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Edvin Ryding

Cast of Young Royals Omar Rudberg

 Issue 525
November 2022

Editorial Director Cover Photography by

Lewis Corner Jasper Rens Van Es

Art Director
Jack Rowe

Fashion Editor
Umar Sarwar

Associate Editor
Sam Damshenas

Social Media Manager

Hollie Wong

Contributing Editor
Jamie Windust

Junior News Reporter

Conor Clark

1 Junior Designer
Anisa Cleaver

Editorial Assistant
Liv Lawrence

Junior Writer
Jordan Robledo

Writer
Kira Richards

GAY TIMES was founded in 1984

by Chris Graham-Bell and Alex McKenna

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London, E1 7QA
Editor’s Letter
We’re living in a more queer era than ever before.
That may sound like a lofty statement, but a recent
survey by LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall and Ipsos
backs it up. The new poll revealed that only 66%
of people in the UK identify as being exclusively
attracted to people of the opposite sex. There have
been similar studies elsewhere in the world that
prove a similar trend, revealing a modern era where
people are feeling more open and comfortable to
be themselves. Unsurprisingly it’s led by Gen Z and
their willingness to be more open-minded in their
approach to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Considering we’re living in this fastly growing
queer era, it’s no surprise that our media is taking
greater strides to represent this. Film and TV in
particular has always trod a tricky line between
telling stories that help LGBTQ+ identify with similar
experiences or people like them, but often playing
into damaging tropes that focuses on trauma, side-
stepping the nuances of the queer experience, or
treating LGBTQ+ people like the side character in a
heteronormative narrative.
This issue of GAY TIMES Magazine, however,
shines a spotlight on some of the positive movement
on screen in recent years that has helped progress
a wave of positive queer love stories that subvert the
tired heteronormative tropes we’ve been fed. Edvin
Ryding and Omar Rudberg became international
stars last year playing Wilhelm and Simon in hit
1HWȔL[VHULHV<RXQJ5R\DOV7KHSUHPLVHLVIDPLOLDU
a privileged person from high society falls for a
working class ‘commoner’ and love attempts to
break through the institutional and societal barriers
DW SOD\ %XW WKLV RQH FRPHV ZLWK D WZLVW WKHLU
queerness adds a new dynamic. “I think that our
honesty telling the story is what people connect
to because when we meet people and when they
write to us and see what they're posting online...
They feel seen and like they're being listened to and
HPERGLHGLQDȓFWLRQDOVWRU\DERXWORYHǷ(GYLQWHOOV
us. Considering the Swedish drama cracked the top
10 of various English-language countries around
the world, the story has connected with viewers in
a big way.
7KLVPRQWKDOVRVHHVWKHKLVWRULFUHOHDVHRI%URV
+ROO\ZRRGǵVȓUVWHYHUPDMRUVWXGLRURPFRPZLWKDQ
DOO /*%74 SULQFLSOH FDVW 7KH ȓOP SOD\V LQWR WKH
genre and then some, but uses the template to
the LGBTQ+ dating scene. “I realised that we are
MXVWVRKXQJU\DV/*%74SHRSOHDVJD\PHQWR
see accurate, multi-dimensional and genuinely
funny and genuinely smart depictions of ourselves
WKDWZHGRQǵWJHWǷVWDUDQGZULWHU%LOO\(LFKQHUWROG
GAY TIMES. In this issue we have created a guide
on all the brilliant actors who make up the principle
LGBTQ+ cast ahead of its release in UK cinemas.
We also have David Dawson who stars
alongside Harry Styles and Emma Corrin in new
queer love story My Policeman. He speaks about
WKHȓOPǵVWKHPHVRIVDPHVH[ORYHLQWKHVDQG
KRZ WKH VWUXJJOHV DQG MR\V H[SHULHQFHG GXULQJ
that deacde can help younger viewers understand
ZKHUHWKHIUHHGRPVWKH\HQMR\WRGD\KDYHFRPH
from. “There will be a lot of younger people who
perhaps don’t know about this period of time in
British history, so I hope it opens a lot of people’s
PLQGVǷ'DYLGVD\VGXULQJRXULQWHUYLHZZLWKKLP
“I watched Tom Daley's documentary, Illegal to
Be Me, and that's a prime example to remind
people that around the world, things like this are
still continuing to happen. It also made me feel
incredibly privileged to have the freedoms and
the rights that we have and been fought for and
DFKLHYHGRYHUWKH\HDUVǷ
Elsewhere we turn our attention to the horror
genre and how historically it has always been
linked to queerness – and not always in the best 2
way. Queer audiences love the genre and we’ve
started to see more multi-dimensional queer
representation in its characters and storytelling.
We speak with the cast of BBC Three’s new six-
part series Wreck, which boasts plenty of LGBTQ+
DFWRUVSOD\LQJTXHHUFKDUDFWHUVEXWQRWIDOOLQJȔDW
where horror has in the past. We also explore why
the horror genre wouldn’t be the same without
LGBTQ+ women, taking a look at the writers and
characters who have made the supernatural super
queer. Their legacy paved the way for the progress
we are seeing be made today.
As society starts to reconcile and open up
about the beauty of being queer and the freedoms
that offers to one’s life, it’s natural we will see even
more of our stories and experiences played out on
screens big and small. And with increasingly more
diversity behind the camera, that storytelling will
only become more rich, authentic and entertaining.
H[SORUHKRZRUHYHQLIDTXHHUUHODWLRQVKLSFDQȓW That sounds like a blockbuster combination to me.
this tried and tested mould. It’s a clever response to
Hollywood’s resistance thus far to fully embracing Lewis Corner
queer romcoms, but also a humorous analysis of Editorial Director
 GAY TIMES® Group | The World’s Leading LGBTQ+ Media Company
Find out more by visiting gaytimesgroup.com

&KLHI([HFXWLYH2IȓFHU Head of Accounts Contact General Enquiries

Tag Warner Brian Sharman hello@gaytimes.co.uk
tagwarner.ext@gaytimes.co.uk
Finance Control GAY TIMES Editorial
&KLHI2SHUDWLRQV2IȓFHU Gulusan Kara edit@gaytimes.co.uk
George Linehan-Mitchell
george.linehanmitchell@gaytimes.co.uk Non-Executive Director GAY TIMES Advertising
Robert Hanwell advertising@gaytimes.co.uk
Executive Creative Director
Josh Fletcher GAY TIMES Partnerships
MRVKȔHWFKHU#JD\WLPHVFRXN partnerships@gaytimes.co.uk

Editorial Director GAY TIMES Fashion

Lewis Corner fashion@gaytimes.co.uk
lewis@gaytimes.co.uk
GAY TIMES en Español
Senior Client Services Manager hola@gaytimes.co.uk
Annabelle Moore
annabelle.moore@gaytimes.co.uk GTX | The LGBTQ+ Creative Agency
by GAY TIMES Group
Partnerships Director gtx@gaytimes.co.uk
3
Tiffany Gumbrell
GAY TIMES Amplifund
Partnerships Manager amplifund@gaytimes.co.uk
Ryan Ward
GAY TIMES Group Careers
Creative Producer workwithus@gaytimes.co.uk
Sophie Christophersen
GAY TIMES Group Public Relations
Creative Producer pr@gaytimes.co.uk
Aiwan Obinyan
+HDG2IȓFH
+44 (0)20 7424 7400

The Chief Executive would like to

thank T. Wright, R. McCabe,
I. Robertson and E. Hallinan.
Contents

05 Gotta Have It

13 Young Royals

37 Bros

43 David Dawson

47 Queer Women in Horror

51 Wreck

4
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with London based designer Alan Crocetti to design a
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the collection, the duo reinterpret the Ami de Coeur, the
throughout the collection. The heart is remixed and
brand’s celebrated symbol, a capital A crowned with a
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of effortless romance and sensuality.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Available from apple.com, prices start at £1,099

