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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Karman Kregloe

by Karman Kregloe

TV Alert: "Straight" girls with gay crushes, plus Jackie Warner today on "The Tyra Banks Show"

According to Tyra Banks, "Across America, more and more straight girls are getting gay crushes."

Well if Tyra says it, it must be true. And not only is Tyra saying so, she's devoting an entire episode of her talk show to the phenomenon.

Today on The Tyra Banks Show, Tyra talks to different women who identify as heterosexual yet still find themselves falling for lesbians. In the preview video on show's official website, one of them tells her, "Every woman is interested in being with another woman."

Really? Every woman? Even Tyra? While I'd love to hear her address those rumors, I'm not betting on it.

Instead, I think she'll just trot out a few other women willing to talk about their own experiences in that department.

The promotional materials for the episode read:

Is everyone a little bit gay? Women who insist they’re straight admit to having crushes on other women. Is it possible to be straight, but have a crush and be sexually attracted to another person of the same sex? Meet guests who confess their secret gay crushes -- and some who are already involved in lesbian love affairs! Then the Tyra Show cameras follow a female pick-up artist who says she is on the prowl for “straight” women to date.

The L Word has only been gone for a couple of days, but has Shane already found new work?

In the preview video for the episode, Tyra bullies convinces a straight woman to ask a lesbian that she's interested in if she'd like to be in a relationship with her.

It's a televised request, but no pressure Ms. Sweater-Vest-Wearing-Lesbian. No pressure at all.

Tyra also tells us that "women everywhere" are losing their minds over Work Out star Jackie Warner. Warner stops by to talk about her own irresistibility, and Tyra asks her to spill the beans on which "straight" celebrities have hit on her

Will Jackie Warner really name names? Will Jackie's ex-girlfriend Mimi make an appearance and bite Tyra? Will anyone bring up the concept of bisexuality?

Tune in today on Fox (check these listings for air times in your city) and find out!

empiremunchies's picture

Watched the show!

It was entertaining as usual but a little sad.  I'd first like to say that Tyra is AT LEAST bisexual.  She and Whoopie have been really slipping up the past year or so in hiding their sexuality (if infact they are actually trying to hide it).

Secondly...Lisa from the Tila Tequila show was too funny.  She was on the prowl trying to pick up "straight" girls in the park.  Telling us all her little tricks of the trade..i.e  "fake texting".  I don't believe you can pick up "straight" girls...they either are or they aren't.

The only part of the show that made me cringe a little was when the "straight" girl who was in a relationship with a lesbian came on the show to confess that she was still in love with the lesbian.  That girl had it BADDDDDD!!!  And the lesbian didn't seem at all interested but pretty much said the generic things as not to embarass the girl on national tv...TAKE NOTE BACHELOR JASON!

Chilaxing's picture

SEXUALITY

"Will anyone bring up the concept of bisexuality?" - that's what I thought too. They probably won't bring up that concept because that will just take away from the sensationalist approach that she seems to be taking.

Tyra has been on my gaydar for a while now.

siobhan's picture

Can't watch!

Oh this is so bad. I can't even watch. And I usually love Tyra.

Firstly- has bisexuality suddenly slipped out of the dictionary?

Secondly- The obsession with labels is frightening. Most people are as guilty as each other on this topic. 

Anonymous's picture

thank you Karman for that last comment

you can be borderline without being psychotic!!!! bisexuality is a real term with a real meaning and I'm still mystified to why the TV industry can't grasps that...without it turning into 'grey's anatomy' or 'amc' and I would rather not get into that discussion.
jamlawgirl's picture

Well, the

Well, the sweater-vest-wearing-lesbian is cute.

But I don't think even her cuteness will get me to watch. I can tell it will just annoy me.

prufrock1019's picture

Sweater vests

Sweater vests don't get nearly enough love, in my humble opinion. To date, I own six of them. Argyle ones are the best. :P

------------------

Stewie: Listen, why don't you save yourself years of sexual ambiguity and get fitted for a pair of Doc Martens and a plaid flannel shirt?

BiRobot's picture

I agree.  There's

I agree.  There's something really hot about a girl in a nice sweater vest.

I have to work all day and will therefore miss this television gem.  If only she had invited me; I could tell her a thing or two about bisexuality...

