A female version of the Lavender Mafia is in the cards as more women gain power
Three years into producing POWER UP’s annual awards recognizing the “10 Most Powerful Gay Women in Hollywood,” Stacy Codikow noticed a problem. Codikow had founded the group, Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up, to promote the visibility of lesbians in the entertainment industry. Yet year after year, the awards went to the same people. “It was always Melissa, Ellen, k.d., the people on the tip of your tongue,” Codikow says. “So we changed it.”
The list became the “10 Most Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz,” and has since honored close to 100 writers, producers, show runners, and other influential women who work behind the scenes in Hollywood. (They’ve since created a separate list to honor gay men.) By removing the word “power” from the organization’s power list, Codikow found a way to expand what real power meant. “Rosie, Melissa—they have the ultimate power because of their presence,” she says. “But it’s just a whole different concept.”
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Complete article at Village Voice : http://bit.ly/kjiH0I
