The Traitors star Freddie Fraser has unveiled his new boyfriend in adorable pictures, kissing in a photo booth. For the most part, the response has been an outpouring of love and support.
But the reaction from large swathes of the queer community has been bitterly disappointing.
The 22-year-old appeared on the third series of the BBC’s juggernaut reality show while in a long-term relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Nisha Davenport, who he met at university.
Davenport was by his side as he navigated the precarious showbiz industry until they split last year.
Now he’s found love again, this time with social media influencer Bailey Ramsden.
The natural response from the LGBTQ+ community, you’d imagine, would just be to welcome Freddie with open arms. Another beautiful couple having the time of their lives, able to spread their wings and fly, living life as their authentic selves with nothing but bullet-proof support from their peers.
Instead, it sparked a backlash from corners of the community who are both offended by the term ‘queer’ and determined to affix a label to someone who hasn’t yet given himself one.
Freddie is yet to discuss his sexuality beyond confirming he has a boyfriend. Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard joked, ‘Welcome to the club, gayyyy boi,’ to which Freddie replied, ‘LOVEEEE XXXX’ – but still, I wouldn’t jump to conclusions that this confirms his identity in black and white terms.
With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.
Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications!
Regardless, he’s already being labelled ‘gay’ by strangely impassioned men who refuse to use the term ‘queer’ – which is how the reality star is widely being referred to by the media.
‘So he’s a homosexual then. Stop with the “queer” business, it was old in the 90s and it’s even older now,’ and ‘He came out as gay, what’s with the “queer” nonsense?’ are just two of the countless tweets protesting against calling Freddie by the term.
Another said ‘that is a slur’ and seemed to compare it to the N-word.
Of course, the word remains divisive within the community. Well within my lifetime, ‘queer’ was used as a derogatory slur against LGBTQ+ people, myself included – but it has recently been reclaimed to describe, essentially, anyone who doesn’t feel they fall under ‘heterosexual.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
