by Kate Moennig
First published 2025
Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey met as young artists auditioning for an experimental TV series about lesbians in Los Angeles. The show featured the first ensemble cast of openly queer female characters. One million viewers watched the premiere of what became The L Word, transforming television and launching both women into unexpected fame as LGBTQ+ icons. Their bond proved unbreakable from day one on set. Cast members joked they were like pants because you couldn't separate one leg from the other. This memoir traces their friendship through decades of personal struggles and professional triumphs. They evolved from closeted kids navigating a hostile culture to activists, podcasters, and business partners. Their PANTS brand and podcast have reached over twenty million downloads. The book reveals behind the scenes stories from The L Word production alongside intimate details of their romantic relationships, career challenges, and personal losses. Together they built a chosen family that sustained them through fame's pressures and life's difficulties.
Genres: biography-memoir, 21st-century, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, friends-to-lovers
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
272 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press