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

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. 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. I’m so thankful that young queer people can have a show like this to show them they aren’t alone. 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. 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.