I am not a big fan of documentaries because usually they are about some boring topic. However, I really appreciate what Olly Alexander, the lead singer from the band “Years and Years,” did to highlight a real issue in the LGBT community. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have experienced being rejected by family for being gay, being bullied at school and wanting to end it all and becoming really self-destructive. I can’t tell you how many times I just wanted to be “normal” or accepted to make the pain stop and be loved by someone. This documentary hits on the things we really don’t want to talk about or relive.
I appreciate the openness with which Olly talks about his own struggles and fears and how he overcame them and still has to work every day to keep them in check. The stories of the young men on this documentary are powerful and moving and really show that our young LGBT brothers and sisters need help and support from those of us who have gone through this and made it out to the other side.
They need to know they aren’t alone and there is a community who is there to help, love and support them. I really hope more and more that we step up as a community to find and nurture LGBT young people who may have nowhere else to turn to for support. Thank you Olly for sharing your story but also for talking about the issue and not hiding from it, even though it is painful to relive. Watch
