This new TV show has a Muslim lesbian falling for a black woman, and people are thrilled
A new show features a Muslim lesbian getting together with a queer black woman, and fans are loving it.
The Bold Type, a US drama about women who work at a feminist magazine in New York City, features Kat Edison – one of the show’s main characters – slowly realising she’s not straight.
The woman who helps her to find her queer side is Adena El-Amin, a proud Muslim lesbian artist who wears a hijab.
S1 E1: Contraband (Part 2)
— “i’ve always liked to make people uncomfortable.”
—”well…you’re very good at it.” pic.twitter.com/5PLX9bU1OQ
— ace (@aceduggar) July 24, 2017
The character, played by Nikohl Boosheri, talks openly about why she prays and wears a head covering.
She also asks Kat about her sexual orientation in the first episode, adding that she has always been more concerned with what’s in someone’s heart, rather than their trousers.
Lesbian representation in popular culture is still sparse, let alone involving two women of colour, and even more so when it involves one of the characters proudly embracing their religion.
Despite this, complications between the two are come from Kat discovering more about her sexual identity and the fact that Adena has a girlfriend, rather than sensationalising lesbians or Islam.
In the latest episode of the show on Disney-ABC’s Freeform channel, Kat hits a man after he makes a racist remark towards Adena and gets arrested.
After she’s bailed out of prison, the two reunite and share their first kiss.
After the gut-wrenching disappointment of the Supergirl cast making fun of fans who ship two of the main characters on that show, fans of lesbian couples are delighted with Kat and Adena.
kat thought the music was pretty but adena thought she was prettier pic.twitter.com/cv2x8vCA5c
— anna (@okposeys) July 26, 2017
Kat and Adena looking at each other’s lips.. rt if you agree pic.twitter.com/xTAcfsXsm1
— g (@bgltwaverly) July 26, 2017
thread on the development of kadena (kat/adena) bc i have a feeling they’re gonna be ICONIC pic.twitter.com/nrL4xuT9jD
— ace (@aceduggar) July 24, 2017
kat went from telling adena she’s a ‘proud hetero’ to “i think i really like you” then kissing her. i love development
— ㅤ (@thotIycia) July 26, 2017
Kat and Adena are the definition of OTP don’t @ me #TheBoldType pic.twitter.com/uSVBk5uHgO
— Kadena Studio (@KadenaStudio) July 31, 2017
IM SO READY FOR KAT TO TALK ABOUT ADENA TO SUTTON AND JANE AND SEE HOW HAPPY SHE IS IM DHXBDJHX
— Nisa (@5H_jauregay) August 1, 2017
it has wlw rep too i love my lesbian daughter adena and my bi daughter kat
— ellie ✨ (@ryahaywood) July 22, 2017
Kat & Adena
“And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart” pic.twitter.com/rtmNB4qNyB— Cat G (@KlainerForever2) August 1, 2017
“my twitter bio literally reads ‘proud muslim lesbian’” omg adena’s face when she said this to kat
— es (@ourartists) August 1, 2017
It’s just so beautiful.
And it’s a welcome development on a show which (not to jinx it) is unlikely to kill off any of its characters, considering that 62 lesbian and bi women have died on TV in the last two years.
If you’re not worried about spoilers, check out this scene from the next episode:
