Lost Boys and Fairies is deeply emotional, beautifully written, and exquisitely performed. Lost Boys and Fairies is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Like so many gay men who grew up in the 80s, I know that gay shame shaped my teenage years. My generation was told we were wrong, sick, a danger to children and deserving of the AIDS epidemic that tore through our community. TV shied away from representing gay men unless they were to be laughed at, and for those, like me, who lived in small towns, the message was clear: hide who you are and who you want to be for your own safety.
We were a generation abused by conservative politicians who spouted anti-gay rhetoric at every opportunity while encouraging widespread homophobia in our schools, communities, workplaces and homes. For many gay men of my generation, those years still haunt our present; they led many to turn to drink, risky sexual activity and drugs as a coping mechanism and led others to hide well into their twenties and thirties.
My generation was not the only generation of gay men to suffer this trauma, and thankfully, as the late 90s came into view, we all hoped we would be the last. How ironic and unforgivable it is that trans young people are now facing the same, with some gay men and women from my generation leading the bigotry by channelling their anger and trauma into the oppression of a whole new generation.
You may be wondering why I am opening my review of BBC One’s new drama about gay adoption, Lost Boys and Fairies, by discussing the lasting legacy of gay shame. The answer is simple: it’s one of the most powerful explorations of gay shame in relation to the contemporary LGBTQ+ experience seen since All of Us Strangers.
Set in Cardiff and embracing the Welsh language in a way not seen before on prime-time BBC TV, Daf James’ stunning drama features performance artist Gabriel, played by Sion Daniel Young, and accountant Andy, played by Fra Fee, as they consider adoption in building a family.
Alongside their appointed social worker, Jackie (played by the amazing Elizabeth Berrington), they must embark on a long, challenging, and personal selection process that will change their relationship and home forever, pressing more than a few buttons related to their childhood experiences. This is especially true for Gabe, who, while stating in public that he has dealt with the gay shame of his religious, rural upbringing, one that saw him bullied at school as his relationship with his stern father faltered, still has unresolved emotions and feelings relating to his sexuality and Welsh identity. At the same time, Andy is more secure and eager to become a dad, sharing his life experiences with a child who has had a difficult start in life.
Lost Boys & Fairies, Jake (LEO HARRIS); Gabriel (SION DANIEL YOUNG), Duck Soup Films, Simon Ridgway
Andy and Gabriel’s journey is heartbreaking, joyous, humorous, musical and magical as they meet a young seven-year-old boy (Leo Harris) who has had a rough and violent start to his life. He is everything they thought they didn’t want, yet also everything they need. But as the slow, delicate process of relationship building begins, their relationship will be tested, their past traumas aired, and their hopes for the future cemented in a genuinely groundbreaking TV drama that defies genre labels.
Lost Boys and Fairies is deeply emotional, beautifully written, and exquisitely performed. It asks whether the traumas and shame that surrounded our own childhoods are not flaws but rather superpowers, ensuring that children who have had the most challenging starts to their lives grow up in loving, caring, and supportive families. It is a sublime and unconventional TV drama that deserves considerable praise. But be warned; you will need more than a few boxes of tissues before Daf James’ award-worthy drama reaches its conclusion.
Follow Us