L Word

Why does The Times want to legitimize homosexuality by running a review on the front of the Jan. 9 Calendar section about Showtime's new series "The L Word" ("Looking for Love," by Carina Chocano), and then continue to legitimize this abhorrent behavior with a feature story about the show on Page 46? Doesn't The Times have more edifying things to write about? Do I now have to make sure my 9-year-old daughter doesn't happen to glance at The Times before I do so that she is not exposed to the perversions it may contain?

Any doubt that "The L Word," Showtime's new series about the lives and loves of a group of young lesbians in Los Angeles, hopes to fill the void left when "Sex and the City" goes off the air in February should be dispelled by the show's tagline: "Same Sex. Different City." Splashed across a glamour shot of eight beautiful women (and one beautiful man), the promotional copy invokes the spirit of its predecessor so plainly, it can take a moment to catch on to the double meaning.

Jennifer Beals steps gracefully out of a black stretch limo in tuxedo-like slacks and blouse, her long brown hair piled atop her head. It's no surprise that the exotically beautiful actress has an attractive date on her arm -- except that her date happens to be a woman. Beals and Laurel Holloman are shooting a scene for Showtime's new series "The L Word." They play a couple, Bette and Tina, in the first dramatic series to revolve around the lives and loves of lesbians.

Is America poised for a liberal revival? Vice President Al Gore and Bill Bradley compete to offer plans for universal health care and uplifting the poor. After hard-fought campaigns, labor unions have won elections to represent textile workers in North Carolina, shipyard workers in New Orleans and home-care workers in Los Angeles County. Opinion polls suggest that voters care more about reining in HMOs and protecting Social Security than beefing up the military or cutting taxes.

Bob Dole, accused by President Clinton of promoting a nostalgic, backward-looking agenda, on Monday unapologetically urged voters to take a good hard look back--at what he denounced as his foe's reliance on a "big government" approach to addressing the nation's problems.

HELP FROM THE ELEPHANTS: In a district split almost evenly between Democrats and Republicans, it doesn't help to be branded a liberal. Rep. Jane Harman (D-Marina del Rey) already has been branded with the L-word by Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Susan Brooks and Former Palos Verdes Estates Councilman Ron Florance. Both are vying for the 36th Congressional District Republican nomination. But at a recent rally, Harman struck back.

Whenever I hear the Republican Party call Clinton a liberal, I get so worked up I want to write a letter. The "L" word is a label that hasn't any relevance, and it's only used to invoke some emotional response from the voter. It's an insult to the intelligence of the voting American and indicates their low opinion of us. What they need to do is talk about the issues. This is an important time for us, and what we need is good debate, not name-calling. I've heard the last three years described as the worst since the Depression.

The cab ride was pleasant enough. As the driver maneuvered his way through the icy streets of Quebec City, he spoke knowledgeably but in a friendly manner about the political problems facing his province--about separatism and language barriers, about taxes and the uncertain future. When the subject wore down, the reporter in the back seat broached a new one. "How do you feel about the Eric Lindros situation?" he asked. The mood changed.