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I was a child of Section 28. ‘Heartstopper’ helps heal the pain

The new British drama series shows LGBTIQ freedom as a normal part of school life. If only my own school days had been like that

By Dan Glass
I was a child of Section 28. ‘Heartstopper’ helps heal the pain
Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) in ‘Heartstopper’ | See Saw Films
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I’m so, so proud of my filmmaking friend Sam, the director’s assistant behind ‘Heartstopper’. It does exactly what powerful drama should do – it stopped me in my tracks.

‘Heartstopper’ is a new British queer drama series currently streaming on Netflix. The eight-part story follows two 14-year-old schoolboys, openly gay Charlie Spring and popular rugby star Nick Nelson, as they become friends and an unexpected relationship blossoms between them. It’s based on the webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman.

Its intention – to widen the goalposts of reality, so that LGBTQIA+ freedom is immortalised in everyday life – is beautiful and vital. There I was, happily watching ‘EastEnders’, with my mental childhood gay box sealed shut, and then ‘Heartstopper’ minced along and blew it all apart.

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