MovieChat Forums > Cagney & Lacey (1981) Discussion > How is this a 'gay icon' show?

How is this a 'gay icon' show?

posted 15 years ago by ken68imdb
3 replies | jump to latest

I've heard this for a while, but I still don't understand how Sharon Gless' portrayal of Cagney is a big step forward for gay people. I wasn't the biggest fan of the show when it ran, but I don't recall any overt lesbian themes or stories. Perhaps I missed something, but I didn't read anything about them in the C&L online articles I perused recently. Would someone please clear this up for me?

Whatever you wish for me, I hope you have twice as much.

[–] Leveticus 15 years ago

Two women working closely all the time plus Lacey looking like a butch (which is funny considering her character was married to a man) are just excuses for gay people to find stuff that they think represent them. I think lesbians were more attracted to Cagney though because she looked beautiful, but also kicked ass and was the stronger of the two.

If anything, C&L was more important for women considering it was the first serious drama series with two female leads.

FU** TWILIGHT!

[–] ken68imdb 15 years ago

Thanks for the reply. I agree that the series seemed to be about straight women making strides in the workforce, not really gay women. As you noted, I guess people find in others what they want to see.

Whatever you wish for me, I hope you have twice as much.

[–] Radomira (1) 2 years ago

It was not a gay icon show. The two leads were straight women but some figured that Christine Cagney was a gay character because she had random relationships with men which never really lasted long and a very loving and caring relationship with Mary Beth Lacey. But the two leads were never seen as lesbian on the show although Sharon Gless herself said that Cagney might have somewhat of a "gay character structure" in herself but it was never officially confirmed. This wasn't a "gay show."