‘As a gay man who grew up in the Eighties – I needed Heartstopper’: Queer fans on what the Netflix show means to them

Heartstopper – Netflix’s joyful, warm and fuzzy drama about two British schoolboys who fall in love – has chimed with viewers all around the world.

From gay men who grew up in the Eighties to young queer people today, many have found comfort in the show, which gives queer characters a love story complete with secret snogs, eager texting, and butterflies in the tummy – experiences often only portrayed in heterosexual romcoms.

A few fans of the series wrote to The Independent with their thoughts on Heartstopper and what it means to them. Read on to share in their love of the show…

Nathan Douglas, 33

Heartstopper, for me, is perfect television… just 20 years too late (and the rest!). I am a gay man, who only “came out” five years ago, and it’s TV programmes like this that give our young people the “permission” they still seem to need from society to be who they want to be.

I spent my twenties in a very lonely way, torturing myself that I could not be gay and should not be gay. My day job is a deputy headteacher and so, at school, we teach all parts of the Equality Act.

But if children can learn about equality at school, and see it in everyday life, we will move from tolerance to acceptance to understanding. I have high hopes for the next generation.

Anneke Truus, 19

Growing up queer can often feel quite alienating, especially since it is challenging to find any queer representation in media. Often queer characters are mere stereotypes or caricatures of the queer experience without much depth.

A show like Heartstopper is so important because its characters are far from that. Heartstopper presents young queer characters who are not only navigating their sexualities and gender identities, but also simply being a teenager. They still struggle with bullying and maintaining friendships like non-queer characters do.

I needed characters like Nick and Charlie growing up. I needed to see Nick struggling with his sexuality like I was for so long. I needed to see Charlie finding his worth despite being bullied for who he is. I’m so thankful that young queer people can have a show like this to show them they aren’t alone.

Mike Farquhar, 45

I’ve been a fan of Heartstopper since the first graphic novel [by Alice Oseman] came out, and I love how perfectly it’s been adapted for TV.

As a gay man who grew up in the Eighties and Nineties, these are the stories and role models I needed then, that would have helped me know it was OK to be who I knew I was.

As a consultant paediatrician, I think for LGBT+ young people today, Heartstopper’s positive representation of young British queer people is hugely important – seeing young gay, lesbian, bi, and trans people just being themselves, working out who they are, living their lives like everyone else, showing the joy along with the challenges, has never felt more needed when this government’s commitment to supporting LGBT+ people, and young people especially, has never felt so half-hearted.

Plus: BONUS OLIVIA COLMAN!

Lelami, 18

Heartstopper is such a beautiful production. As a young trans Black girl it was amazing to see someone like me on the TV screen and it reassured me that I can do anything. It explores so many aspects of queer youth and celebrates young queer love.

Young queer love isn’t represented as much at should be and, watching Heartstopper, it was so refreshing to see so many young queer people in a television show fall in love. I love the fact that it isn’t only focused on the relationship between Charlie and Nick but also Tao and Elle’s relationship, as well as Tara and Darcy’s. Within that, we are seeing a spectrum of LGBT+ people. Through representation, Heartstopper is creating a space for queer youth in today’s society.

Xural.com