The LGBTQIA web series is available to watch on YouTube
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY THESE THEMS
Earlier this week, I binge watched my new favourite queer show, These Thems, and it has since become my entire personality. The webseries was originally released five years ago, but was recently rereleased on YouTube. And DIVAs, it was written and created by femme queer creative Gretchen Wylder and stars Our Flag Means Death’s Vico Ortiz.
It’s my new Roman Empire to get as many LGBTQIA folks to watch this show as possible. So if you need some convincing here are some reasons why you should stream These Thems right now.
It’s made by and for the LGBTQIA community
A story as unapologetically queer as this could only have been created and portrayed by people from the LGBTQIA community. While it’s a guaranteed great watch for both those inside and outside of the community, it was clearly created for us. The first season gives its characters the room to be messy, to be flawed full human beings. While queer and trans rep has become less sparse in the last five years, it’s still rarely allowed the room to tell these stories in the way they are told in These Thems.
Gretchen’s later in life coming out story
Viewers are introduced to the world of These Thems through Gretchen (Gretchen Wylder) and Vero (Vico Ortiz) who are both nervously in a waiting room for their appointments with the gynaecologist. But their reasons for being stressed couldn’t be more different.
Vero is mentally preparing for what could become uncomfortable when accessing healthcare as a genderqueer individual and Gretchen is there to find out why she keeps being sick during sex (with men). While Vero leaves their appointment inspired to be an LGBTQIA educator aka “Straight Whisperer”, Gretchen realises that she is queer. Both of their lives have changed and become wonderfully intertwined.
While I’m glad that LGBTQIA youth of today have a wide range of shows featuring teenage characters processing their identities and coming out, these stories don’t resonate with my 27 year old self as much as Gretchen’s journey on These Thems or Carson’s on A League Of Their Own.
You’ll be provided with ab-building laughter
These Thems is a show that gets the balance just right in exploring serious topics and issues while also serving up lots of queer and trans joy and ab-building laughter. You’ll laugh, you’ll laugh so hard you cry and then you might also actually cry because everything hits you in the feels.
It opens up a lot of important conversations
Coming out as trans at work. Femme invisibility. The fluidity and diversity of gender and sexuality. Conversion “therapy”. The realities of dating cisgender people as a trans person. These are just some of the many important topics that the show serves up, treating all with heart and compassion. It also serves up wonderful representation for those underrepresented within our already underrepresented community.
The season one finale leaves you ravenous for more
While the first series ended beautifully, it also left me with so many questions. It was clear that there’s so much that could be explored with all of these characters. Luckily on their YouTube channel, the cast did a live where they shared that they want expand it into a 30 minute comedy series.
It needs your support to get the world and characters expanded
I desperately need more episodes of These Thems. These characters already mean so much to me, and I’ve only watched the show once (I know it will be something I re-watch again and again). I really want to see them reach their goal of having the world expanded, and explore more of the lives of the characters.
It’s still not easy getting LGBTQIA stories told in the mainstream, but, we can help build excitement. We do after all know how loyal and powerful LGBTQIA fandoms are.
I hope I have convinced you to go stream These Thems right now. And when you’re done, tell your friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances to watch it. Let’s show the world how strong “The Gay Agenda” really is.
All episodes of These Thems are currently available to watch on YouTube.
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