LGBTQ+ High School Dramas Still Make 1 Major Mistake
LGBTQ+ high school dramas have improved, but they still continue to make one major mistake. Ever since the movie Love, Simon came out, examples of LGBTQ+ high school relationships have flourished in TV shows. Series such as Love, Victor, Euphoria, and Heartstopper have all included good representation of queer relationships, but despite these steps forward, the shows continue making one crucial misstep.
Based on the novel by Becky Albertalli, Love, Simon told the story of a closeted high schooler's search for love. Despite some of the criticisms it faced, the movie launched a spin-off series called Love, Victor, about a new student at Simon's high school who is questioning his sexuality. Another queer-friendly high school drama, Euphoria, follows Rue's battles with substance abuse as well as her relationship with Jules, who is a trans girl. Netflix's more recent Heartstopper also includes a wide array of LGBTQ+ characters navigating high school together.
Related: Heartstopper’s Bloopers Make One Nick Moment Even Better
Unfortunately, these shows often do not always reflect reality. Especially in the United States, legislative measures like the «Don't Say Gay» bill in Florida prevent teachers from discussing LGBTQ topics in their classrooms, and anti-trans bills in several states discourage children and teens from embracing their gender identities. Such measures are making it increasingly difficult to grow up as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and to pass through high school environments, regardless of what series such as Love, Victor and Heartstopper may suggest.
Love, Simon excited many viewers when it came out for being the first mainstream Hollywood movie about a gay teen that had a happy ending. However, there was
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