Hey! @afterellen! Forget something?
So, afterellen publishes a list of 17 Important Black Bi/Lesbian TV Characters and they leave out Kate MacKenzie?
Hang. On. A. Hot. New. York. Minute.
Kate McKenzie was one of the most important Black Bi/Lesbian characters on TV. Ever.
Last Tango in Halifax brought us the charming and gentle Kate McKenzie, who, along with Caroline Elliot, was the reason that lesbians all over the world tuned into a fairly standard BBC comedy-drama. And, until the writer had a brain infarction and employed the very tired and boring ‘Dead Lesbian’ trope, Kate McKenzie was the only lesbian of colour on UK television. The only woman of colour on the show at all (until her mother turned up for her funeral - and yet couldn’t “get away” for her daughter’s wedding. I can’t even go there. Don’t start me).
Let me see - more reasons than those above that Kate McKenzie should probably headed your list rather than being left off altogether?
Middle-aged lesbian (in a medium where anyone middle-aged is scarce, let alone WoC and a lesbian)
Middle class black lesbian
Pregnant black lesbian
Happy black lesbian
Happy lesbian
Happy, pregnant, black, middle-class, middle-aged lesbian
And let’s not forget that Kate was not a drug addict, not a hooker and not just waiting for the right man…
The very pretty Kate McKenzie faced the homophobia and racism of her future mother-in-law with grace and determination. She fought for her relationship with the magnificent Caroline Elliot and was one half of the first interracial lesbian wedding on British television.
Mrs and Mrs McKenzie-Dawson, take a bow.
Played by the glorious Nina Sosanya and opposite the equally glorious Sarah Lancashire, the characters of Kate McKenzie and Caroline Elliot brought a huge audience of bi and lesbian women a reflection of themselves that they hadn’t seen before. They bought nuance and humour and beauty and hot lady sex to two lovely characters. And Kate was one of the very few roles for a black actress in television. And Nina brought it. She gave it her all and it’s a testament to her that Kate was so loved and is now so missed.
Just as importantly, until Sally Wainwright smashed it all to pieces like a four year old’s tantrum with Lego, it was about us, being seen by people who normally wouldn't be exposed to us. Visibility is important, reflection is important. We don’t take our validity from tv or other people’s words and characters, but it’s awfully nice to come home, put your feet up and see a bit of your life and some diversity on your telly. And hot lady Caroline and Kate sexiness. Just sayin’…
We could go on. (And, indeed, we have but we’re tired of being angry and sad and it’s not going to change it). Instead, afterellen, why don’t you revise and republish your list? To correct a grievous oversight?
snowghoul
jbbartram-illu
gummygunk
jacobvanloon
germansingergirl
janainaart
areudirty
dededos