"No problem is insoluble, given a big enough plastic bag."

Ty Rock's picture

ditto

  though i am partial to Tiger Woods' line of sweater vests.

 

------------------------------------------

http://thequeerafrican.blogspot.com/

Queer Africans say aye!

marcia's picture

gone sweater vests shopping

they are cute. must be in part because that girl wearing it is super cute!!! Damn i like her smile.

Eleni's picture

I agree on all counts!

I agree on all counts!!  Although I also won't watch it because I'm at work!

 

I also agree that sweater vests don't get enough love. I had four of them until one had a run in with a pen and the washer. Mom was right when she said "always check your pockets before doing laundry!" Grr...

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

I DVRed this.

As soon as I heard about this show, I texted my girlfriend to DVR it.  I know I'm probably going to get slammed for this, but I'm glad Tyra's doing a show about this because I believe it is a reality.  As I said on another post, I believe in the Kinsey scale and I think it's possible for a woman who identifies as heterosexual to develop feelings for another woman.  It could be strong admiration, a little crush, intrigue, or true feelings of love.  These feelings don't always have to change the way an individual identifies themselves sexually, but could be just an isolated instance which was the exception to the rule. 

I think our society's majority falls somewhere in between completely gay and completely straight.  It is up to the individual to decide which label is appropriate.  I do acknowledge that there are some that are 100% straight or 100% gay, but those who fall somewhere in between on the Kinsey scale do exist as much as we don't want to believe it.

I am holding my hands over my face to avoid the stones that are about to be thrown at me for my comment;).

http://www.nimzigirls.com

playthemusic814's picture

I agree.

I agree with your comment. It's funny my BFF and I were having the same conversation about a week ago. 

-------------------

~It means pride.~

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

Thanks, music.

Love your tat:).

http://www.nimzigirls.com

Lowell's picture

agreed

especially this part: "These feelings don't always have to change the way an individual identifies themselves sexually, but could be just an isolated instance which was the exception to the rule."
jennifer from pittsburgh's picture

Tyra is so '02. At this

Tyra is so '02. At this rate she'll never be the next Oprah, but if she throws in some baby daddy DNA tests and a shaky handheld cam following a screaming woman, she might be the next Maury.
Amanda Kay! :)'s picture

hahaha... bisexuality.. no way..

Yeah.. will anyone bring up the concept of bisexuality? No, there is no such thing as bisexuality! Only heterosexuals that want to have sex with people of the same sex!!! 
Amanda Kay! :)'s picture

and you know...

that 'straight' woman... these 'straight' women.. they must believe that they are too pretty or perfect or are afraid of the word bisexual and do not want to be identified as a lesbian because of what people would think or the associations of being gay (they must think its just an unattractive quality to society.. and let's face it, to a number of people it is a terrible quality) but if they were straight and perfect and they can be gay at the same time, its the best of both worlds!!! and calling it BI makes is BORING... like its WAY cooler, haven't you heard? To be straight and gay and the same time?  Its TOTALLY hot and in and TOTALLY Katy Perry! 
InaccuratelyNamed's picture

Don't think so.

If they were afraid of homosexuality or bisexuality and whether or not its considered "unattractive" in society, why would they talk about it on national TV?

http://www.nimzigirls.com

Queer Silver's picture

I'm gonna be the devil's

I'm gonna be the devil's advocate here and say that there is an allure for women to identify as straight and confess their attraction to other women. In fact, the male fantasy of  two women getting it on rings a bell. Attraction's one thing but identifying is another and that is way scarier for some. It's like once you profess it, there's almost no turning back and maybe they just wanna avoid any kind of stigma or whatnot.

By bisexuality's definition, they fit right into it. Hey girls on the Tyra show! Show some bi pride!

 

-MJ

Spread the RAINBOW!

http://mgayness.livejournal.com

eve_jig_it's picture

I get what you mean

I get what you mean. There are some straight women who like the intriguing looks they get when they say they're attracted to other women while still remaining apparently entirely straight themselves. Maybe some woman that say they're straight even though they're attracted to other woman don't want to call themselves bi for all the reasons that you say. Remaining straight maybe allows them to feel less confused so that they can base their attraction on pure aesthetics and not put it down to the actual attraction that would imply that its more than just the surface that they like but the plain gender as well. 