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PDQDJLQJ WR IRFXV RQ VXEMHFWVǵ IDFHV DQG NHHS WKH IRRWDJH ORRNLQJ
lot faster. Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the most
smooth. It looks even better on the new Super Retina XDR display,
advanced models yet, and while physically they may not look too
which includes the highest peak brightness in a smartphone. No more
different from recent versions, there’s plenty of new features that
squinting at your screen outside. Another new feature in the Pro models
continue to push forward the capability and functionality of the most
is the always-on display, which intelligently dims your homescreen when
popular smartphones ever. The most noticeable is the addition of the
you are not using the device. It is intuitive to know when it needs to return
Dynamic Island. An innovative solution to increasing the screen area
to full brightness, but also when to turn off completely, such as when
while blending the physical front camera hardware with new software
your phone slips into Sleep Mode during the night. Working with the
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Apple Watch, it can also sense when you have left your phone in the
alerts in a clean and concise design at the top of your screen so the user
other room and the screen will remain off until you return.
can keep track of what’s happening on their device with a simple glance.
$SSOHǵVODWHVWVLOLFRQWKH$%LRQLFJLYHVWKHGHYLFHDOOWKHMXLFH
From seeing what song is currently playing or keeping an eye how long
it needs to power such an advanced piece of tech. What’s clearly
OHIW\RXKDYHRQ\RXUWLPHUWRNQRZLQJMXVWKRZIDUDZD\\RXUFDELVRU
noticeable is the silky smooth swiftness of swiping in and out of apps, as
popping up to enact face activation access, multitasking with Dynamic
well as the power it lends to impeccably effortless gameplay no matter
Island has never been easier and looked so slick.
how impressive the graphics get.
That camera that it surrounds has been upgraded too, with
This is all packed into Apple’s stylish iPhone design with rich colours
7UXH'HSWKDGGHGIRUVHOȓHVZLWKDVKDUSHUIRFXV7KHPDLQFDPHUDKDV
and durable screen and casing. With new home screen customisation
been boosted to 48MP with quad-pixel sensor for greater photography
included as part of iOS 16 – now featuring new fonts and widgets – it’s
capture – especially in low light environments. It means your photos will
a stunning smartphone experience. Add to that a new feature Apple
look more crisp, colourful and captivating, boasting the most capable
hopes you never have to use with Crash Detection and Emergency SOS
camera system in an iPhone device ever. With help from the Photonic
via Satellite (coming in November), you’ll want to keep looking at your
Engine, images captured in low light retain an extraordinary level of
beautiful new device as much as it’s prepared to look out for you when
detail and is a massive advancement in computational photography.
you need it most.
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incredible video content that looks professional, stable and dynamic,
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Apple Watch Series 8
Available from apple.com, prices start at £419
$SSOH:DWFKUHYROXWLRQLVHGWKHVPDUWZDWFKLQGXVWU\ZKHQLWȓUVWODXQFKHG
back in 2015, and has continued to push future-facing features on all of
its models since. With Apple Watch Series 8, new advancements unlock
further incredible features that help you track your health, wellbeing and
ȓWQHVVOLNHQHYHUEHIRUH6HULHVLVVLPLODULQGHVLJQWRWKHSUHYLRXVIHZ
models, with its edge-to-edge Always-On display, aluminium casing and
huge choice of Apple Watch band styles making it a must-have tech
accessory.
But this new generation introduces a raft of innovative features,
including temperature sensing, advanced Cycling Tracking, Crash
Detection, and international roaming. Temperature sensing now allows
Apple Watch to track your body temperature during sleep so you can
QRWLFHFKDQJHVIURP\RXUEDVHOLQH,WWDNHVDUHDGLQJHYHU\ȓYHVHFRQGV
and can detect changes as small as 0.1 degrees Celsius. The new two-
sensor design allows Cycle Tracking, which can retrospectively estimate
when you likely ovulated, helping more people plan families and keep a
closer eye on their health and wellbeing.
A redesigned Compass app enables more in-depth information
for orienteering, with a Backtrack feature using GPS data to record your
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Detection (the feature Apple hopes you’ll never have to use) utilises the
new high-g accelerometer and improved gyroscope, plus the barometer,
microphone, and GPS to detect severe car crashes and will automatically
DOHUW HPHUJHQF\ VHUYLFHV IRU \RX DQG H[WHQGHG EDWWHU\ OLIH ZLWK /RZ
Power Mode means your Apple Watch will last for 36 hours with normal
use from a single charge.
7KURXJK:DWFK26WKHUHǵVDOOWKHȓWQHVVIHDWXUHVZHǵYHFRPHWR
love and expect too, with activity tracking throughout the day (for that little
bit of friendly motivation when we most need it) and being able to share
your activity with family and friends to keep each other going. There’s new
customisable options when it comes to watch faces with the introduction
of four new styles: Astronomy, Lunar, Playtime, and Metropolitan.
And there’s loads of new styles when it comes to Apple Watch bands,
including the sporty H Diagonal and the striking Gourmette Metal by
Hermès. Apple Watch Series 8 continues to build on its reputation as
the leading smartwatch brand out there – if you’re thinking of making the
switch, the time truly is now.
AirPods (2nd Generation)
Available from apple.com, priced £249
It’s been three years since Apple achieved what was seemingly once
thought impossible and brought Active Noise Cancellation to earbud
headphones. AirPods Pro were a game changer, and instantly became
a must-have tech accessory for all music and podcast lovers on the
JR 'XULQJ WKDW WLPH $SSOH DOVR LQWURGXFHG 6SDWLDO $XGLR D JURXQG
breaking new sound technology that allows the listener to hear even
greater detail and audio depth for a truly immersive experience. AirPods
Pro (2nd Generation) builds even further on those advancements for yet
another breakthrough moment. Powered by Apple’s H2 chip and with an
innovative new design, there is now double the Active Noise Cancellation
compared to the previous model.
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noises in the environment around you, while still being able to hear. On
the street this could be sirens or unexpected crashes, but we suspect
that very soon this could be used to attend loud concerts and have the
noise leveled down for your own comfort and ear wellbeing.
When listening to music on your device, incredible new levels of
sound quality lets you hear all the details of the songs you love, no matter
the genre. This is made possible with a new low-distortion audio driver,
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EQ that produce richer sound with more clarity and consistency across
volumes. AirPods Pro now comes with four sizes of ear tip (XS, S, M, L) so
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deliver even greater sound.
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TrueDepth front facing camera on the iPhone. This helps Spatial Audio
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in your ear for a precise surround sound experience. Updated touch
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up or down on the stem, while a double tap continues to skip a song and
triple tap takes you back a track.
The all-new MagSafe charging case now comes with a built in
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lanyard loop so you can attach the case to a backpack, a wrist band or
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33% increase, meaning up to 6 hours listening time on a single charge
resulting in up to 30 hours with a fully charged case. Somehow AirPods
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thought-impossible once again.
Edvin wears, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Omar wears, AMI

7KHVWDUVRI1HWȔL[ǵVEHORYHG6ZHGLVKGUDPDGLVFXVV
season two, rising to worldwide superstardom and a
potential crossover with Heartstopper.

Editorial Director Photography by Creative Direction & Words by

LEWIS CORNER JASPER RENS VAN ES Fashion by SAM DAMSHENAS
UMAR SARWAR

Produced by Hair & Makeup by Location Manager

ELLEN BROLING MOONA NARANCIC IB LINFELDT
“I
f ucking screamed
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Rudberg says of the
scandalous - let’s repeat
that for dramatic effect,
scandalous - storylines in the long-awaited
second season of Young Royals, “like, give
PH VRPH GUDPDǷ 7KH FKDPSLRQHG 6ZHGLVK
series, following the forbidden romance
EHWZHHQKLVFKDUDFWHU6LPRQDQGWKHȓFWLRQDO
Prince Wilhelm of Sweden (Edvin Ryding), will
undeniably cause pandemonium within the
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next month with the aforementioned characters
HQJDJLQJ LQ  DV (GYLQ SXWV LW  ǶSUREOHPDWLFǷ
and - as Omar puts it - ‘indefensible’ storylines
WKDW UHVXOW LQ DQ HYHQ PRUH FRQȓGHQW DQG
outrageous new instalment for the hit drama. “I
was pretty anxious beforehand because I had
a long period of time where I didn't understand
ZK\ >:LOKHOP@ GLG ZKDW KH GLG WKLV VHDVRQǷ
Edvin tells GAY TIMES. “I thought, 'How will I be
DEOHWRGHIHQGWKLVDVDQDFWRU"
Ƿ GAY TIMES: What does life look like for
Cracking the top 10 of various English-
language countries around the world, the
ȓUVW VHDVRQ RI <RXQJ 5R\DOV EHFDPH D
monumental success for the streamer and
subsequently catapulted Edvin and Omar to
global prominence with a combined Instagram
following of - wait for it - four million. Since its
P GRLQJ VRPH RWKHU SURMHFWV DV
premiere, Omar has launched his bid for pop
superstardom with his acclaimed debut studio
album, OMR, while Edvin has been yo-yo-ing
DFURVV(XURSHIRUWKHXSFRPLQJGLVDVWHUȓOP
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- “My life is pretty fucking boring whenever I'm
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with GAY TIMES to discuss the ‘challenging’
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response from viewers and how their lives have
transformed over the past year. Make sure you
UHDGXQWLOWKHHQGWKHVWDUVHPEUDFHWKHLULQQHU
producer slash writer as they pitch an idea for a
Young Royals and Heartstopper crossover. You
KHDULQJWKLV1HWȔL["0DNH,W+DSSHQ
GAY TIMES: Omar, it's going in the interview
that you were 10 minutes late because
you were doing your laundry. I’ll let you off,
because Edvin introduced me to his dog
Otis.
Edvin: Yes! You should.
Omar: [Laughs] Okay!
GAY TIMES: It's just under a month now
XQWLOVHDVRQWZRLVȓQDOO\RXWWKHUHKRZDUH
you both feeling at this current moment in
time?
Edvin: I'm pretty nervous, but excited. Omar,
ZKDWDERXW\RX"
Omar: I would say that I'm also super excited,
but I'm even more nervous than season one...
GAY TIMES: You should not be nervous, fans
will go berserk over these new episodes.
Edvin: Thank you! That's good to hear. I feel
like it's a double-sided nervousness because
I'm nervous to see what they think. I don't think
they're prepared for what's coming! I can't say
how they will interpret this season and the way
the characters act but I'm also nervous, but
excited nervous.
both of you, leading up to the release of the
show?
Omar: I'm actually doing a writing camp this
week, so I'm going to write a lot of new music
and then we're going to do a lot of promo for
WKH VHDVRQ ,
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Edvin: I'm doing a movie right now called
The Abyss. We've been shooting it since the
beginning of August. We were in the most
northern city in Sweden called Kiruna, and in
two weeks time I'm going to Spain to shoot
the rest of it. I'll do that for two weeks, which
is kind of nice to get away from it all and I'll do
some promo stuff. Then once I get back, it's the
premiere!
GAY TIMES: Your lives sound very boring,
very regular.
Omar: My life is pretty fucking boring whenever
I'm not working!
Edvin: <HDKLWLV:HORYHRXUMRE
Omar wears, AMI
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laundry. That’s basically it!

