Over the last three of its five seasons, The L Word has sent messages that erode positive representations of bisexuality by creating story lines and characters who reinforce myths that all bisexuals are crazy, in denial about their true sexual orientation, and likely to cheat on their partners for the other gender. The show didn't always so flagrantly display this style of prejudice. It used to discount it.

When The L Word debuted in 2004, it featured two strong bisexual protagonists — the characters of Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) and Jenny Schecter (Mia Kirshner) — on very different sexual journeys. Alice was an out bisexual, always eager to defend the legitimacy of her orientation to her lesbian friends; Jenny was discovering her attraction to women while in a heterosexual relationship.

Through these two characters, particularly Alice, the writers addressed the lesbian community's biphobia while still acknowledging the legitimacy of the orientation. Unfortunately, this informed depiction of bisexuality proved short-lived, surviving only the first season.

As a bisexual viewer, I kept tuning into The L Word in hope that it would magically revert to the beginning, when it portrayed bisexuality fairly. That hope officially died last Sunday during The L Word's fifth season episode "Lay Down the Law," when our former bisexual heroine, Alice, confirmed to viewers everywhere, under oath, that she's now a lesbian.

Called to testify during a military hearing concerning her girlfriend Tasha's sexual orientation, Alice is drilled by Col. Gillian Davis about her own sexuality. "So, you’re a lesbian, Miss Piezecki?" Davis asks.

Alice responds, "Last time I checked."

Though Alice has been gay for more than a season now, I, like many bisexual viewers, maintained hope that her character wouldn't fulfill the stereotype that all female fence-sitters transition into lesbians. My expectations were a little too optimistic.

Way Back When

During the first season of The L Word, someone's bisexuality would be challenged by a lesbian character, and the recipient of the challenge would defend her sexual orientation. For instance, in the pilot episode when her friend Dana attacks Alice for her bisexuality, Alice fends off the accusation that she needs to pick a side:

Dana: Christ, Alice, when are you going to make up your mind between dick and pussy? And spare us the gory bisexual details, please.
Alice: Well, for your information, Dana, I'm looking for the same qualities in a man that I am in a woman.

Later in the first season, Alice dates a man. True, it's for comic relief — he's "a lesbian-identified man" named Lisa — but her craving for male intimacy comes off as believable. Alice tells Tina, who questions Alice's rationale for "going back to men," that she's "had enough drama and mindf---s, and women are f---ing crazy."

Tina (Laurel Holloman), a recovering bisexual, reminds Alice that "men are boring." Alice replies, "Yeah, well bring it on, 'cause I could use a little nice, uncomplicated boring boy-girl sex masquerading as love."

In Season 1, we are also introduced to Jenny, who's in love with Tim. She seems to enjoy having sex with him after describing the two naked lesbians she saw in Bette and Tina's swimming pool. Later, she confirms her love of Tim to her lover Marina, saying: "I'm going to marry Tim. I can't imagine my life without him. I don't want to imagine my life without him."