I haven't seen this Tyra episode so I don'k know if 'the concept of 'bisexuality' was discussed or not. But I would guess not. Or if it was, probably not to any great depth seeing as bisexuality isn't 'seriously discussed or viewed highly by some peeps. 

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

I get it.

I get what you mean, but if everything you say is true, do you have any idea how few people would be completely gay or compeletely straight?  Not that many.  That's why I say that people get to decide what they're labelled.  These "straight" women find something attractive in the form of another woman and luckily our society is becoming more accepting of that.  They're not necessarily focusing on the gender of the person.  I don't know why these lesbians even care.  It's not like Tyra's going to snatch your gay card.

http://www.nimzigirls.com

Amanda Kay! :)'s picture

Good point.

um, i guess I care as a bi girl who gave up the privileges of heterosexuality to identify as bi, and my family and much of my friends always side line me as a lesbian, or straight and just mesmorized by my girlfriend.. its frustrating to think about b/c if I date a man again, they will either be all oh you are going to leave him for a woman eventually because you're a lesbian! or that I was always straight in the first place. I just think that there is a lot of ignorance and discomfort in our society about bisexuality, and there are many degrees and levels of bisexuality out there, but technically, even if you are only 10% gay, you are still bi, as long as you are sexually attracted to both genders. I think there should be different words for it I guess, like a word for each percentage of gayness! Haha, that would really piss people off but make a whole lot of sense out of bisexuality. 
Lowell's picture

lol

good post.

who wants to give up the privilege of heterosexuality? 

 

iluvpie's picture

Lisa is awesome!

she is so good at picking up girls. but i personally like to stay away from straight girls.

also, Tyra has like at least one gay episode a week, maybe shes trying to tell us something?

prufrock1019's picture

I try to stay away from

I try to stay away from straight girls too. It seems like everytime I hit on a straight girl, it just doesn't go anywhere. Hmm, very odd. ;)

------------------

Stewie: Listen, why don't you save yourself years of sexual ambiguity and get fitted for a pair of Doc Martens and a plaid flannel shirt?

Anonymous's picture

Cringe.

I could see some straight women finding this entertaining. Just makes me cringe, though. 

Inkblots

Zbornak's picture

Thought I Was The Only One

...who was cringing. I just don't find this entertaining. Maybe it's because there aren't any hot straight girls that are wiling to take a chance on me or maybe it's because i've been badly burned by them.
Anonymous's picture

Nah.

It's just because it's unoriginal, and the whole "straight girl crushing on a lesbian" stamp isn't actually conducive to any meaningful dialogue about sexual fluidity.

Then again, it is Tyra we're talking about. While she has used her powers for good, maybe I shouldn't expect too much. 

Inkblots

SpecialK7's picture

Sigh

The L Word has only be gone for one day, but has Shane already found new work?

This made me laugh hysterically. As for bisexuality, I've found myself in that discussion at CLUBS twice in the past 4 months...once with a lesbian and once with a straight guy.  Why must everyone care so much about labels?  It's about the person. It gets really annoying to have the same conversation over and over again.

Tyra also tells us that "women everywhere" are losing their minds over Work Out star Jackie Warner. Warner stops by to talk about her own irresistibility, and Tyra asks her to spill the beans on which "straight" celebrities have hit on her.

I saw Jackie out in West Hollywood last Friday. Almost didn't recognize her with the longer hair (I guess all the Work Out shows I had seen she had short hair) and Mimi was there as well... And, personally, I don't see the attraction there. Maybe she's just not my type.

L to the's picture

the sweatervest

i had absolutely no say in the outfit. you should have seen what they tried to make me wear before that. lets just say i had to settle for the librarian dyke look.

 

besides making me declare my "lets just be friends" attitude towards daphnee, tyra also forced me to declare my sexual identity (i would have said queer if she'd asked in a less forceful way). whatever, she's family, yall.  

