Maria Burnham

Like many other artistic avenues, queer themes in comics were often only found in underground publications or subtly intertwined and disguised in mainstream comics. Up until 1989 the Comics Code Authority did not allow any mention of homosexuality in comics, forbidding gay characters, themes, or innuendo in dialogue. Their justification...

As scared as I was to come out to my family, it was not nearly as daunting as coming out to my Bible Study. My Bible Study was a co-ed mix of Christians that varied across the age and race spectrum. The only things we all had in...

So I started a new job last year, and it's always interesting finding my niche, learning who my friends will be, and establishing a reputation and balance. I wasn't out in my first few weeks, though I wasn't necessarily not out. I guess I just wasn't itching to make any...

The thing is, I didn't always identify as "bi." For the first 20 or so years of my life, I considered myself straight. Of course, during those years I did little actual considering all around, given that I had a boyfriend for most of the time, and that I was...

I have known Sophie since she was about 5 years old, and even then I knew she was a special kid. Her mom Alaine and I worked at the same hair salon in California, and I was pretty much obsessed with Sophie from the first day I met her. This...

The thing is, some of us have dated our fair share of men and women. Depending on the length of the relationship (and the person's affinity for nicknames), it's possible to accumulate quite a hefty collection of pet names. More often than not, our ex-girlfriends or ex-flings will...

Aside from the obvious definition of "myth" (you know, the one pertaining to the ancient heroes and gods of yore), there are a few more definitions to consider. My online dictionary says it is an invented story or idea, or a false collective belief that is used to justify a...

Discrimination sucks. This is not revelatory, by any means, nor is it novel, nor is it necessarily unexpected. And yet, when it happens, it never fails to feel like a sucker punch to your smiling, unsuspecting face.

I've had my share of dirty looks as my (ex-)girlfriend and I walked...

I like girls. It's true. But for a long time I lived an average, heterosexual life in a very suburban, heterosexual town in Orange County, Calif. My sisters both got hitched at a young age, but I was happy being a single gal on the prowl. My friends even made...