Nickelodeon plans documentary focusing on lives of gay kids
By Josh Haggis
Nickelodeon is to air a one-off special focusing on the lives of gay children living in the US, the network has announced.
The half-hour documentary, hosted by US journalist Linda Ellerbee, will follow the lives of gay children as they deal with fear, bullying and isolation on their journey towards finding acceptance.
The special will air as part of the network’s children’s news programme, Nick News, which has been running for 23 years and received a massive 21 Emmy Award nominations in that time.
“It takes bravery for a kid to come out. Being accepted by straight people is not a given. Being young and different is not easy,” said Ellerbee in a press release. “This may be tough to talk about, or hear about, but this is important stuff. Not addressing it doesn’t make it go away.”
One of the children featured in the documentary, 16-year-old Bradley, added: “In elementary school, I knew I was different from the other guys. When I realised I was gay, the biggest problem I faced was wondering if my family would accept me or not. I’d heard stereotypes about families kicking their kids out and I was wondering, ‘Oh gosh that might be me.'”
Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: Coming Out will air on Nickelodeon in the US on October 7.
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