Chilaxing's picture

SWEATERVEST RULES

Hahaha well you looked great in the AE photo and I seriously would wear that outfit to see if the ladies would declare their love for me :-P 

 

katetron3000's picture

Please tell me that Tyra at

Please tell me that Tyra at least told you to "smile with your eyes!" before you went out there. Also, if you don't mind me asking, what made you go on in the first place? I'm not asking in a judging way, I've just always wondered how the people in charge get friends and family members to agree to go on TV for weird crap like this. Did they tell you what the show was about in advance?
dntelfan's picture

Hmm.

I can't stand Jackie Warner. Not only does her personality suck, I don't really see the hotness. It figures she'd do a show like this.

 

Where are all these straight women who want to date women and why don't they live around me?

zephyr's picture

Bisexual or Coming Out?

Largely because of the ages of the "straight" women with crushes on lesbians, I think most of them were in the coming out process.  Some of them may be bisexual or gay.  They just don't know yet, but I'm sorry I don't buy the idea that any woman coming on national tv to profess her inability to ignore/forget/sublimate the attraction she has for another woman is straight.  All the couples were cute.

Lisa is a lesbian player, and I like her style.  She's cool about it, assertive without being creepy.  The only thing not clear is does she like to love 'em and leave 'em, or does it ever turn into anything more.

Tyra definitely has a crush on Janet Jackson.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  If you have watched any of her shows with Ms. Jackson, it is undeniable.  It goes way beyond celebrity oogling.  I'm not going to put a label on it, but I don't think Ms. Banks is entirely straight.  She loves women too much.  Not to mention Tyra does love to flirt with women she considers attractive.

Anonymous's picture

You All Made Me Laugh

www.myspace.com/lunakiss7.com

I love these comments. Tyra being "family" or one of the children  is not news to me. No figure if she would come out. She has too much obession with the gays-LOL. Unless she's trying to reign over Phil Donhaue's diversity inclusion. I'll be honest I didn't like Tyra back in the day  but....she's making me change my mind about her b/c of her queer friendliness and homegirl "femme" attitude. Plus any actress that's not over a man or do odd things like say she married to herself (cough) Queen Latifah pings my Lesdar!

dvaux's picture

Innaccuratly

 wtf?  Sorry sweetie but I'm about  to start swinging so you might want to duck.  You believe in the 'Kinsey scale' ?  Don't get me wrong, I checked your blog, and almost everything ellse you had to say I'm good with.  But the Kinsey scale...?  You're agreeing to a test from 1948, and you accept that it applies to you, today? 

\ "just give me some palm trees, and tales from the south seas, and I just might turn your head."

Jimmy Buffett

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

I can handle it.

Don't worry, sweetie.  I can handle it.  Yes, I do agree with the Kinsey scale.  I am not going to sit here and say I have done extensive research on it, but I see evidence of it in my life every day.

My girlfriend is very much a lesbian, but has mentioned a guy she went out with in her early 20s after a bad breakup with a girl.  She found herself being extremely attracted to him and developing feelings.  I don't think this makes her any less a lesbian.  It just means that she's probably a 5 on the Kinsey scale, which is predominantly homosexual/incidentally heterosexual.  Incidentally means that her finding a guy that interests her would be the exception to the rule.  I think this is much more common than we, in the gay community, would like to admit.  I date women exclusively, but I'm sure there are probably one or two men out there that I could possibly fall in love with.  It just so happens that there are about a million more women than men.  Call me bisexual all you want.  Bisexuality does not scare me, but as far as I'm concerned, I get to choose what I am labelled as and that will always be a lesbian.  If these straight girls find themselves attracted to one woman in their whole life and still want to consider themselves straight, that's fine by me.  They're probably a 2 on the Kinsey scale (predominantly heterosexual/incidentally homosexual).

http://www.nimzigirls.com

e^(i Pi) + 1 = 0's picture

Hello, I've been

Hello,

I've been floating around this site for somewhere upwards of 6 months and it seems to me that I'm seeing references on AE to the Kinsey scale more and more these days. The worry that this represents resurgence in its popularity is what has spurred me to finally post something.

The Kinsey scale is inherently flawed.  It is far too one dimensional to accurately represent human sexuality and any scientist worth one jot considers his statistical methodologies unacceptable for any serious scientific study. 

By all means, do continue to believe in the fluidity of sexuality (human behaviour seems to indicate that the theory is correct) but if I were you, I’d find another study to back up the argument.