*$< 7,0(6 7KH ȓUVW VHDVRQ RI <RXQJ

Royals was a bit of a success, just a little bit.
Not just in Sweden, but around the world.
Why do you think the series has connected
so deeply with viewers?

Edvin: I think that our honesty telling the story

is what people connect to because when we
meet people and when they write to us and see
what they're posting online... They feel seen
and like they're being listened to and embodied
LQDȓFWLRQDOVWRU\DERXWORYH7KDWZDVRXUJRDO
to tell the story as authentically as possible.
With the cast and the crew that we had, we
managed to do that. I think that's the main thing
that made it different from other stuff coming
from Sweden at least.

GAY TIMES: It helps that you’re not 35-year-

old's playing teenagers, too...

Omar: [Laughs] Yeah.

Edvin: Yeah, exactly! Casting, they did a good

MRE$QG,GRQ
WVD\WKDWEHFDXVH,JRWWKHSDUW
I think we're very competent actors and we look
like our age.

Omar: :HOO,
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VRND\,
P
16 in my soul.

GAY TIMES: If I shaved the beard off, I'd look

12, so...

Omar: Then you feel me!

GAY TIMES: Can you both remember the

moment you realised the show was such a
big success?

Edvin: Oh, good question.

Omar: Me and Edvin have a few of those

moments, we've been looking at each other
and we're like, 'Do you actually understand that
ZH
UHKHUHULJKWQRZ"

Edvin: 0\ ȓUVW PRPHQW FRXOG KDYH EHHQ

the premiere. I remember sending a picture
to Omar and to our director of me in my bed
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DQG SHRSOH UHDFWLQJ WR LW DQG , MXVW WKRXJKW LW
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I remember actually taking a step back last
Christmas to go on a break from social media,
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intense. But I realised, 'Wow, what on earth have
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 GAY TIMES: Now combined, you have
almost four million Instagram followers
together. How are you managing that side
of your fame? If I get two new followers in
one day I'm like, 'No cameras! No press,
please!'
Edvin: [Laughs] 'Please, please!' I feel like... It's
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W Edvin: That's a very good question. We had
think too much about it. You sometimes look at
the number and the statistics to see how much
you're growing like, 'What kind of effect does
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felt like that's like a unit of success.
Omar: Like it matters.
Edvin: Yeah, it doesn't measure how well it's
going, I think.
V been alone all Christmas break, spending a lot
Omar: It is also pretty fun, watching the
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go in there like a real nerd like, 'This day got that
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Edvin: We're not going to sit here and lie and
7KLV wanted it to end like that. I think the difference
say, 'Oh, I don't care. I never look at statistics.'
We do. Of course, everybody does. I appreciate
it, but it doesn't feel that important.
21 GAY TIMES: How have you both found the
reaction from the fandom, has it overall
been quite positive?
Omar: It's been quite positive for the most part,
for sure. We get so many beautiful letters every
single day with people writing down their whole
life stories and telling us how we've helped
them. And all of the comments on Instagram,
'You're so hot!'
Edvin: I never get those! What are you talking
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Omar: I myself have given you comments,
Edvin, saying you’re hot. But yeah, Instagram
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is a fun place with the fans but there's also the
other side where people are bitter and saying
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ignoring and never answering those people.
Edvin: I think so too. Me and Omar communicate
a lot about what we see on social media like
VH\HV
how people are, what kind of messages we
get. Like Omar said, it’s mostly very nice and
beautiful and people are very sincere. But you’ll
always have those teeny tiny people who are
being mean or salty or whatever.
Omar: 7KH\ǵUHMXVWDQQR\LQJOLNHȔLHV
GAY TIMES: It's somehow been a year since
WKHȓUVWVHDVRQRI<RXQJ5R\DOV:KDWNLQG
of impact have you noticed the series have
on, not just audiences, but television in
general?
Omar: Wow, that's a good question.
to hear your take on this.
the honour of getting this Swedish television
award, it's like a Swedish Emmy. It's actually in
the back in my room over there...
There's a lot of - wait, that's a tongue-twister -
GAY TIMES: Well come on Edvin, I want to
see the Swedish Emmy!
Edvin momentarily leaves the room to collect
two Swedish Emmy's...
Edvin:+HUHWKH\DUH7KH\ǵUHSUHWW\ULJKW"/HW
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to his mother nor his father. He's been very
one of them is the award for Best Young Drama
Omar, but I think Simon has been very lonely
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is a future classic', which is very beautiful. I think
and I hope that we've had an impact on the way
we told this story and I hope that other shows
are able to implement that kind of storytelling.
Maybe in the US too, like casting 20-year-old's
to play 20 year old's - not 35-year-old's! We see
a lot of what the audience interprets from it, but
I hope that the industry is learning from it. We're
learning from the rest of the industry, too, so it's
give and take.
Edvin holds up one of the Swedish Emmy's...
GAY TIMES: They are very funky Edvin and I
would like you to send me one.
Edvin: Of course. Yeah, sure. It’s really heavy,
EXW LW
DFWXDOO\:DQWWRNQRZDVHFUHW"7KHDXGLHQFH
is going to want to hear this. Okay, so one of
them has a little crack and a friend of ours who
was at the afterparty posted a video saying we
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this right now! We didn't break it. It has a little
crack and it's supposed to because we partied
with it.
GAY TIMES: Okay, so there are two
important things I need to include in this
interview: one, Omar was late because of
his laundry and two, you didn't crack the
Swedish Emmy. End the interview here, I've
got everything I need.
Edvin: Perfect. Thank you, Sam. Thank you.
GAY TIMES: Season one ended rather
dramatically, with August leaking the video
of Wilhelm and Simon and Wilhelm denying
that it was him. How would you both
describe the status of their relationship at
the start of season two?
Edvin: It's very distant. Omar, you go on. I want
Omar: It's very distant, I would say so as well!
I also think it is very curious in the beginning.
curiosity. It's very innocent, but real and honest.
:KDWZRXOG\RXVD\(GYLQ"
Edvin: I agree with you. I think you said good
things. They're also on very different platforms
at the beginning of season two. Wilhelm has
of time in his late brother's room, not talking
lonely and heartbroken. Correct me if I'm wrong
and heartbroken too because neither of them
is maybe one of them still has hope, or maybe
both, but it's very different because Wilhelm
is motivated by revenge or desperation. He
wants to punish August and he wants Simon
back. That's his two main targets. It's very
complicated and I think the audience will see
that as they watch the show.
GAY TIMES: Because Wilhelm is out for
revenge, he's a lot more feistier and colder
than we see him in season one. Edvin, did
you have fun bringing this new side of him
to life?
Edvin: I had a lot of fun during season one
and, ahead of season two, I was pretty anxious
beforehand because I had a long period of time
did this season. I thought, 'How will I be able
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I shouldn't defend this. This is Wilhelm, he's
coming from this place and this is the way he
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when he's doing the voting thing at lunch. That
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and being feisty!
All clothing, DIOR
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24
Omar wears

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Edvin wears

Jumper, RALPH LAUREN

Trousers, AXEL ARIGATO

GAY TIMES: As a result of that video, Omar,
Simon's life was invaded by the press and
he felt betrayed by the person he loves. He
wasn't having a good time, let’s just say that…

Omar: Oh yes, he was pretty mad about

everything, for sure! That's a really scary thing
to go through. I feel like everybody in the whole
world would die if a nude got leaked, you know
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working with the people that we work with and
our directors who help us a lot on set. It was a
challenge, but it was so much fun!

