COMING OUT COLTON

(Netflix)

This is billed as a reality show, however, reality has nothing to do with it. It’s stage-managed, manipulated and milked, but there’s still value in it. While there are still young LGBTQIA+ viewers struggling with their identity and their truth, we need genuine coming-out stories.

Colton Underwood was a US pro-footballer made even more famous by a season on The Bachelor. After a meltdown, he took time out to face a few fears, ultimately announcing that he is gay. Like so many, he’d been scarred by religious intolerance. “I just don’t want me being me to be a sin,” he says with anguish.

In episode one, he starts coming out to family and friends. He tells his mum he’s known he was attracted to boys since he was 6 or 7. Mum says she regrets he never saw her as a safe harbour. His best mate, out Olympian Gus Kenworthy, notes: “You can pass as straight and there’s privilege that comes with that.” Regrettably, this interesting gem isn’t explored as fully as it should be.

His brother takes the news well, simply asking if he’s gone on Grindr yet. Colton comments to camera: “My brother didn’t have to come out as straight or announce that when he marries it’ll be to a woman.”

The episode ends as Colton delivers his news to Dad – but we have to wait for the next episode for Dad’s reaction, rather cruelly and cheaply reducing the moment to a very staged cliff-hanger.

The rest of the series is more of the same, with dizzying hand-held camera and quick cuts as though the narrative needed beefing up. One would’ve thought the story of a guy raised as a macho sportsman in a religious home plucking up the courage to admit to the world that he likes guys needed no further embellishment. (MA15+, 6 x 30mins eps)