If you only have time for one television programme this week, or any week really, why not give this a go; Growing Up Gay With Olly Alexander. It is a genuinely powerful glimpse into the mind of a very special young man, one who seems the very epitome of the modern Renaissance man. A deep thinker, a great, great singer, dancer and actor. He is all these things and yet remains very humbly a gentle human being. If the word gentleman has any real meaning these days then he is surely it.
He articulates very movingly, and honestly, the pains he experienced growing up gay in a straight world. Argue the semantics all you want, break it down, dress it up, "problematically unpack" or whatever. He is trying to articulate a painful truth that runs through the very center of the rock of modernity. An over rich vein of awkwardness and painful loneliness that all too many off us experience. Perhaps less so for future generations as the world seems genuinely attempting to usher in a long over due era of kindness rather than willful ignorance. Now, unfortunately, too many of us were forced to walk the lonelier path where we made our mistakes, where we fell and hurt ourselves without anyone to pick us up.
To many looking in from the outside, Olly Alexander's story must surely be one of fame and success as he seems to succeed at anything he puts his art and his heart into, yet he has the courage to admit that such rewards cannot act as battle armour against the many blows life throws his way. I believe, that gay or straight, one does not get immunity to these random attacks, that everyone has a story to tell, and tonight was Olly's turn to articulate his experiences. And the method he chooses is painful honesty, finding the words that rip of the scar tissue to reveal the wounds beneath. This was not some narcissistic whine, this was staking vunerabilty on the line. He stumbles as he tries to speak, you can see the fresh pain as old wounds are re-opened. even as he talks to his own mother. it is painful stuff but he had the decency and the courage to let us see. Not even for his own sake but for the sake of others who might encounter the same pains and self doubt without any network of support. He goes out into the world, speaks at schools, performs and sings and tries to encourage the efforts of allies everywhere he goes.
Everybody needs a friend like Olly Alexander. and Olly could use a few good friends.
And there is no reason why one should exclude the other.
