TV Tuesday: 5 Reasons I Loved The Way "Orphan Black" Dealt With Sexuality

1) Cosima never "comes out" to the audience (or to anyone on the show for that matter)

While there is definitely power in showing characters coming out, I love the way that Orphan Black never had Cosima outright state that she was gay when we first meet her character.

Instead, we learn that she is gay the same way that we often learn that a character is straight - by witnessing her developing attraction to another character on the show.

2) The characters often normalize their own sexuality

While there's nothing wrong with making a big deal about your sexuality or having it be an important part of your identity, it's important to understand that not every LGBTQ+ views their sexuality as a core part of their identity.

Or even if it is a big part of their identity, it's not necessarily something they want to make a big deal out of, as shown by many of the LGBTQ+ characters in Orphan Black.

3) Delphine acknowledges that sexuality exists on a spectrum

After realizing that she is attracted to Cosima, aka realizing that she is attracted to a woman for the first time in her life, Delphine takes a couple of days to figure out her feelings.

When she realizes that she wants to pursue something with Cosima, Delphine outright acknowledges that although she has never thought about the possibility that she is bisexual, she knows as a scientist that sexuality exists on a spectrum, a concept that has rarely been talked about in pop culture.

4) No one makes a big deal out of Delphine's sudden interest in women

Despite never being in a relationship with a woman before, no one seems to question or care about Delphine's new girlfriend.

Shortly after they begin dating, Delphine brings Cosima to a big company gala with all of her co-workers, not worrying about having to explain the fact that she's bringing a woman as her date (she even kisses her hello in front of everyone without a care in the world), normalizing bisexuality in a way that you don't see very often.

5) Felix's role wasn't reduced to "the gay best friend"

Television shows often reduce flamboyant gay characters to being the "gay best friend," with their main contribution to the show being sassy comments and fashion advice. Although Felix is flamboyant, he plays a major role in the show's plot and develops many meaningful relationships with characters on the show.