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

As I said earlier...

Like I said in an earlier post, I am in no way using the Kinsey scale as 100% set in stone evidence of how I feel about sexuality.  I just simply find it to be pretty accurate in observing the lives of those around me and in the media as well.  I only bring it up because most are familiar with it and it is relatively easy to understand if some have never been informed about it.  If you have read my posts, you will see that I do not use the Kinsey scale to serve as proof of my arguments, but rather my experiences and observations as evidence of the validity of the Kinsey scale's ideals.

http://www.nimzigirls.com

e^(i Pi) + 1 = 0's picture

Ideals and statements

Ideals and statements cannot be valid, only arguments and proofs can be.

Your experiences and observations only serve to anecdotal evidence to support Kinsey's theory not the scale he devised.  Kinsey may well have been correct with regards to his beliefs about sexuality but that doesn't mean we should hold his outdated and flawed scale to be scientifically worthy of praise or use it to define anybody.

In addition, I'm not entirely convinced that you understand what the Kinsey scale attempts to illustrate.  You said earlier: 

'I think our society's majority falls somewhere in between completely gay and completely straight. I do acknowledge that there are some that are 100% straight or 100% gay, but those who fall somewhere in between on the Kinsey scale do exist as much as we don't want to believe it.'

Alfred Kinsey would be horrified.  This is what I was getting at earlier when I said that the scale is too one dimentional, we have to stop thinking of sexuality as a straight line.  His theory was that sexuality is fluid and can, and does, change over time.  Which is actually a much more radical and interesting theory than the simplified everyone is bisexual doctrine. 

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

Well...

I apologize for saying anything that might cause Kinsey to be "horrified."  I feel that I made it very clear that I hadn't studied the scale and his theories at length and to repeat myself once again, I was only using it as an example of how sexuality is more fluid than some of us would like to acknowledge.  I was unaware that this forum was designed to get us into a psychological debate regarding theorists and their validity within human behavior.  And for the record, I did not "hold his outdated and flawed scale to be scientifically worthy of our praise or use it to define anybody."  Not once in any of my posts did I express any of the above mentioned ideas.  You are taking a simple thought I stated and turning it into a debate about psychological theory.  The intention of this forum was to discuss whether straight woman can develop crushes on lesbians or if this makes them bisexual.  Bottom line, that is what I have been discussing.

http://www.nimzigirls.com

e^(i Pi) + 1 = 0's picture

There really isn't

There really isn't any need to get defensive.  I'm not interested in debating you, from my end this was a discussion.

"I was only using it as an example of how sexuality is more fluid than some of us would like to acknowledge"

Ah but that's not what you were doing.  You were using it not to illustrate fluidity but rather that most people are bisexual which is quite simply the wrong way to apply the scale.

"I was unaware that this forum was designed to get us into a psychological debate regarding theorists and their validity within human behavior."

Again, only arguments and proofs can be valid. People (theorists or otherwise) can not be valid. 

Also, I'm not engaging in a random debate about psychology or theorists, I only mentioned Alfred Kinsey and his beliefs.  You brought up the scale because you clearly you felt it was relevant, all I have discussed has been Kinsey and his scale so my discussion is as relevant as yours to the topic.  Kinsey can never be off topic if the topic is sexuality.

You've mentioned a couple of times that you haven't studied the scale or Kinsey's theories.  Perhaps in future if you insist on bringing scientific theories into a discussion, you'd be wise to stick to things of which you have a rudimentary understanding. 

If your tone is anything to go by, you have a problem with people correcting you, maybe if you take my advice people won’t have to correct you too often.

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

Actually...

I don't have a problem with people correcting me as long as it's in a respectful manner.  Rather, you have picked apart everything I've stated and been extremely condescending about it.  I have been making comments on forums for a while now and have had no problem disagreeing with other members.  It's part of it. 

"Perhaps in the future if you insist on bringing scientific theories into a discussion, you'd be wise to stick to things of which you have a rudimentary understanding.  If your tone is anything to go by, you have a problem with people correcting you, maybe if you take my advice people won't have to correct you too often."  If my memory serves me correctly, I never asked for your advice.  Maybe if you would make an effort to appreciate the ideas of other members rather than throwing around pseud-intellectual phrases to appear more educated, people will be more inclined to listen to your thoughts.

