I wanted to be rock star 2 and the step forward on homosexuality

He is stronger than us: every time television takes a step forward in terms of the representation of subjects who for years have been portrayed following superficiality and clichés, we can only underline it and uncork the good bottle, the one that the uncles keep in the cellar. waiting for the most opportune occasion to show it off. Transposing homosexual love on TV in a sincere way is a very recent achievementwhich while boasting some important precedents – such as Franco Castellano’s Romeo in Orderswho in 1999 camped in prime time on Rai1 together with his partner and the dream of having a child – has always proceeded with the handbrake on, as if the screenwriters were afraid of going too far and hurting someone’s sensitivity. The fact that series like SKAM Italy, A professor and now, I wanted to be a rock star 2 have managed to offer a plausible image of something that, for some reason, someone thought difficult and slippery gives us hope, as well as for the present, also for the future, so that yesterday’s mistakes never happen again.

The personal path of acceptance of Erosinterpreted by Riccardo Maria Manera, who has always experienced homosexuality as something to hide for fear of the chatter of the country, and his relationship with Fabio, played by Francesco Di Raimondo, an uninhibited artist sure of himself and of what he feels, demonstrate not only that unity is strength, but also how difficult it is to put into practice what the slogans on social media advertise as a simple and immediate thing, ignoring what a path of this kind is difficult and painful, especially when you are convinced that you cannot count on the support of your family and loved ones. Kisses, caresses, sexual tension: all represented uncensored in prime time on Rai2the same network that just 6 years earlier shamefully cut Connor’s sex scene The rules of the perfect crime. An achievement that is anything but taken for granted which confirms not only the progress made by television in the last five years, but also theThe precious value of a fiction like I wanted to be a rock star, managed to lay the foundations for a surprising and very solid story that would have deserved a more generous and thoughtful launch by the public service.

Regardless of I wanted to be a rock star, The progress that our industry has made in terms of representation is undoubted, even if the road is far from over. There are still many issues to clarify – for example, the difference between “coming out” and “outing” does not seem clear to many, which also gave the (wrong) title to a comedy with Nicolas Vaporidis and Andrea Bosca – and there are still many preconceptions to break down in order for audiences of all ages to view homosexual love not as newsworthy but as natural, like breathing in or eating a cupcake. We will get there but, in the meantime, recognizing the small and big achievements can only fill us with joy, with the hope that more and more new productions, following in the footsteps of I wanted to be a rock starfollow the same example.

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