8 great coming out moments in TV and Film

Despite the many advancements made for the LGBTQ+ community in recent years, coming out can still be just as difficult now as it was decades ago. There are many ways to progress past the need for coming out and to build a society where people are free to identify how they wish without assumptions or questions, and part of that journey comes in the form of normalizing different queer experiences. Whether it’s through fiction or more high-profile figures expressing themselves, prominent representation of the coming out process is the next stage of making it easier for other members of the community to do so. Knowing this, here are 8 scenes from TV and film that have helped to normalize coming out, offering viewers a glimpse into the emotional struggle many LGBTQ+ still face to this day.

Nick Nelson – Heartstopper

2022 has been an excellent year for LGBTQ+ content so far, with perhaps the most popular being Netflix’s Heartstopper. Kit Connor plays closeted bisexual teenager Nick Nelson, who finds himself falling for openly gay classmate Charlie Spring. The series follows Charlie as he tries to suppress his romantic feelings for Nick, who he believes is heterosexual and only sees him as a friend. However, as the series progresses, Nick starts questioning the depth of his relationship with the other boy.

The heart of the series comes in last episode, however, when Nick sits down to confess these feelings to his mother (played by the ever-masterful Olivia Colman). He reveals that he experiences attraction to both boys and girls, and that he is in love with Charlie. His mom’s response is heartfelt and beautiful, having such a strong impact that many viewers took to Twitter to tell Kit Connor how the scene inspired them to come out as bisexual. It remains one of the most poignant and well-made LGBTQ+ scenes this year.

David Rose - Schitt's Creek

This Canadian sitcom focuses on the wealthy Rose family who suddenly lose everything overnight, only retaining the asset of a small, rough town called Schitt's Creek. They have no choice but to move to the unfamiliar environment and integrate with its inhabitants. Among the family is the spectacularly camp David Rose, expertly played by Dan Levy, who