Edvin: Omar, I think I've said this to you - Omar

was brilliant last season - but this season, he
really stepped it up. I mean, he's done such a
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Omar:7KDQN\RX5HDOO\"

Edvin: Yeah, I really think so. You can see in

your eyes, there's something different about
Simon. And I think that's nice.

GAY TIMES: Omar, I feel like Simon sings

more this season?

Omar: He does! Yeah.

GAY TIMES: And you've just released

an album! Moving Like That is such a
motherfucking bop, by the way. I love. Has
being on Young Royals impacted your
songwriting and artistry?

Omar: In my artistry, maybe a little like whenever

I'm in front of the camera I feel more safe and
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now to show myself a bit more. I've grown as a
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lot better since Young Royals. But music wise,
though, I haven't had time to be in the studio
as much after Young Royals. Everything takes
its time and it's like a little puzzle, but I also feel
like Young Royals has given me a lot of new
opportunities, not only in music but in other
industries as well. I mean, me and Edvin were
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bigger dreams is to work in the fashion industry
because I love clothing. So yeah, Young Royals
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lot more to grab onto.
GAY TIMES: Season two will undoubtedly
divide fans who want to see Wilhelm and
Simon reunite because of - spoiler alert! -
Simon's rebound. How did you both react to
this storyline when you read the script?
Omar: I fucking screamed with happiness, like,
give me some drama! Give me some tea, girl. I
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never gets boring because there's a lot going
on. It would be so boring if Wilhelm and Simon
would be happy together for the rest of their life
every single day in the second season. You know
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read the whole script I was like, 'Yes! This is fun.'
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it turns it into a challenge. When there's stuff
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happening, more challenges to take on, it's
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a new person, with a new character. That was
awesome.
Edvin: +HǵV GRLQJ D JUHDW MRE 7KH WKLQJ
about it too, it doesn’t feel like a regular love
triangle storyline. Everything is at stake for
these characters. Wilhelm is the future king
of Sweden, so everything's naturally at stake
for him and he has this unconditional love for
Simon. All he wants is Simon and Simon is
doing what's best for him. I'm hoping that the
audience will feel that we're not supporting
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what Wilhelm or Simon is doing - or the new
boyfriend! We're not supporting that. I'm
excited, because it feels different.
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Omar: Something that's crossed my mind
is that... I've played Simon and he's a good
student, he's responsible and then out of
nowhere, Simon does… what he's doing in
the second season. That is really fun, but also
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:KDW" doing them. We also have some candy for the
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about Simon.' But at the same time, it's really
beautiful to show that people make mistakes
and nobody's perfect, not even Simon. You
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Simon is this good boy that you always can
trust, but no, everybody makes mistakes.
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Wilhelm struggle with his duties as a
prince and how his relationship with
Simon complicates that. What do you think
Young Royals says about the monarchy
and its outdated approach to modern
relationships?
Edvin: Good question. Actually, I like to say
that it's not his sexuality that complicates his
position in the monarchy. It's the opposite: his
issue is that he's a prince, not that he's queer. I
don't think it says too much about monarchies’
relation to queer relationships because this is a
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how it could be. It's not based off of any real life
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you have centuries of tradition of heterosexual
relationships and that being the norm, what
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GAY TIMES: What are you both most excited
for viewers to see this season?
Omar: Just the story! This is the baby. I love
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everybody to see it.
Edvin: We're the biggest fans!
Omar: I was the number-one fan of this
series. When I read the script I was like, 'Oh
my goodness!' I was freaking out when I read it
WKHȓUVWWLPH,
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Edvin: I'm most excited for people to see
Wilhelm's actions this season because he
does some pretty... problematic stuff, things he
shouldn't be doing. But, I understand why he's
We need the queer teen equivalent of
audience.
Omar: For sure.
Edvin: There's a big section in episode four, as
you've seen, with different kinds of costumes
and I think episode six is great. There's a lot of
good stuff happening in episode six. I'm very
excited for people to react to that one.
GAY TIMES: I would describe season
one as dramatic and season two as...
scandalous, right?
Edvin: Exactly. For sure, yeah.
*$< 7,0(6 6LQFH WKH ȓUVW VHDVRQ RI
Young Royals, another teen show has
arrived on the scene: Heartstopper. I
noticed that you both follow Kit and Joe
and vice versa, so I have to ask: would you
would be fucking iconic. I don't know how or
ZKDW NLQG RI FURVVRYHU EXW LW ZRXOG MXVW EH
amazing to get to know them and the whole
cast.
Edvin: They are much alike in various
aspects, but there’s also two very different
kinds of stories. If Nick and Charlie travelled
to Stockholm... Maybe this is like season eight
of Young Royals and Simon is a successful
singer and the biggest one in Sweden.
Charlie's a big fan, so he takes Nick to
Stockholm to see Simon sing. You see where
,
GAY TIMES: We have the story right here.
Edvin: Let's call Alice [Oseman] and Lisa
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together.
GAY TIMES: I'll sort it out, don't worry.
Avengers: Endgame, and we need it now!
Edvin: Oh my god, yes. Perfect, thank you
Sam.
Omar: Thank you so much. We're really
excited to see this whole issue. It's a dream
come true.
The second season of Young Royals premieres
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GAY TIMES: Edvin, the first season saw GAY TIMES: I would describe season
Wilhelm struggle with his duties as a one as dramatic and season two as...
prince and how his relationship with scandalous, right?
Simon complicates that. What do you think
Young Royals says about the monarchy Edvin:
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and its outdated approach to modern
relationships? GAY TIMES: Since the first season of
Young Royals, another teen show has
Edvin:

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We need the queer teen equivalent of
Avengers: Endgame, and we need it now!
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The second season of Young Royals premieres
1 November on Netflix.
Shirt, LACOSTE

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Jumper, RALPH LAUREN

Trousers, AXEL ARIGATO

Shirt, Tie, KENZO

Trousers, AXEL ARIGATO

All clothing, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

[both pages]
All clothing, MOSCHINO
 A guide to the
LGBTQ+ cast in
%LOO\(LFKQHUǵV
historic new comedy

