Heartstopper season two is finally out this Thursday (August 3) – and it couldn’t come at a better time, when the queer community is under a continued attack.
Vile, baseless claims are thrown against the LGBTQ+ community – with our trans brothers and sisters feeling the brunt of it – in what appears to be a constant attempt to scare the naive, or ignorant.
And while I’m not pretending I’ll be first in line to watch the new episodes of the Netflix series, it is definitely on my list, purely to give myself a break from the never-ending aggression against me and people like me for simply existing.
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I came out as gay 10 years ago when I was 20. When I was growing up the only gay representation I remember seeing on television was the likes of the late Paul O’Grady’s Lily Savage, or Sean Tully in Coronation Street.
(Image: NETFLIX)
And while I dabble in drag every now and again now, the iconic Lily certainly wasn’t someone I felt I could identify with as a teen trying to figure themself out.
When I was a child, it looked like attitude towards homophobic abuse was changing, with the Criminal Justice Act 2003 imposing tougher sanctions on offences motivated by the victim’s sexuality.
But bullying was rife in school. For whatever reason, thankfully, I wasn’t bullied any more than the average kid, but one of my closest friends in Year 7 was forced to move schools because the abuse they faced for being out as gay, and then trans, was relentless.
(Image: Jack Wetherill)
Subconsciously, it might have been that memory which scared me from coming out until I was far away from the grey corridors of high school.
Weirdly, coming out at 20 is one of my biggest regrets – because as soon as I did it I have never been happier, and I realised I had missed such a formative part of my life living as my authentic self.
The friends I met after this moment are still my closest friends now, and I believe it’s because I wasn’t worried about hiding anything and could just live freely.
That’s why shows like Heartstopper, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, are such a welcome relief to much of the queer community.
I can’t help but feel a little bit jealous of the younger generation who feel confident enough to come out during their teens, despite the ongoing attacks against our community.
(Image: Teddy Cavendish/Netflix)
For those who don’t watch, Heartstopper tells the story of Charlie (played by Joe Locke), a gay teen, who falls in love with his classmate Nick (Kit Connor), who is coming to terms with his own sexuality.
The series is a melting pot of queer identities, with gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender characters all living their best lives.
It’s not so out of touch that the characters face no hardships – but it’s that realism which make it so easy to identify with.
(Image: Netflix)
I don’t necessarily see my former self in any of the characters. I never fell in love with an assumed straight male friend, for example – mainly because I felt on edge around most other guys until I started meeting new people as an out gay man with a new-found IDGAF attitude on what they thought of me.
But having the positive representation on television, that anybody could be part of the queer community and that those tired stereotypes do not paint a full picture of gay men, would have no doubt helped me come to terms with my own sexuality, and made me realise that it was nothing to be ashamed or scared of.
Obviously the point of Heartstopper is its portrayal of LGBT people, and while I’m also a big supporter of shows having queer people who are just there, with their gender or sexuality not a plot point, it does feel extra special having a show just for us… even if it might be aimed at people half my age.
Heartstopper is available to stream on Netflix
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
