When Three's a Crowd Ex-Lovers and Lesbian Families in 2 Girls in Love

Abstract This paper explores the role of the ex-lover within the lesbian family in the film The Incredibly True Adventure of 2 Girls in Love(1995). In the opening scenes of the film, teen protagonist Randy describes her family as a "normal, typical, regular lesbo household." Randy's family includes three lesbians: herself, her Aunt Rebecca, and Rebecca's girlfriend Vicki. The stability of this family, however, is threatened early in the film by the arrival of Rebecca's ex-lover in contemporary lesbian families. Specifically, the author argues that Lena's presence causes friction in Randy's family because this family, though lesbian, is modelled on white, working-class, heteronormative conventions. Consequently, there are no available 'narrative spaces' or 'roles' for another adult within the 'family,' which means that the ex-lover, Lena. In this paper the argument is presented that this film offers an important examination of the role of the ex-lover's (Lena's) presence will necessarily cause friction. In this framework, there is no way for her to participate in the family without, in effect, filling a role already filled by the existing adults. In this way, 2 Girls in Lovebecomes the site for the contestation of a more flexible family model and, by extension, a 'progressive lesbian identity.' The author goes on to argue that the film critiques and, ultimately, challenges representations of lesbian families modelled on heteronormative conventions. In turn, the film begins to explore an alternative, more flexible, possibility for contemporary lesbian 'families of friends,' in which the ex-lover will always be an important part.