37

Words by
SAM DAMSHENAS

The British actor is about to make his mainstream

breakthrough opposite Harry Styles and Emma
&RUULQLQ3ULPH9LGHRǵVKLJKO\DQWLFLSDWHGJD\
drama My Policeman.
A
V WKH ȓUVW JD\ DGXOW URPDQWLF
FRPHG\ IURP D PDMRU +ROO\ZRRG
studio, Bros marks a watershed
moment for queer cinema. Written
by Billy Eichner and Nicholas
6WROOHU ZLWK WKH ODWWHU DOVR GLUHFWLQJ WKH ȓOP
Bros has broke new ground for LGBTQ+
UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ ZLWK D SULQFLSDO TXHHU FDVW
even the straight roles are played by actors of
the LGBTQ+ experience. Upon release, the
ȓOP UHFHLYHG XQLYHUVDO FULWLFDO DFFODLP IURP
FULWLFVZKRSUDLVHG(LFKQHUIRUǶUHLQYLJRUDWLQJǷ
the genre, its hilarious script and - because
the straights have dominated rom-coms
throughout history - its originality.
Ƕ, UHDOLVHG WKDW ZH DUH MXVW VR KXQJU\ DV
LGBTQ+ people, as gay men, to see accurate,
multi-dimensional and genuinely funny and
genuinely smart depictions of ourselves that
ZH GRQǵW JHWǷ (LFKQHU WROG *$< 7,0(6 HDUOLHU
this year, adding that it was crucial for him
to depict gay people as “funny, sad, lonely,
H[WUHPHO\ FRQȓGHQW PHVV\ EUDYH KRUQ\ DQG
K\SRFULWLFDODGXOWKXPDQEHLQJVǷ
As well as providing some much-needed
LGBTQ+ visibility on the big screen, the
star-studded cast of Bros are ȗQDOO\
receiving recognition for their incomparable
contributions to popular culture. From the
Beyoncé-approved Ts Madison to Amanda
%HDUVHRQHRIWKHȓUVWPDLQVWUHDPDFWUHVVHV
to publicly come out as LGBTQ+, get to know
the cast of Bros below.
Luke Macfarlane
Canadian-American actor Luke Macfarlane is
EHVW NQRZQ IRU KLV ȓYH\HDU VWLQW RQ WKH $%&
drama Brothers & Sisters as Scotty Wendell,
whose romance with Kevin Walker (Matthew
Rhys) is often regarded as one of the greatest
in television history. The star - who plays Bobby
Lieber’s central love interest, Aaron - came out
as gay in 2008, the same year Scotty and Kevin
tied the knot. Following the series’ conclusion, 38
0DFIDUODQH OHG WKH VFLHQFHȓFWLRQ VHULHV
.LOOMR\V IRU ȓYH VHDVRQV DV 'ǵDYLQ -DTRELV D
former soldier and RAC bounty hunter. More
recently, the actor has been hailed as the king
of Hallmark television movies - appearing
in 13 to date such as The Mistletoe Promise,
Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen and A Magical
Christmas Village. Macfarlane will next star
opposite Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in Apple
TV’s upcoming comedy series Platonic.
Billy Eichner
Billy Eichner memorably rose to prominence
with Billy on the Street, for which he received
three nominations at the Emmy Awards.
Following Eichner as he minces the streets
of New York City and questions pedestrians
about popular culture, the game show featured
special guest stars such as Chris Evans, Mariah
Carey, P!nk, Maya Rudolph and Debra Messing
(you gays!). Eichner later became notable as
an actor in Parks and Recreation, American
Horror Story and American Crime Story, as
well as for voicing Timon in The Lion King,
which grossed over 1.6 billion at the worldwide
ER[RIȓFH+HZLOOUHSULVHWKHODWWHUUROHLQWKH
upcoming prequel Mufasa: The Lion King and
KDVEHHQFRQȓUPHGWRZULWHDQGVWDULQDǶELJ
JD\GLYRUFHFRPHG\ǷIRU3ULPH9LGHR
 Ts Madison
A prominent fixture within the LGBTQ+
community, Ts Madison recently broke
through the mainstream with a small role in
the acclaimed black comedy Zola and as a
recurring judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Last
year, she made herstory as the first Black trans
woman to star in and executive produce her
own reality series, The Ts Madison Experience.
Madison’s profile skyrocketed in 2022 when
her voice was sampled on Beyoncé’s track
Cozy, taken from her ballroom-inspired
seventh studio album Renaissance; following
its release, the pioneer - and producer Honey
Dijon - became the first Black trans women
to land a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
You can next catch Madison as the host of
WOW Presents Plus’ series Bring Back My
Girls and, as an actor, opposite Gabrielle Union
in Netflix’s romantic comedy The Perfect
Find. In Bros, Madison plays Angela, one of
the curators at the National LGBTQ+ History
Museum in Manhattan.

Miss Lawrence
After securing a lead role in Lee Daniels’ cult
musical drama Star, where they played the
gay, genderfluid hairdresser and close friend
to Queen Latifah’s character, Miss Lawrence
made their cinema debut opposite Oscar
39
nominee Andra Day in The United States vs
Billie Holiday. In 2013, the entertainer co-
hosted Bravo Network’s Fashion Queens
and, between 2008 and 2017, made sporadic
appearances on The Real Housewives of
Atlanta. Also a recurring guest on Watch What
Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Lawrence
is known within the community for their
LGBTQ+ advocacy - particularly in regards
to homophobia within Black spaces - and
currently serves as a member of The City of
Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ advisory board.

Eve Lindley
The star behind Angela, the scene-stealing
LGBTQ+ History Museum curator who had a
pivotal role in naming Beyoncé’s sixth album
Lemonade, Eve Lindley rose to fame in 2016
with recurring roles on two major American
dramas: Prime Video’s Emmy Award-winning
Mr Robot and WGN America’s short-lived
Outsiders. She attained a larger following after
serving as a main cast member on AMC’s
Dispatches from Elsewhere opposite Jason
Segel, Sally Field, Andre Benjamin and Richard
E. Grant. Despite overwhelmingly positive
reviews, the GLAAD-nominated drama was
cancelled after just one season.

Jim Rash
Jim Rash’s film and TV credits are extensive.
Boasting guest appearances in shows such
as Friends, That 70s Show, Will & Grace, Glee,
Curb Your Enthusiasm and Brooklyn Nine-
Nine, as well as a breakout role on Community,
which earned him a Critics’ Choice Television
Award, Rash won an Academy Award for Best
Adapted Screenplay in 2012 for his work on The
Descendants. Four years later, he made his
Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Captain
America: Civil War as the Dean of M.I.T., a role
he will reprise next year in the Disney Plus
series Ironheart. It was also recently confirmed
that Rash will return as Dean Craig Pelton in
the long-awaited - we repeat, long-awaited -
film adaptation of Community. Six seasons and
a movie? Prophecy fulfilled!
40
Dot-Marie Jones
For her performance as Coach Beiste on
Glee, Dot-Marie Jones received three
nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards
for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy
Series. To Disney Channel audiences, you’ll
recognise the actress as the gym teacher and
tormentor of Miranda and the title character
in Lizzie McGuire, while Drag Race fans will
remember her hilarious role as Svetlana in
Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia With Hate
and her guest appearance on RuPaul’s Drag
Race U. Later this year, Jones will star in Weird:
The Al Yankovic Story and the 11th season of
American Horror Story, subtitled ‘New York
City’.
41
Monica Raymund
Monica Raymund has kept busy in small-
screen crime dramas with main roles in Lie to
Me (48 episodes), Chicago Fire (139 episodes!)
and Hightown, the latter of which was recently
renewed for a third season. The actress has
also flexed her skills as a director on episodes
of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, FBI
and Chicago P.D. Although she’s appeared
in several short films and made cameo
appearances in others, Bros marks Raymund’s
first major cinematic role. In the comedy, the
star plays Tina, one of Bobby’s best friends.

Guillermo Díaz
After years of guest stints on shows such as
Touched by an Angel, The Shield and Without
a Trace, Guillermo Díaz caught his big break as
drug dealer Guillermo García Gómez on five
seasons of Jenji Kohan’s dark comedy series
Weeds. He later starred as a former assassin
and close ally of Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington)
in all seven seasons of Shonda Rimes’ widely-
acclaimed political thriller Scandal. Díaz’s film
credits include the cult comedy Half Baked,
the Tom Hanks-starring drama The Terminal
and the buddy cop film Cop Out. Not only
that, he’s appeared in music videos for Britney
Spears (I Wanna Go) and Beyoncé and Jay-Z
(Run). The actor currently stars in Law & Order:
Organized Crime.
Guy Branum
Bobby Lieber’s best friend Henry is played
by comedian, writer and actor Guy Branum,
the former head writer and sketch performer
on Xplay. American audiences will remember
Branum as a writer and regular panellist on
Chelsea Lately and the host of TruTV’s Talk
Show the Game Show. He released his first
comedy album in 2015, Effable, while his first
book was released three years later, A Memoir
Through (Un)Popular Culture.
Bowen Yang
Originally hired as a writer for Saturday Night
Live (SNL), Bowen Yang made history as their
first Chinese-American, first Austrasian-
American, third openly gay male and fourth-
ever cast member of Asian descent. He
reached another milestone last year when he
became SNL’s first ‘featured player’ to land a
Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Yang’s TV
and film credits include Girls5eva, The Other
Two, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, Isn’t
It Romantic, Cicada and The Lost City. Fire
Island, Joel Kim Booster’s acclaimed comedy
set at the titular gay hotspot, marked the
comedian’s first leading role. He currently co-
hosts the pop-culture podcast Las Culturistas
with his Fire Island co-star Matt Rogers.
Symone
The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13,
Symone became one of the most formidable
players in the franchise’s entire run when
she conquered four challenges, a feat only
accomplished in the past by queens (on a
regular US season) such as Sharon Needles,
Shea Couleé and her drag sister, Gigi Goode.
The star, who earned praise from the fandom
for her innovative runway presentations, also
made herstory with the most lip-sync wins
in a single season, with seven. Bros marks
Symone’s first acting role.
Harvey Fierstein
One of the LGBTQ+ community’s most
legendary actors and screenwriters, Harvey
Fierstein is a four-time Tony Award winner
for his work on the Torch Song Trilogy and
Hairspray; for the latter, he became the first-
ever male actor to win a Tony for playing a
character of the opposite sex. The American
Theater Hall of Fame inductee also wrote
the book for musicals such as Kinky Boots,
Newsies and A Catered Affair, and received
a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for
his guest appearance on Cheers. In film,
Fierstein has also been celebrated for roles
in Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day,
as well as the voice of Yao in Mulan and its
sequel.
Amanda Bearse
Playing the role of Aaron’s conservative mother
Anne Shepard, Amanda Bearse is best known
for her 11-year stint as Marcy Rhodes/D’Arcy
on Fox’s iconic sitcom Married… with Children
and as Amy Peterson in the supernatural
horror Fright Night. Bearse came out as a
lesbian in 1993, during the seventh season of
Married… with Children, becoming one of the
first celebrities on primetime television to do
so. She later directed 31 episodes of the long-
running comedy series, as well as Dharma
& Greg and MadTV. In 2018, Bearse directed
the Off-Broadway production Party Face and
replaced original cast member Klea Blackhurst
in the role of Bearnie in its final week.
42
Jai Rodriguez
Jai Rodriguez was part of the original ‘Fab
Five’ on Queer Eye - originally titled Queer Eye
for the Straight Guy - as their culture expert
alongside Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia
and Carson Kressley. After its conclusion,
Rodriguez guest starred in shows such as Nip/
Tuck, How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy
and Uncoupled, although he’s mostly affiliated
with his role as Jimmy on EastSiders and as
Diego on Kingdom.
Bros hits UK cinemas on 28 October.
The British actor is about to make his mainstream
breakthrough opposite Harry Styles and Emma
&RUULQLQ3ULPH9LGHRǵVKLJKO\DQWLFLSDWHGJD\
drama My Policeman.

