ep. 65: How to Be 'The Bisexual' with Desiree Akhavan
“. . . I want to say, y’know what? I like labels because I had to fight for this one.” - Sundance Grand Prizing-winning, Iranian-American filmmaker, Desiree Akhavan. (Photo: TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy Stock Photo)
When queerness is out of the closet, what does bisexuality even mean? For bisexual Iranian-American filmmaker Desiree Akhavan, the answer is both complicated and comedic. Cristen and Caroline talk to Desiree about fitting in, coming out and unlearning rom-com lies about female desire. All to find out: How do you fall in love with your own sexuality — even when you're not supposed to?
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More from Desiree Akhavan
Watch: The Bisexual (Hulu) // The Miseducation of Cameron Post (YouTube) // Appropriate Behavior (iTunes)
Sources
Green, Hannah Harris. Desiree Akhavan on why TV always gets bisexuality wrong. PRI. Feb. 14, 2019.
Lubitz, Rachel. ‘Appropriate Behavior’ filmmaker Desiree Akhavan doesn’t fit in—and she makes the most of it. The Washington Post. Jan. 16, 2015.
Omar, Yasmin. Desiree Akhavan: Stop calling me the bisexual Lena Dunham. Harper’s Bazaar UK. Oct. 4, 2018.
Pollard, Alexandra. Desiree Akhavan interview: ‘Bisexuality is taboo in both the queer and the straight world.’ Independent. Oct. 9, 2018.
Press, Joy. Desiree Akhavan Has a Bisexual Awakening on New Hulu Series. Vanity Fair. Nov. 13, 2018.
Sawyer, Miranda. Desiree Akhavan: ‘The only mainstream queer stories have been directed by men—it disgusts me.’ Aug. 12, 2018.
Stanford, Eleanor. In ‘The Bisexual,’ Desiree Akhavan Grapples With All Kinds of Sexuality. The New York Times. Nov. 13, 2018.
Traynor, Cian. Desiree Akhavan is film’s most exciting ‘outsider’. Huck Mag. Aug. 30, 2018.
Woodward, Daisy. Director Desiree Akhavan, on One of Her Favourite Ever Films. AnOther. Oct. 8, 2018.
Wray, Dylan. Desiree Akhavan Doesn’t Mind Being a Hollywood Outsider. Vice. Feb. 1, 2019.
