Gay Times n.503

NCUTI GATWA
When Sex Education first launched on Netflix in January last year, not even the cast themselves anticipated the huge impact it would have. Netflix was so pleased with it they released the streaming numbers which, at 40 million for its first few weeks available, was huge for this new twist on a British teen drama. 

Ncuti Gatwa plays Eric Effiong in the show, an openly gay black teen who brightens up the screen during every scene he’s in. When asked why he thinks Sex Education had the impact it did, Ncuti told his co-star Connor Swindells: “I think because it has a lot of heart to it and a lot of truth to it. And like I said, it’s tackling issues that don’t commonly get tackled, and we’re starting conversations about things that get made taboo for no reason.” He’s not wrong. A new generation of young queer people that are coming through crave and demand authenticity – and our art is thriving more for it.