Kit Connor highlights ‘shockingly low’ on-screen bisexual representation
The Heartstopper actor notes that bisexual people make up "a huge amount of the LGBTQIA+ community" and yet "we really don’t get much representation."
Heartstopper star Kit Connor has opened up about his thoughts on the “shockingly low” bisexual representation in film and TV.
The 18-year-old actor was speaking about his depiction of bisexual high schooler Nick Nelson in Netflix’s beloved Heartstopper on a Critic’s Choice Award panel alongside his co-star Joe Locke when he voiced his thoughts.
“It is shocking because a huge amount of the LGBTQIA+ community is made up of bisexual people. It’s a huge community but we really don’t get much representation,” Kit shares.
“The bisexual community is a community that has really a shockingly low representation, especially male bisexual characters,” he adds.
A 2022 study by Stonewall found that the most common identity in the UK after straight is bisexual.
The actor, who also appeared in Rocketman and the BBC series His Dark Materials, notes that it was “a real pleasure to be able to portray that journey and those experiences” with his character Nick.
Kit also says that delving into the nuances of a young man coming to terms with his bisexuality was integral and became the main arc for Nick’s storyline.
He continues: “It’s not just so much of working out whether or not you are a boy attracted to another boy, it’s also, you know, discovering whether or not everything he previously thought about his sexuality is suddenly invalid, or whether or not it’s something he still wants to acknowledge.”
“I think that’s something that isn’t seen very often.”
Kit came out as bisexual at the beginning of November after leaving Twitter amid accusations that he was ‘queer-baiting’ by refusing to label his sexuality publicly.
“back for a minute. i’m bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. i think some of you missed the point of the show. bye”, Kit tweeted at the time.
Kit had previously spoken out about the pressure he’s been under to talk about his sexuality publicly since Heartstopper premiered back in April.
Following the Critic’s Choice Award panel, many Heartstopper fans shared their pride for Kit speaking openly about bisexuality.
“thank you kit connor for helping me feel so represented as a bisexual person, not only on screen but off screen too,” one fan tweeted.
They added: “You’re a wonderful person and you’ll never know how grateful i am to you and how proud i am to be able support you, i love you so much kit :’)”
“yes i’m a massive kit connor stan. but more than that, i’m a queer young adult watching a queer teen discover who he is with millions of eyes on him & expressing it with so much grace, all while portraying a character that the world needed,” another fan tweeted.
“i’m. so. PROUD.” they added.
“kit talking about bisexual representation i am in Tears” another Heartstopper fan wrote online, noting Kit’s use of “we” when speaking about bisexuality was particularly moving for them.
Many fans of the young actor are thanking him for providing heartfelt bisexual representation for young men and doing so with such maturity.
Check out the CCA panel below.