In a 2007 auction to benefit the Humane Society, Leifer bid successfully for the apology letter written by professional football player Michael Vick after his conviction for animal abuse involving dog-fighting. Her contribution of over ten thousand dollars was generous, but, she told Richard Freedman of the Benicia Vallejo Humane Society, she has plans to extract even greater good from the document. "I fully plan to put it up for auction again and give all the money raised to the Humane Society," she declared.

Sponsor Message.

Leifer has become an activist for glbtq rights as well. Both she and Wolf campaigned vigorously against California's 2008 Proposition 8, which rescinded the right to marriage equality, and they were, she stated to Danielle Cantor of Jewish Woman magazine, "devastated by the result."

"We'd definitely like to be married," she added, "but we're real hold-outs—we'd like to wait until it's legal on a federal level."

Meanwhile, Leifer and Wolf continue to nurture their child, practice their faith, succeed in their careers, devote themselves to charitable work for animal welfare, and work for equality for glbtq people.

Reality television viewers have come increasingly to expect the appearance of gay men and lesbians on these shows because their presence helps further underscore the "reality" in Reality TV.

American television sitcoms have consistently reflected the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people, often in distorted and stereotyped ways, but occasionally in ways that acknowledge our humanity and complexity.

Lesbian stand-up comedy provides an excellent example of how comedy can foster social and political awareness in both minority and mainstream communities.

Lesbian actresses have played a significant role in Hollywood, but their contributions have rarely been recognized or spoken of openly; the "lavender marriage" is by no means a relic of the past.

No matter how great her contribution to the world of comedy, Ellen DeGeneres will probably be best remembered as the first lesbian to star as a lesbian on her own network television show.

Proposition 8, also known as the California Marriage Protection Act, is the ballot proposition that amended the California state constitution to ban same-sex marriage; it is the subject of ongoing litigation that may restore marriage equality to California.