Photography by Words by Skin & Hair by

JOSEPH SINCLAIR SAM DAMSHENAS NADIA ALTINBAS

W
ith LGBTQ+ representation
still scarce on the big screen,
My Policeman’s status as one
of the most anticipated - and
dissected, we should add -
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Harry Styles, very famous singer, so there’s
that too.) Based on Bethan Roberts’ lauded gay
novel of the same name set in 1950s Brighton,
the poignant drama follows the heartwreching
been singled out for praise amongst critics with
several hailing My Policeman as his mainstream
breakthrough. As a gay man, Dawson tells GAY
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campaigned for LGBTQ+ equality. “There will
be a lot of younger people who perhaps don’t
know about this period of time in British history,
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VWRU\ RI 7RP 6W\OHV D FORVHWHG SROLFH RIȓFHU
who marries a schoolteacher called Marion
(Emma Corrin) rather than his true love
Patrick (David Dawson) due to the era’s social
constraints. Also starring Linus Roache, Gina
McKee and Rupert Everett as their older
counterparts, respectively, My Policeman made
history when the cast were announced as the
collective winners of the ‘Actor Award’ at TIFF
7ULEXWHPDUNLQJWKHȓUVWWLPHLWZDVSUHVHQWHG
to an ensemble rather than an individual.
Known for various roles on-stage and in
British dramas such as Ripper Street, Peaky
Blinders and The Last Kingdom, Dawson’s
stunning performance as the gay gallerist has
says. “I watched Tom Daley's documentary,
Illegal to Be Me, and that's a prime example
to remind people that around the world, things
like this are still continuing to happen. It also
made me feel incredibly privileged to have the
freedoms and the rights that we have and been
IRXJKWIRUDQGDFKLHYHGRYHUWKH\HDUVǷ
Ahead of My Policeman’s release in
cinemas and on Prime Video, we spoke with
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Harry Styles ensured the relationship between
Patrick and Tom would be as authentic as
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RQPRUHTXHHUUROHVLQIXWXUHSURMHFWV
David, where are you in the world right now?
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,
PLQDKRWHOURRPLQ1RUWK/RQGRQ,
PȓOPLQJ he had to live during that time in our country's
a series down here. I moved to Manchester
so I’m living out of a bag in North London!
,
YH MXVW EHHQ UHDGLQJ DERXW \RX WKDW \RX MXVW
interviewed all the new queens for Drag Race
8."
V
I did! Are you a Drag Race fan?
I'm a huge Drag Race fan, yeah. I think the
only time I've ever been properly starstruck
was when I was with some mates in The Soho
Theatre bar and turned around and Jinkx
Monsoon was standing there. I went up to her
but I did not know what to say at all.
So when can we expect your guest
appearance on Drag Race UK, then?
[Laughs] Make it happen, Sam!
We'll @ RuPaul on Twitter and we'll make it
happen.
Actually, I can now technically say I worked
with RuPaul Charles. I did a beautiful animated
movie earlier in the year, and I think it's coming
out at Christmas - and we're both in it! I never
got to meet Mama Ru, but I can say I worked
with her at least.
Let's talk My Policeman. By the end, I was
absolutely blubbering. How excited are you
WRȓQDOO\JHWWKLVȓOPRXWLQWRWKHZRUOG"
Oh, incredibly, yeah. We wrapped on this in
June last year and you have to acknowledge
that it's not yours anymore and I'm excited for
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people respond to what we made. We all cared
very much about the story so it means a lot to
V$6LQ,W
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me to hear what people think of it. I'm glad you
had a moving response to it, thank you.
I know you've worked with Michael
Grandage on the stage a few times, but
why were you interested in taking on such a
complex character like Patrick Hazelwood?
Initially, what I was fascinated by with Patrick
was how skilfully out of necessity he has to have
two personas: the public persona in which he
can not only survive but thrive and achieve his
ambitions, travel the world and curate art, and
UH MXVW SOD\LQJ
then balancing that with the private man and
the vulnerability of him behind closed doors.
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I found most fascinating was asking myself,
'What is a safe space for someone like Patrick
OLYLQJ WKURXJK WKDW WLPH"
 7KH V\PEROLVP RI about this period of time in British history, so I
his apartment is one of the only spaces where
he can be authentically himself. Also, doing
research into the history of gay bars as safe
spaces gave me a greater appreciation of what
those buildings mean. As a gay man myself,
Tom Daley's documentary, Illegal to Be Me,
history... To walk into a room with no other
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SHRSOH ZKR DUH MXVW DV DPELWLRXV DQG FOHYHU
and passionate as you... All of that fascinated
me about playing Patrick.
The experience of every LGBTQ+
person is wildly different, of course,
but did you see any part of yourself
in Patrick when you read the script?
I'm quite an introvert, quite a quiet lad and
acting is what I've always wanted to do since I
was a little boy. That was my way of expressing
myself in the world. I suppose with Patrick, that
public persona he puts on is an act. In private,
he's far more reserved.
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about LGBTQ+ rights, or lack thereof,
during this moment in history?
I watched a wonderful BBC drama called
Against the Law, which had a lot of talking
heads of gay men who had lived through this
PRPHQWLQKLVWRU\:KDWKRUULȓHGPHWKHPRVW
was the conversion therapies that were in place
that were mainstream. It was deeply affecting
to hear those men's stories. There's a scene
later in the movie, a particularly violent scene,
that reminded me of that documentary. When
you research that time, you can have a feeling
of anger and hurt... Years ago, I played Tony
Warren - the man who created Coronation
Street back in 1960 - in a drama and I was lucky
enough to become his friend. He was an out
gay man in 1960 and he used to take me for
dinners. He's no longer with us, sadly, but he
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clandestine romances, so that was also very
helpful in terms of Patrick's mentality. He's a
person who's proud of his sexuality and does
not see himself as a victim and is determined
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world.
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novel, but of course, the events are not too
dissimilar to how gay and queer people
were treated in the 50s. As a queer actor,
what does it mean to you to bring a story to
life that carries so much emotional weight
for your community?
Even in some small way, if My Policeman
adds to the conversation... There will be a lot
of younger people who perhaps don't know
You act opposite Harry Styles, an up-and-
hope it opens up a lot of people's minds. Even
though it's a period piece about 50s Britain,
hopefully there's poignancy in the fact that
this is not something for us all to go, 'Oh, that
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and that's a prime example to remind people
that around the world, things like this are still
continuing to happen. It also made me feel
incredibly privileged to have the freedoms and
the rights that we have and been fought for
DQGDFKLHYHGRYHUWKH\HDUV,MXVWZDWFKHG,W
A Sin last year and I was heartbroken by it, but
thought it was stunning. That was a similar kind
of learning curve of learning about our past and
rhetoric that was mainstream as well.
In previous interviews and overall coverage
of My Policeman, there's been a lot of
emphasis around the gay sex scenes
between you and Harry. As this marks your
ȓUVWTXHHUUROHRQVXFKDPDLQVWUHDPOHYHO
has it surprised you how many outlets have
focused on the queer intimacy rather than
RWKHUDVSHFWVRIWKHȓOP"
[Laughs] Weirdly enough, around two weeks
ago, yes. A lot of people did ask that question.
I understand why, but weirdly, this last week
nobody has, so I'm hoping that's because it's
already been asked and it's out there and done.
What I will say, in terms of working with Michael
Grandage and his determination for them to
be beautiful scenes... The process of making
those scenes is something we were right in the
centre of, it's been a collaborative process and
we had an Intimacy Coordinator. The four of us,
Harry, Emma, Michael and me, we wanted to
create a beautiful story through those scenes.
,ȓUVWOHDUQHGDERXW,QWLPDF\&RRUGLQDWRUV
when I interviewed Ita O'Brien, who worked
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past, actors were just thrown into a love
scene without direction or choreography?
Surrounded by 30 crew! People may assume
that if you bring somebody on board like that,
then it might constrain what you're going to
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makes you feel so supported and - is it cheesy
WR VD\"  HPSRZHUHG EHFDXVH \RX FRQVWDQWO\
communicate. Me and Harry did this the whole
way through, we were constantly checking in
with each other. On the day, you actually have
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those people rather than worrying about, 'Is my
FROOHDJXHFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKWKLV"
kind of dance. It's choreography, like any other
scene. Why wouldn't you choreograph a scene
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coming singer-songwriter. How did you
both work together off-screen to ensure
the relationship between Patrick and Tom
was as authentic as possible?
Michael's from the theatre, so we had the
great luxury of having three weeks to rehearse
together. Me, Harry and Emma got in a room
together and that gave us time to bond and
create a friendship and a chemistry. Also, me
and Harry would work together, Emma and
Harry would work together and then the three
WTXLWHNQRZ"$VORQJ
of us. You were never party to things your
character would not know in the story, because
the story's full of secrets that are kept. That
was also very effective and useful. When I read
the script before meeting the other actors, you