With that, I am done with this thread.  You can comment back in order to have the last word and disprove everything I've said, but I will no longer participate in this discussion that is no longer even addressing the issue that was originally intended.

http://www.nimzigirls.com

e^(i Pi) + 1 = 0's picture

Respect is not

Respect is not something that is automatically gained, it has to be earned. Similarly, I should not have to be appreciative of statements which are just plain wrong.

Until this post, my discussion was about Kinsey and I maintain that in talking about Kinsey I was not going off topic here particularly since you brought it up.

I'm really disappointed that you won't be returning to this because I would love to know what 'pseudo-intellectual phrases' I have used to 'appear more educated'.  I don’t suppose you could be tempted back in order to help me understand?

I have read over the replies I left you and I honestly couldn’t see anything that I felt could have led you to make such a quick judgment about my intellect or the standard of my education.  I understand that you feel you are above this conversation now and I inferred from your final note that you think you are being mature to back away now but all I ask is that you not insult me and then run away without offering any explanation. 

mPod's picture

wow. really?

Okay, I've done research on Kinsey and his scale and I don't understand the heavyhanded opposition to using his theory/scale as a simple heuristic. I don't think InaccuratelyNamed is attempting to use it as a tool to classify individuals in the traditional sense (be it as "bisexual" or otherwise). I think she's implying that the different levels of the scale that Kinsey posited imply that there is wiggle room for everyone.

There are some inconsistencies in what has been said here, but this is not an academic arena. I'm sure that most with any understanding of the theory do acknowledge that there are major problems with respect to its validity (and perhaps more imporantly its narrowness). That being said, when IN talks about the 'validity' of the scale I doubt she is espousing that her observations make the scale scientifically valid. I think she is simply making sense of what she sees by looking at Kinsey's scale, and consequently she finds that Kinsey's scale is more valid for her appraisal of individuals. Right now there is no truly universal theory that manages to explain away the complex diversity and fluidity of sexuality, so it is not surprising to see a rudimentary, adaptable and widely accessible theory being employed.

Persons not of the scientific community commonly adapt scientific theory to explain everyday events, so it's not so farfetched to see Kinsey's theory used as such. Even if the theory in its strictest sense is being misrepresented, perhaps we should step back, remove our labcoats, and just appreciate the fact that the theory has had such a great impact on those outside of the scientific community.

Also, fyi, there is a difference between simply correcting someone and berating them with your greater knowledge of the subject matter.

InaccuratelyNamed's picture

Thanks, M:).

I openly admit that I have not studied the scientific ideas of sexuality because, to be perfectly honest, I just don't think it's possible to pinpoint anything 100%.  Humans are simply way too complex, especially when it comes to sexual orientation.  "...Kinsey's scale is more valid for her appraisal of individuals."  That's exactly my point. 

Thanks for the defense.  It's nice to know that some AE ladies are open to hearing the ideas of others rather than chomping at the bit to correct them.

http://www.nimzigirls.com

Viva's picture

Jackie's irresitability

should be a fragrance. Cause damn, wouldn't you like some of that action? lol

strict machine's picture

i dont get this show in the uk

id totes watch it though.  i does like me some tyra.  jackie warner however i hate without having even seen her show.  so is tyra really in the family?
Nati's picture

RIZZO!

 OMFG!

I heard about this episode about a week ago and lost my flipping mind when I saw Rizzo (Tila Tequela sp?) contestant that won EVERY event she was in..besides the worthless "prize" that is Tila. anyway, I totally fell for Rizzo and I did the happy dance while watching her in  Tyra today lol.

I met a girl with the last name Rizzo and became her friend just so I could say that name haha.

yeah...Lisa RIZZO CALL ME Lol.

seriously.

"One Heart Too Many by BurningEden....BEST CALLICA Fanfiction evah!" just wanted to tell the world.

Kiseki's picture

I understand this topic

I ID as gay, but I do occasionally develop crushes on men and would probably sleep with one as well. But I don't wanna be in a relationship with one. So I say Im gay. Why can't straight women be this way as well?