Sex Education creator Laurie Nunn speaks out on the significance of transgender representation in season 4. In addition, to delving into the stories of existing characters, this new season will include two transgender characters – Abbi (Anthony Lexa) and Roman (Felix Mufti). With Cal (Dua Saleh), who identifies as non-binary, Sex Education showcased gender diversity, and with the inclusion of these two new characters, the show is taking a positive step to elevate underrepresented narratives.
Transgender Representation in Sex Education Season 4
Speaking with The Guardian ahead of the new season’s premiere on Netflix, Laurie Nunn talks about why she and the writers chose to emphasize transgender representation.
“In the conversations around trans politics, trans people are so often completely excluded from the conversation – so we really wanted to center trans voices. To me, it felt really important to include Cal’s storyline; [given] some of the things that are happening globally at the moment, in terms of the attack on trans people – I would like to think that our show is as inclusive as it can be, [so] it felt really important that we tell that story.”
“I’m definitely not the right person to be a spokesperson for the issues we touch on, which is why I felt like it was so important that we centered those trans voices. We had conversations [with the trans actors] like: ‘Well, what kind of story would you want to see?’ Because I think that’s just what’s so desperately missing from all the discourse, and all the toxic hysteria. It makes me very upset.”
The show has been breaking barriers from the very beginning. By casting and consulting with trans actors for an authentic representation, the show further confirmed it’s not just progressive but also inclusive. Sex Education Season 4 will premiere on September 21.
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