know that for this love story to work, you hope
that you're going to be working with someone
who you can put your trust in. From day one, I
got all of that from Harry, truly. He's incredibly
down-to-earth and hard-working. That promise
of communication was amazing. One thing
that the Intimacy Coordinator said that sticks
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with me is that anything that we work out in the
rehearsal room, if on the day we shoot it and we
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VȓQH:H to see what they make of it.
acknowledge that and we change it. I thought
that was incredibly powerful.
, NQRZ WKLV VWRU\ KDV TXLWH D GHȓQLWLYH
ending, but people always want a sequel!
So, I have to ask: would you be open to
revisiting this character in the future?
Absolutely! Interestingly, there's a gap in what
you know of them from the 50s to the 90s, so
there's far more to explore in-between that
time period.
What kind of impact would you like My
Policeman to have on viewers, particularly
queer viewers who were alive during this
moment in time?
This is a hard question because in everything
I've ever done, I've been far more fascinated by
what people's responses to a piece is without...
You know when you're involved with something 46
VRPXFKWKDW\RXGRQ
as people feel something from the work you've
created, then I'm happy. I think I'd be far more
fascinated by what people make of it rather
than me hope for something.
How did you feel when you watched it?
I watched it with my agent and I turned around
and she was crying at the end. Whenever I
watch something I'm in, I normally watch it the
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what the DOP did or what your fellow actors
GLG 'RHV WKDW VRXQG ZHLUG" ,W
Festival on Saturday so I've got my fella, my
family and friends coming to see it. I'm elated
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explicitly queer roles. Can we expect more
in the future? Is that something you'd like to
explore?
Yeah, absolutely. When we were on set, me and
Emma were talking. I've always wanted to play
The Emcee, since I was a kid, and they wanted
to be Sally Bowles, so maybe one day...
My Policeman will be released in cinemas in
the UK and US on 21 October and worldwide
H[FOXVLYHO\RQ3ULPH9LGHRVWDUWLQJ1RYHPEHU
7KHKRUURUJHQUHZRXOGQǵWEHWKHVDPH
without queer women
Words by
KIRA RICHARDS
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RJHQUHDFURVVȓOPDQGWHOHYLVLRQ
is as camp as horror. Both
the origins of the genre - and
those viewing it - have shaped
how it presents itself today.
UHHPEOHPDWLFRIWKHLUDJHǷ
This link has been long-established. Horror
was born out of the 19th century Gothic era,
a time woven with stories of queer-coded
monsters with sprawling exposed guts and
V DQGVFLȓVKRZVTXHHUZRPHQ0DODPHWDGGV
blood-thirsty vampires. From Mary Shelley’s
)UDQNHQVWHLQ WR 'UDFXOD WR WKH  ȓOP WKH
Dracula’s Daughter, the cornerstones of
supernatural media have frequently included
Illustration by
LIV LAWRENCE
LGBTQ+ undertones. “The lesbian vampire
DV D TXHHU ȓJXUH LV YHU\ HPEOHPDWLF RI WKH
age in which the stories about her are taking
SODFHǷ$QQLH5RVH0DODPHWDOHVELDQYDPSLUH
expert, writer, and podcast host tells GAY
TIMES. “For example, in the 30s, a lot of the
focus was on modern psychoanalysis, and the
idea that queer people have like an inverted
VH[XDOLW\ 6R ZH JHW WKLV ȓOP 7KH 'UDFXOD
Daughter, which explores themes relating to
contemporaneous psychoanalytic theories
about lesbianism. Then when we get to the 70s,
ZKLFK LV PRUH HPEOHPDWLF RI D IUHHȔRZLQJ
sexuality. Up and through the 90s, we get this
hyper modern edgy, post ironic, existential kind
of vampire. And then, of course, there's all the
stuff happening now with vampires, so I believe
WKDWWKH\
Whilst exploring the plethora of LGBTQ+
inclusive media we have today, there’s a
distinctive thread that connects most horror
that the genre wouldn’t be the same without
the contributions of women who existed
outside of societal expectations of sexuality: “I
think that horror was invented by queer people.
If you want to go all the way back to Mary
Shelley and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, she
was bisexual. Queer people have very strong
connection to horror for a variety of reasons.
The most obvious is feeling othered in a
society in the way that the monster is othered
in horror generally. So I think that queer
women are integral to the discussion because
WKH\RULJLQDWHGWKHGLVFXVVLRQǷ
There’s now a plethora of openly queer,
female characters across supernatural
thrillers and horror programmes, and that is
an undisputable feat. Without groundbreaking
representations of women away from
heteronormative storylines, more inclusive
narratives would not have the room to grow.
With shows such as Buffy The Vampire
Slayer, viewers could relate to both the
canonically queer characters, as well as the
titular character’s allegorical experience of
self-acceptance. In 2001, the show depicted
RQH RI WKH ȓUVW RQVFUHHQ OHVELDQ NLVVHV RQ
mainstream television between Willow and
Tara. But there were also parallels in the
way Buffy stepped into her role as a vampire
VOD\HU WR WKDW RI WKH TXHHU H[SHULHQFH IURP
her inner turmoil due to societal expectations
DQGDMRXUQH\WRDFFHSWZKRZDVPHDQWWREH
Her friendship group, known as The Scooby
Gang, were her chosen family, and the show
broached LGBTQ+ themes with more nuance
than had ever been done before. Although in
retrospect, what Buffy achieved ticked very
few diversity boxes, it championed LGBTQ+
relationships bravely and against the grain.
But as more unmistakably queer
women have been portrayed on our
screens, depictions of them have stagnated
or marginally progressed. Are newer
representations simply repackaging tropes as
ROGDVWKHJHQUHLWVHOI",QVRPHLQVWDQFHV79
and movies hone in on the oversexualisation of
women being together, rather than developing
emotional depth between the characters.
Although sexuality does not have to be the
centre of every storyline, the inclusion and
portrayals of such identities still requires
intricacy in its approach. Thus, having a
broad selection of queer media to turn to
for representation is only empowering if the
FRQWHQWLVUHȔHFWLYHRIWKHWUXHH[SHULHQFH
“Queer women have always had a home
LQ KRUURUǷ VWDWHV /*%74 ȓOP FULWLF .HOVLH
Dickinson. She tells GAY TIMES that horror and
TXHHUQHVVGRQǵWǶȓWWKHKHWHURQRUPDWLYHLGHDOǷ
in which western society is built upon, and the
bond between the entities has formed out of
the marginalisation of these communities.
Dickinson notes myriad issues surrounding
how queer horror is presented in the media, and
which demographics it is designed to serve.
“I think that the main issue is that it depends
who's making and writing these characters
off screen. It depends if we have more queer
women producing, writing, directing - and I
don't necessarily think that we do. Even though
these characters are becoming more popular,
and we're seeing them more often, they’re not
necessarily being told from an authentic point
RI YLHZǷ 7KLV LVQǵW DQ RFFDVLRQDO RFFXUUHQFH
“We get that a lot with queer characters:
where they're not necessarily being controlled
or created by queer people. So, then their
development and their actions—and even how
they go about—isn’t necessarily logical. It's a
disconnect. A lot of the representation we see
is to appease ticking a box, being like, ‘We don't
want to be cancelled’ or ‘We don't want to be
seen as not appealing to LGBTQ+ or to Gen Z,
VRZH
UHJRLQJWRSXWLQDTXHHUFKDUDFWHUǷ and I Am Not Okay With This (2020) were
The critic felt that modern programming
has attempted to develop LGBTQ+ narratives
without diversifying the creators of their content:
“It's [become] a box to tick now, as opposed
WR DFWXDOO\ KDYLQJ DQ LQȔX[ RI TXHHU FUHDWLYH
talent into the industry. Until we see behind the
W
screen, the representation is always going to
EHDELWKROORZDQGDELWGLVFRQQHFWHGǷ7KHUHǵV
been an abundance of one-series wonders that
have graced our screens in recent years. First
Kill received over 100,000,000 viewing hours
in the month following its release and peaked
at number three on the top 10 list for English
speaking programmes. Yet, the show was still
axed after one season. The series tracked the
budding relationship between vampire Juliette
and hunter Calliope, and over the course of their
eight-episode arc, viewers felt represented by
the depth that the characters were delved into,
both in and out of their romantic partnership. It
was an earnest rendition of star-crossed lovers
that confronted lack of queer characterisation
directly. Creator and author V.E Schwab, who
herself is gay, wanted to create a world where
despite the various obstacles Calliope and
Juliette faced, lack of acceptance due to their
sexualities was not one of them.
First Kill showcases queerness in an
assortment of ways. Aside from the two lesbian
leads, one of which is a Black woman, there is
also Tess, a queer Black and Asian girl played
by MK xyz, and Ben (Jonas Dylan Allen) who is
a Black gay man. First Kill showed promise but
was said to be cancelled due to low viewership
and staying power, which has been a recurring
WKHPH RI OHVELDQIURQWHG VKRZV RQ 1HWȔL[
in particular. Both Everything Sucks (2018),
not renewed after a single series on the
streaming platform. And as shows are typically
picked up for a batch of up to 10 episodes,
there is often a shortage of time to explore
the characters in a rounded and nuanced
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have a lot of time or patience, and neither
do any of the big streaming sites, when it
comes to queer stories. If it doesn't do well,
they'll axe it straight away. It’s not given time
to progress anymore. A lot of the best queer
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has come from shows that have grown over
seasons, like Buffy, and that didn't come until
two or three seasons into the show. We don't
get shows like that anymore…and then there's
a cult following because the shows died, and
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Representations of queer women of
horror have existed since the inception of
