A Shameless Reflection
With this being the final season of Shameless I’m doing a lot of reflecting of it and my own life and just how Shameless really was there in the back of my life allowing me to grow.
When Season 1 came out I was in Grade 10/11, still not out, definitely very scared of anyone finding out my sexuality. I had a fake ‘boyfriend’ and actively voiced how much I loved men and men's bodies. Meanwhile, I was struggling to come to terms with being a Lesbian. My parents started watching Shameless and told me to watch it (I would be able to relate to Lip/Ian since they were also in high school at the time) and was like, sure, why not.
I was so so scared watching it at first with my parents whenever Mickey or Ian would be on screen because hey, here’s some LGBTQA+ rep that isn’t hidden. I had never seen such representation in media before, especially the way Shameless does it, and I would feel so uncomfortable and sit there thinking, “how the hell am I ever going to come out to them?”
When the whole, “You love me and you’re gay,” scene happened in 2013, I was in my first year of Uni and still very closeted. New people meant new threats and I was still trying to figure myself out away from home. I had Shameless to turn to, always. I felt safe in that universe, I felt safe knowing two other people, other characters, felt a way I did. They had problems accepting themselves, other people had struggles about accepting them and yet, here they were. Two LGBTQA+ characters.
I came out officially in 2015. It was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. It’s the best thing I continue to do for myself. And you bet your ass I SOBBED during Mickey and Ian’s wedding last season.
I am so glad I gave that first episode a watch...especially when you fast forward to now.