For a lot of teenagers, secondary school is about making friends, exploring your talents and for some, it’s a time when they begin to explore their sexuality.

Growing up in this generation, I’ve seen a lot of my friends go through the stages of exploring their sexuality, having boyfriends and girlfriends- and a lot of them coming out too. But when I watched the new Netflix teen LGBTQ drama series, Heartstopper, it really began to dawn on me how hard it is in this society to not only be accepted- but to accept yourself too.

It frustrates me to be honest, how widespread the issue of transphobia and homophobia is in the current school system, how the word ‘gay’ can be meant as an insult, but for some it is a way to describe their sexuality. How people who have been through an excessive struggle to come to terms with their gender identity can be bullied for the brave decisions they have made in order to feel comfortable in their own skin. How, in some cases we all have a Harry Greene and a Nick Nelson in our school system.

So, why is the problem so wide spread? 

If you’re a fan of the Netflix drama and have read the graphic novels by Alice Oseman, then you know the character of Harry Greene has grown up with Homophobic and unaccepting parents. For a lot of families in this country and most definitely the world, the idea that parents values can rub off on their children is a well-known fact. In the comics Harry Greene does eventually try to apologise and explain his actions to Charlie (whom is the openly gay protagonist), but the fact that in the show he says ‘You know I was only kidding about the gay stuff right?’, shows that he’s trying to laugh off his bullying by pretending it was a joke. 

The show focuses on the relationship of Nick and Charlie. Charlie was bullied in the previous school year for coming out and being openly gay in an all-boys school, and when Nick and Charlie meet in their newly assigned form group after the christmas break, it starts the story of how Nick begins to question his own sexuality by his growing feelings for Charlie.

This show and the graphic novel series stresses the growing problems that school systems and this generation face in terms of developing, understanding and accepting our sexuality and the issues that bullying and acceptance within the social strata can develop on the mental health of the mind’s of teenagers and young adults alike.