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are intrinsically connected in their history
and progression, and always will be. There
is no horror without the innovation of women
in the LGBTQ+ community, who dared to
explore sexuality in their media however
and wherever possible. In a moment where
there is an oversaturation of TV shows and
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content feels so easily disposable and the
characters feel less robust. However, for
those of us who lack on-screen recognition,
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they symbolise belonging.
7KHZULWHUDQGVWDUVRI%%&7KUHHǵV
groundbreaking “duck slasher show” are
welcoming a queerer perspective on the
horror genre.
Words by
SAM DAMSHENAS
A
lthough queerness and horror
have historically gone hand-in-
hand - Nosferatu is a gay, it is
(not) a fact (but very clear as day) -
the existence of openly LGBTQ+
characters in the genre has notoriously
been… well, non-existent. (For god’s sake,
queers can get their throats slashed too!) In
recent years, however, representation for the
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to Ryan Murphy’s iconic anthology series
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such as The Perfection, Fear Street, Bodies
Bodies Bodies, They/Them and - this is not a
stretch, it’s canon now - The Babadook.
This month, the genre reached queerer
heights with BBC Three’s six-part series
Wreck. Written by Ryan J. Brown, the former
recipient of the BAFTA New Writing Prize,
the British slasher comedy follows Jamie
(Oscar Kennedy), a gay 20-something who
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(Jodie Tycack) who mysteriously disappeared
from the same vessel on a previous tour.
Featuring smart, self-aware characters akin
to the Scream franchise and The Cabin in the
Woods as well as a serial killer galavanting
around the ship in a ducking (autocorrect
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the only one who knew his sexuality, the series
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and all of those queer trauma narratives that
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with even a slither of LGBTQ+ visibility. The
characters are simply accepted for who they
are, which is - somehow - still rare to see in
2022. “In that moment, you realise that this isn’t
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further. “It’s so much more. She’s the only
person who actually knew the authentic him.
Again, it’s not the main focus of the story. No
one comes out. He’s not in turmoil, but actually,
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Crediting HBO’s teen drama Euphoria
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Heartstopper with an authentic increase in
trans representation on the small-screen, Miya
Ocego praises Brown for “not even speaking
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of her lack of - here’s that word again - trauma.
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about and that’s what we still need, because
it’s raising awareness for our community and
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I think is so beautiful about this story is that
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one of the most entertaining - and queerest
- offerings from the genre in recent memory.
Accompanying Jamie on his mission is Vivian
(Thaddea Graham), a hard-as-nails lesbian
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series, and that speaks volumes. It’s amazing
that Ryan created this little world where we
should all aspire to be - without the murders,
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&KHULPSHUVRQDWRUZKRMXVWVRKDSSHQVWREH of hoo-hah around her transness has been
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ex-boyfriend whose identity is assumed
by Jamie to board the Sacramentum. The
LGBTQ+ rep doesn’t stop there: various other
characters on the ship are also members
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Vivian’s love interests Olly (Anthony Rickman)
and Lily (Ramanique Ahluwalia), as well as
Sacramentum entertainer Hamish (James
Phoon). Irish drag performer Dr Panti Bliss-
Cabrera also appears in a supporting role.
Ryan J. Brown, who won his BAFTA Award
for the LGBTQ+ crime drama We Are Your
Children, tells GAY TIMES that he wanted
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“Also, it was important to have two leads who
were queer but didn’t have stories about their
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“I feel like we are getting more overtly queer
horror, but often that’s still the sassy sidekick
of the slightly ambiguous lesbian. [Jamie and
Vivian’s] queerness arms them and prepares
them for danger. They know danger better
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While episode two includes a quick exchange
between Jamie and Vivian about his coming
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that Rosie is a trans character they’re like, ‘But
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room and say, ‘I’m trans!’ There will be people
who have that response and then hopefully
they’ll check themselves and think, ‘Why was it
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As Hamish, it’s crucial for James Phoon
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the East Asian community. Phoon, who has
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other actors of East Asian descent, “and I’ve
been working professionally for eight years. Up
until that point, I’ve been the only East Asian
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the Sacramentum’s entertainment crew, a
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“He uses this persona as a bit of armour. He’s
quick to squash other people down or give
someone a dirty look, but deep down… Maybe
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character is the most likely to conform to the
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has historically been linked to gay characters
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in Wreck because “there’s so many queer
characters that are distinct, three-dimensional
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He explains: “For years, we’ve seen one gay
character and they’re very much a sterotype.
They’re so limited. [In Wreck], they’re all so
different from each other, but they’re all queer
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all super informed by being part of the queer
community, but that’s not the entirety of the
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The aforementioned lack of representation
for LGBTQ+ people within horror has “always
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opportunity to “reclaim this space for the
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the LGBTQ+ experience that are rarely - if, at
all - seen on television, such as Hamish and
Rosie. He also aimed to pay homage and
subvert horror conventions by - spoiler alert -
killing off Wreck’s most well-known star, BAFTA
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far back queer people go in horror. I didn’t even
realise the director of Nosferatu was gay. Him
and The Babadook would make a cute couple.
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got this scientist who wants to make the perfect
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[for the LGBTQ+ community] to not be subtext
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people have to horror is because it’s always
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monster or the Final Girl due to how they
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wanted to have a nice life, but he was chased
by an angry mob and destroyed because he
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Curtis in Halloween, the Scream Queen who
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always targeted by something terrible. Also,
horror has always been that rebellious genre
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Brown anticipates a mixed response to
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but acknowledges that queer people are used
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writer references a negative review from a cis-
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of the series’ queer relationships, but says
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the horror stans who have been craving to
see themselves represented in their favourite
genre. Discussing the power of media on
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with stereotypical depictions of gay people
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as a child. “I remember thinking that this was
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he recalls. “Why wasn’t I more campy or witty
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that of me as well, to style them and help them
do their hair. At that age, I knew nothing about
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writing three-dimensional - and relatable -
queer characters. “Honestly, young people are
really going to connect with these characters
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these minority groups that see themselves
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agrees, stating: “You get such a sense of unity,
which is what our community is all about. I want
people to feel validated and seen when they
watch this. There is such a wide spectrum of
characters that are so relatable to so many
people. I know people will watch this and feel
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to have fun with Wreck. “We are a horror show
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and entertained but ultimately go away feeling
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killer in a - we’re saying it again, because it was
funny and relevant - ducking duck costume on
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stream on BBC iPlayer.