So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All

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Description

"The point is we're all connected, see Through love, through loneliness, through one tiny, lamentable lapse in judgment. All of us, in our isolation, we reach out from the darkness, from the alienation of modern life, to form these connections." - Alice Pieszecki, Season 1, Episode 2, The L Word In the early aughts, Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey-both young artists trying to figure it all out-met at auditions for what they thought was just an unknown little TV show. Given that it was a show about lesbians living in LA, with the first ever ensemble cast of openly queer female characters, Kate and Leisha knew the project was going to be unlike anything else out there. What they didn't foresee was just how huge The L Word would become. One million people watched the premiere, and the show quickly turned into a groundbreaking phenomenon. Its influence on pop culture, in the political arena, and in the lives of queer-and straight-viewers has been lasting, impactful, even life-saving. But in addition to changing the course of television history, The L Word also changed Kate and Leisha's lives forever. From their first day on set, Kate and Leisha have always had each other's backs, inseparable to the degree that the joke among the cast was that they were like a pair of pants-you couldn't have one leg without the other. Hence the name for their podcast, PANTS, born during the pandemic and now downloaded over 20 million times. So Gay for You is a love letter to a life-defining friendship over the decades, and following Kate and Leisha's unlikely and extremely entertaining journey stumbling from closeted queer kids to LGBTQ+ activists to successful actresses, podcasters, and business owners. Full of never-before-shared glimpses into the making of The L Word, Kate and Leisha's real-life loves and losses, and their status as queer icons, So Gay for You is, at its heart, a book about a deep meaningful connection with your ride or die and the gift of finding your chosen family.

Reviews

"[Moennig and Hailey] mix humor, pain, love, and loss throughout this vulnerable and thoughtful memoir.... Moennig and Hailey's openness about their personal and professional lives makes this book more than just a look into a TV series." --Library Journal, starred review

"So Gay for You is more than a memoir; it's a comprehensive almanac of Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey. Take it from a die-hard fan, and friend, this intimate exploration of their lives blends candid anecdotes with reflections on their youth, queer identity, the impact of The L Word, and perhaps most importantly, their two decades of friendship. Must-read queer lit and a testament to the enduring legacy of The L Word and the culture-changing stars at its heart." --Tegan Quin, bestselling author of High School

"So Gay for You is a beautiful story of two besties who also played besties on the ground breaking series The L Word. Read this book, you will love it as I did." --Rosie O'Donnell

"As magnetic and authentic as Kate and Leisha themselves, So Gay for You feels like catching up with an old friend. Hilarious, candid, and full of heart, this memoir perfectly captures the ups and downs of the 2000s and beyond, and the life-changing power of true, lasting found family." --Gwyneth Paltrow

"This book solidifies Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey's significant influence on television and queer culture. Not only are they trailblazers who opened doors for lesbians globally, their portrayals made being a lesbian sexy and aspirational. The creation of this book in itself is a groundbreaking achievement and nothing short of a masterpiece." --Julia Fox, New York Times bestselling author of Down the Drain

"Perfectly captures the joy we all experienced making a television show that became more than a television show and exemplifies why Kate and Leisha are at once beloved and iconic. Their voices are distinct--at different moments funny, honest, heartbreaking, reassuring, and, most of all, essential. The world needed this book. I needed this book." --Ilene Chaiken, co-creator, writer, and producer of The L Word

"Kate and Leisha have written a beautiful memoir that is in turns humorous and poignant and sometimes both simultaneously. What a genuine pleasure it was to step onto memory lane and to see the view from their eyes. Just when I thought I knew everything about their legendary friendship, along comes this perceptive memoir that made me laugh out loud and cry in the same sitting, unveiling things I never knew, making their friendship that much more magical." --Jennifer Beals

"We are SO GAY for this book! So Gay For You is a heartfelt, funny, and inspiring look at the beauty of friendship and community and the importance of self acceptance. Leisha and Kate are each trailblazers in their own right and we thank the gay gods their blazed trails crossed." --Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro

"Such a fun read. It's like hanging out with your two best friends who also happen to be hilarious, insightful, full on lesbian icons." --Liz Feldman

"Everything you've hoped this book would be, it is: every delicious The L Word detail, the 'how we met' friendship meet cute, and above all, the celebration of two deeply funny, deeply cool best friends." --Lane Moore, award-winning author of You Will Find Your People

Author Bio

KATE MOENNIG is a critically acclaimed actress and executive producer whose work spans film, television, and theater. She most recently reprised her iconic role as "Shane McCutcheon" in the The L Word: Generation Q on Showtime. Moennig has also starred in Showtime's Ray Donovan and in Freeform's Grown-ish. LEISHA HAILEY is an actor, director, executive producer, musician, and podcaster. Hailey is best known for her beloved breakout character, "Alice Pieszecki," in the groundbreaking Showtime series The L Word and the reboot, The L Word: Generation Q. Leisha also co-founded the band THE MURMURS in the 1990's and the indie pop band UH HUH HER in 2007. Together, they co-host the podcast "PANTS with Kate and Leisha."