Stranger Things: Gaten Matarazzo talks LGBTQ+ allyship, draws attention to gay people in the ’80s (EXCLUSIVE)
"It didn’t happen to you because nobody felt comfortable telling you," said Matarazzo
By Aaron Sugg
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo has affirmed his LGBTQ+ allyship as he pushed back against the idea that queer people “didn’t happen” or were not visible in the 1980s, when the series is set.
Speaking exclusively to Attitude ahead of the fifth and final series release in the UK today (27 November), Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson in the Netflix series, highlighted the importance of queer characters and allyship.
He spoke about the show resonating with LGBTQ+ viewers, noting how special it is “especially in the time in which it takes place, which is really rare.”
“It didn’t happen to you because nobody felt comfortable telling you” – Gaten Matarazzo on those denying LGBTQs were out in the ’80s
Matarazzo, 23, drew attention to the taboo nature around sexuality during a period when Section 28 was introduced, calling it a “weird notion that people talked about,” which contributed to people disregarding queer identities in the ’80s.
“It didn’t happen to you because nobody felt comfortable telling you,” he said of out LGBTQs, noting that queer culture did exist, but many people were unaware of it because it was not widely accepted.
“There were out gay people constantly in the ’80s… queer culture existed in the ’80s,” he continued. “You didn’t happen to be a part of it, because there wasn’t an opportunity for it to be vocal.”
Highlighting queer character Robin Buckley, played by Maya Hawke, and her friendship with Steve Harrington, Joe Keery’s character, Matarazzo expressed his pride that Stranger Things spotlights LGBTQ+ allyship.
“Steve is like the last person people would think would be a safe space” – Matarazzo on Joe Keery’s character being an ally in Stranger Things
“Robin and Steve – Steve is like the last person people would think would be a safe space. And he turns out to be. And that’s really cool and really fun,” he said.
Addressing viewers who grew up in the ’80s, he added: “It’s cool to see people who are older, who grew up in that time, kind of grip with that and learn.”
Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair, weighed in on the discussion, saying that as a Black man he can relate to people not understanding his culture, and emphasised the importance of friendship in the show.
“There’s hints at Will being queer” – Caleb McLaughlin on the importance of Noah Schnapp’s character’s storyline
Speaking about Will Byers, Noah Schnapp’s character, he said: “There’s hints at Will being queer and everything, and I think it’s a great dynamic to have. His friends around him are still probably curious or kind of not really understanding.”
McLaughlin added: “We don’t know where his journey is, but to show that men can be friends and understand each other… I think it is great.”
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