WORDS by Thomas Giblin (he/him) Culture & Lifestyle Writer | ILLUSTRATION by Yi Jong (she/they)
Queer awakenings in the media We all remember our first crush, whether it be an innocent playground romance or an obsession with someone who never knew you existed. This first dance with love, where we see the eternal beauty in the ordinary, can be frightful - a queer awakening means processing feelings you've never experienced before. The media we consume can be a powerful force in revealing these feelings, helping shape our tastes and identity. The following stories of queer awakenings were told to me by friends and whānau. They illuminate the characters from television and film which made their heart aflutter - from Lola Bunny to Frodo.
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