Does Katherine know the Julie Benz character is an out lesbian when she invites her to move in?
[Laughs] No, she finds out after that.

Does it throw her?
[Laughs] Yes.

OK, you’re being vague, so I’ll stop going down that road.
[Laughs]

Now, this isn’t your first time playing gay.
Oh, no.

Lesbian fans in particular remember you from The L Word. What is your fondest memory from working on that show?

You know, I have to say ... even though it was only one episode, I will never forget, I arrived on a Sunday in Vancouver and they were shooting and Jennifer Beals asked me to come to her trailer and talk to her about the part. So I went there and she was adamant that we not kiss because, she said, “You know, I’ve been cheating on my girlfriend for so long, now we’re finally back together, and I just wouldn’t do that. I really have to protect the integrity of this relationship.” I was so disappointed [laughs]. I said to her, “Why else do you do The L Word ... if you don’t get to kiss a girl?” So I said to her, “Could we almost kiss? Cuz that’s even more sexy in some ways.” And she said, “Yeah, that’s fine.” So that’s what it ended up being, and I think, in some ways, it was sexier.

I know you were involved in raising money to defeat Prop. 8 in California, and of course, we’re continuing to fight for our rights across the country. Are you at all surprised by how long it seems to be taking to make progress?

Um, no, unfortunately, I’m not surprised. In some ways, like the abortion issue, which I’m also very involved with, it’s always going to divisive because it’s such an emotional button for people. It’s going to be a constant fight. I think it will happen, just like Roe v. Wade got passed, people still fight it. I think a law will be passed, and I think people will still be unhappy about it. That’s why we have to be vigilant. The fact that we’re still fighting about abortion 35 years later is ridiculous. Not that I’m equating gay marriage with abortion ... I just mean it’s a political issue.

With a role like this, playing a role like Katherine, this is something you don’t see on TV often. What are you hoping people take away from the story line?

I hope that people understand the fluidity of sexuality. One good thing about today is that people are freer to explore things, and there’s an emotional level to it besides a sexual level. I think that’s what we’re trying to find here ... the complications of that. Because I certainly know people who have experimented because they felt an emotional connection with somebody and then realized, “Oh, wait, I’m not gay.” But I also think you have to take responsibility for that.