TV Show For Teenagers Turned My Middle-Aged Life Upside Down

As I’m currently hovering at the end of 47-years old, you might feel wholly-justified in telling me to stay in my lane when it comes to joining the global tsunami of feedback, praise, and adulation being hurled at smash hit Netflix show, Heartstopper.

Why should an old gay guy like me get to have my feelings heard when discussing a show made for LGBTQ+ teens and tweens?

My honest opinion is that Heartstopper is just as crucial viewing for Queer people of my generation as it is for the intended younger demographic. I sobbed continuously throughout my marathon viewing of the 8-part series, losing water from my tear ducts due to overwhelming joy and sometimes due to the dark sadness triggered within me by the story.

To rely on a cliche, the Heartstopper kids don’t know how good they’ve got it these days and my old bones are here to share a thing or two about gay history and trauma.

Of course life has gotten better in a lot of ways for LGBTQ+ kids (as shown triumphantly and heartwarmingly in Heartstopper) but the trauma of an adolescence scarred by abuse, isolation, fear, shame, and even criminalisation hangs heavy over me and my generation.

The huge success and visibility of this groundbreaking show has inspired me to unburden myself of a few…