put black people on TV and helped change some minds. So you know, it's gotta be paid forward. As long as we are willing to sit by while one person is not free, none of us are free.”

Amen, sistah!

*Cue shameless plug of Grey's Anatomy*

If you've never watched it, GO WATCH IT. If not just for the lovely ladies above, a.k.a. Jessica Capshaw (left) and Broadway songstress, Sara Ramirez.

It's gritty, raw drama. Check it out. We've already proved its LGBT friendly!

LESMOVIE REVIEW: Room In Rome (2010)

What's that? That's the sound of me reviewing the second lesbian movie in my lesbian movie review series!

I know you're excited.

This time it was Room in Rome, suggested to me by an anonymous reader, which pretty much all takes place in one room... in Rome.

The movie can be summarized by a series of images:



(Source | bloodyalba via Tumblr)


(Source | fuckyeahelenaanaya via Tumblr) 

(Source | flyto-venus via Tumblr)

(Source | bloodyalba via Tumblr)
Looks pretty sexy, right?
Honestly, the film looks like its all about sex, but there are a dozen of mixed and hidden metaphors within the movies. You probably won't spot or understand all of them, but they are there.
Room in Rome tells the story of Alba (Elena Anaya, Van Helsing) and Natasha (played by Natasha Yarovenko, Youth) - if they are their real names - and how they spent a night together on their last day in Rome. Sounds pretty boring when you put it like that... but its not!
You probably won't like this film if you're not into gritty, raw realist movies, but if you do then this is the film for you.
The cinematography is actually pretty fantastic and if you're into independent movies, this one will fit right in with your collection.
I honestly don't want to spoil the entire movie for you, so there's not much more I can say about it... but this movie is not just about a Room in Rome. Its about love. Watch it and see.
Lesmovie Rating: 8 and a half out of 10 - I was tempted to give it a 9 but I'm harsh. Watch it!

Hunter Valentine Announce West Coat Tour w/ Sum 41!

You read correctly: the awesome Hunter Valentine will be touring with one of the most successful pop-punk bands, Sum 41!

HUNTER VALENTINE is a band in nonstop motion.  From starring on Season 3 of Showtime's The Real L Word to the release of their third record, Collide & Conquer on Megaforce/Sony in October to a just-wrapped 6-week tour of North America, the ladies of Hunter Valentine are everywhere.  Now the band has announced a January West Coast tour with fellow Canadians SUM 41 which kicks off on January 8th in San Diego (tour dates below). 

Formed when singer/guitarist Kiyomi McCloskey met drummer Laura Petracca in a crowded bar in their hometown of Toronto, the two quickly forged an unbreakable bond that has seen the band create three studio albums and tour over 200+ dates a year and includes bassist Veronica "Vero" Sanchez.  For Collide & Conquer the band teamed up with famed Canadian producer Greig Nori, best known for his hit-making influence on SUM 41 and Iggy Pop.  Nori turned out to be exactly what Hunter Valentine needed to hone their skills and craft a new record that packs a serious punch.  The release of Collide & Conquer has the band has turning up everywhere from the cover of Curve Magazine to Huffington Post to Revolver Magazine's Hottest Chicks in Metal issue. 

Their first single, "Liar, Liar" has been burning up airwaves everywhere from Portland to Chicago to DC, and the song is a shining example of Hunter Valentine's distinctive, intense melodies and fiercely bold rock.  It's clear the band has arrived and is exploding into the mainstream.  Hunter Valentine have never been more primed to take the musical world by storm.

TOUR DATES:
1/8/13 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
1/10/13 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
1/11/13 - West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
1/12/13 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
1/15/13 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
1/16/13 - Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
1/18/13 - Portland, OR @ Roseland
1/19/13 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox at Market

No word as to when the tickets are coming on sale yet, but keep a look out - don't miss your chance!

Check out my review of a Hunter Valentine gig HERE.

LESBOOK REVIEW: But She is My Student

Looking for some easy-read, lesbian novels?

Then we have a treat for you!

Kiki Archer is an up and coming, out lesbian author from the United Kingdom.

Her first, best-selling novel, But She is My Student caters chiefly to the lady lovin' lady audience - not to say men and straight women can't enjoy it too!

BSIMS tells the story of a forbidden romance between a teacher and her student - now where have we heard that before?

However, unlike its motion picture siblings (Loving Annabelle, Bloomington), Archer's tale has a difference.

First and foremost, it is set in a UK school. True, there are some references that North American (and other) audiences won't understand, but don't worry - this novel won't leave you feeling lost.

Archer succeeds in including relevant, modern allusions and interweaves them with an exciting plot that will leave you not wanting to put the book down. Of course, me being the grammar Nazi that I am, I spotted some grammar errors, but they don't get in the way of telling this great story.

The dialogue between the protagonists and their friends is never unrealistic - I'm pretty sure I've had some of these exact conversations in my real life! - and the characters are easily relatable, what with all their anxieties and drama, creating a love for each personality.

Perhaps the biggest difference from most lesbian media we see today is the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but it won't leave you disappointed like the majority of lesbian fiction.

On the whole, Kiki Archer is no doubt one of the top lesbian authors of today - being gay herself really shows throughout the novel and you can tell she has an understanding of troubles the LGBTQ community goes through day by day.

LesBook Rating: 9 out of 10 - I'm not saying its perfect, but its definitely worth a read! (Especially with there being so little, good lesbian novels out there.)

Click HERE to download the (extremely cheap!) Kindle version of But She is My Student. (And HERE if you're in North America!)

For more on Kiki Archer, go to her official website: http://www.kikiarcherbooks.com/

Coming Soon: We review Archer's sequel - Instigations!

LESMOVIE REVIEW: Bloomington (2010)

As an addition to this wonderful website of lesbianism, I've decided to begin reviewing a series of lesbian movies, all for your amusement.

The first movie in this series is a movie I watched last night - Bloomington.

Okay, maybe I'm a little late with this one. I'd heard of it, but never forced myself to watch it.

Made in 2010, Bloomington has a plot line not dissimilar to the 2006 lesbian movie, Loving Annabelle.

Teacher-student lesbian relationship? You got it. Take a look:




(Image courtesy of lezgirlslike via Tumblr)

Stopped staring at that image yet? Okay.

Unlike Loving Annabelle though, we follow a girl who was formally a child TV star named Jackie, who begins a new life at college, in a town aptly named 'Bloomington'.

Give the film, oh, around 15 minutes, and we already have our first lesbian kiss. That's right - unlike many other lesbian movies, this one gets going pretty much straight away. SCORE.

Jackie gets involved with her sexy psych professor, Catherine, who sweeps her off her feet in an instant.

Similarly to the majority however, this lesbian film comes with drama. Lots of drama.

Sure, you'll fangirl over this:



(Image: Lipstick-Lesbian via Tumblr)

But then you'll lose your shit over... Well, I can't ruin it for you, can I?!

Unfortunately, what would have been a good (if not ultra-cheesy) lesbian movie turns into an old lesbian cliché: the end is abrupt and sort of just fizzles out.

I won't tell you how it ends, but safe to say you're not gonna be happy about it. (Don't base your expectations of this lesbian love story on the likes of The Notebook, because the end will just disappoint the crap out of you.)

But hey... At least no one dies!*

Lesmovie Rating: 7 out of 10 - watch it... but don't expect too much.


*If you don't watch lesbian movies or television a lot, you probably won't know that someone always dies. So this was actually a nice surprise!