Best of both worlds
The Bisexual explores Leila’s journey after she dumps her girlfriend of 10 years and comes out as bisexual.
When tech guru Leila (Desiree Akhavan, Chandra in comingof-age drama series Girls) is questioned about a future with her business partner and girlfriend of 10 years Sadie (Maxine Peake, Veronica in the original British version of dark comedy series Shameless), she’s overcome with fear and doubt in new sixepisode Brit comedy series The Bisexual.
It’s not that New Yorker Leila – who’s relocated to London like actress Desiree – has fallen out of love with Sadie, it’s a bit deeper. Sure, Leila has commitment issues and insecurities about marriage and children, but it turns out that she’s not fully lesbian – she’s bisexual.
“Leila takes a break from her relationship with Sadie, she moves out of their shared apartment and she explores her sexuality. For the first time, 30-something-year-old Leila dates men after having identified as lesbian her entire life. “I’m thrilled to have been able to create a show that represents my community,” explains Desiree, who, like her character, identifies as bisexual. “With everything I write, I’d like people to feel less alone. If someone meets their first bisexual friend through watching the comedy show, in terms of loving the characters, that would be incredible,” adds the actress.
As the hilarious Leila awkwardly navigates the dating world as a bisexual woman, she stumbles across difficulties, and she soon considers rekindling her romance with Sadie.
BISEXUALITY & INVISIBILITY
The show delves into the stigma that’s attached to bisexuality. As if Leila’s split isn’t tricky enough to process, she’s also terrified to come out to her lesbian friends as she fears judgement. For the most part, Leila and her friends shame bisexual people. They think that bisexuality equates to confusion and one day bisexuals will snap out of the uncertainty and pick a side.
And while Leila gathers the courage to tell her friends about her awakening, her new roomie Gabe (Brian
Gleeson, Jimmy McCavern in period drama series
Peaky Blinders) becomes her wingman. “We discuss what it means to be in the ‘middle’. Leila worries that she has betrayed her lesbian family. It’s as if she has one foot in the marginalised group and the other in the mainstream. It’s strange for her,” says Desiree.
Throughout the series, Desiree confronts myths and stereotypes associated with bisexuality. “Just the very nature of being attracted to men and women implies duplicity. Bisexuality is seen as something that is taboo in both the queer and straights world. It’s considered gauche, tacky and in bad taste.”
CLOSE TO HOME
The Bisexual is inspired by Desiree’s real life though. Like Leila, she battled to accept her sexuality as she was condemned by the queer community and her family. “I happen to belong to several cultures that are at odds with each other,” says Desiree, adding, “I grew up in the US and my whole family is from Iran. I’m also bisexual, which is sort of persona non grata in the homosexual community, because you’re deemed both gay and straight. Whatever community I’m in, I’m an outsider.”
As a result, the overarching theme in the show is Leila’s sense of disorientation. “It’s cathartic writing about Leila’s issues with her sexuality, sometimes it’s painful,” explains Desiree. “Most of the comedy series is about naming the worst fears about myself, and in other moments; it’s about getting into the unpleasant and the best of the people around me. There are aspects that I had been ashamed of when we we’re in the writing room that I feel less shame to discuss now,” says the show creator.