JAQ ON THE BOX with Jaq Bayles

After my Jaq on the Box column from 2005 cropped up in Chris Gull’s raid of the archives last month, it occurred to me just how much has changed in the world of TV in 15 years. Back then I would have struggled to fill a page with commentary on shows featuring LGBTQ characters, despite the fact that Wikipedia, that well-known font of accurate information on any subject, offers quite a list of 16 in that year.

Among series of the day that may sound familiar and featured LGB characters were The L Word, Lost, Bones, Dr Who, Grey’s Anatomy and Sugar Rush. But without access to cable or satellite, even some of these would not have been available to the UK viewer, and often queer characters in the full list were peripheral at best. How things have changed… I’m not sure what it says about my viewing habits (probably that I watch far too much TV), but I have picked up on a plethora of series – mainly American or Canadian admittedly – that feature strong LGB and even T characters in prominent roles. Corrie’s Hayley cropped up in 1998, the first transgender character in a British soap and the first “permanent transgender character in the world of serialised drama”, according to Transgender: A History. But she was portrayed by a cis actor, which has often been the case with trans characters. While there’s still a long way to go to redress the balance of representation of trans and non-binary people on TV screens, there are at least now a handful of regular characters in popular series being portrayed by trans and non-binary actors.

Orange is the New Black’s trans credit card fraudster inmate Sophia Burset is played by trans woman Laverne Cox, while in Good Girls, also available on Netflix, 11-year-old Sadie, who transitions to Ben, is played by Isaiah Stannard, who was cast presenting as female, but came out as trans when he joined the show in 2018. Over on Sky Witness (don’t judge), 911-Lone Star features black transgender firefighter Paul Strickland, played by trans actor Brian Michael Smith. The premise of the show sees a fire chief given a remit to repopulate a decimated fire house with workers who all offer representations of diversity – trans, gay, a thrill-seeking Muslim… And all apparently inspired by actual events. The original 911 features an out black lesbian firefighter, Hen, whose on-screen wife is played by Tracie Thoms. While both those actors remain tight-lipped about their sexuality, they bring us nicely on to the roll call of my favourite TV lesbians du jour. I could bang on about Gentleman Jack (lord knows I do it often enough), and Killing Eve, and Wentworth Prison and Orange, but you’ve probably already watched these, so with more lockdown restrictions on the horizon, here are a few of my top tips for anyone fancying a foray into the lesser-known lesbian/bisexualwomen realms governed by the remote control.

First up is Stumptown, an ABC show which was aired on Alibi. Based on a limited-run comic book series and set in Portland, Oregon, it stars Cobie Smulders (and she does) as Dex Parios, an ex-Marine-turned PI struggling with PTSD. She is a tough-talking, wise-cracking, hard-drinking, gambling, uncompromising character who’s pretty fluid in her choice of bedmates. The character is complex and compelling, funny and tragic – and, while the show has its share of upfront male characters, it’s the women who wield the power. Bingeworthy if you can find it. Interestingly, not a few of the shows I’ve found are based on some kind of law enforcer, the latest being Tommy, a procedural crime drama featuring Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) as the eponymous first female chief of LAPD. I’m having to watch it in real time so it’s pretty early days, but she’s already come out as lesbian, and she has both the gravitas and the levity to overcome conflicts with the often angry men around her who feel undermined by a woman in control. In LA’s Finest, the LAPD is once again in the spotlight in a crime drama which showcases female detective partners Syd Burnett (Gabrielle Union) and Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba), the former a(nother) wise-cracking bisexual… I never suggested any of these shows lacked cliches, but while it may be formulaic, LA’s Finest has its moments.

Finally to the men (sorry boys), and my absolute favourite gay man ever on TV, Schitt’s Creek’s David Rose, played by Daniel Levy, who co-created the show with dad Eugene. Levy is himself gay and brilliant as the entitled David, who, along with mum, dad and sister Alexis (equally genius), is evicted from his family mansion and forced to live in a motel in the town of the title. David’s upbringing should make him intolerable, but he manages to come across as both sweet and caustic – and has the most amusing wardrobe ever to grace a Canadian backwater. If you haven’t seen it, I urge you to watch Schitt’s Creek – it’s been the best thing I’ve seen on Netflix all year… perhaps ever. And there are six seasons. Enjoy – I’m jealous.