sexuality

Netflix drama military drama Boots is based on the true story of gay Marine Greg Cope White

Boots, a military drama on Netflix, follows the journey of gay teenager Cameron Cope (portrayed by Miles Heizer) as he enlists in the Marines corps alongside his best mate, despite the inherent dangers.

The series is set in the harsh environment of the 1990s US Marine Corps, a time when homosexuality was still outlawed in the military. It traces the lives of Cameron and Ray McAffey (played by Liam Oh), the offspring of a decorated Marine, as they become part of a diverse group of recruits.

Together, they form unexpected friendships and discover their true identities while being pushed to their limits.

Netflix commented: “With sharp wit and plenty of heart, Boots is about friendship, resilience, and finding your place in the world – even when that world seems determined to keep you in line or leave you behind.”

Greg Cope White, a former sergeant in the US Marine Corps, served as a writer and executive producer for the series.

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He is an ardent advocate for LGBTQ+ and veteran rights, and has appeared in the PBS docuseries American Veteran and published work in the military journal Zero Dark Thirty.

Reflecting on his journey from his days in the Marine Corps, he posted on Instagram: “At 18, I illegally enlisted in the Marine Corps to find my place as a gay man in the masculine world.

“The book honours my lifelong best friend Dale, who got me through a chaotic childhood, and the Marines who took a chance on me and changed my life.

“And to send a message to others who are bullied: Bullies don’t matter. You do. Hold on.”

Greg completed six years of service with the Marines, achieving the rank of Sergeant, before relocating to New York City to pursue studies in acting and writing.

He eventually settled in Los Angeles, where he secured his breakthrough in writing through employment with Norman Lear.

The Pink Marine website details how joining the Marines represented Greg’s initial struggle, as he “has to cheat to pass the physical and then lie on the enlistment papers about his sexuality”.

The protagonists Cameron and Ray draw inspiration from Greg and his closest mate Dale, with the website outlining the dangers they both faced.

It states: “It’s insanely dangerous for both of them. But as fate would have it, the Few and the Proud turn out to be a bunch of oddballs and eccentrics – and a brotherhood is born.”

Boots is available on Netflix.

Big Brother star Gani made a shock confession during Thursday night’s episode as he revealed he was forced to marry his own cousin and now has a 10-month-old baby

A Big Brother housemate left their co-stars stunned by a shock revelation about their love life. The housemates have been getting to know each other as the hit ITV show returned to screens earlier this week.

However, along the way there has already been some surprise admissions. On Thursday night, Gani revealed he was forced to marry his own cousin.

The pizza shop manager, 39, decided to open up to Jenny about his love life and how he explored his sexuality. He revealed that it was his dad’s decision that he should marry despite him knowing it wasn’t for him.

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Gani, who is from south London, also shared that he is a dad to a 10-month-old baby. When he entered the Big Brother house, he was open about being bisexual.

Jenny asked if he had found love since moving to the UK from India, which prompted Gani to revealed more about his life. “This is going to be very interesting and very shocking for you,” he explained.

“2022 was the turning point in my life. I was so open-minded [on sexuality], even though I was from a religious background. I was always like, ‘why not try everything’.”

He added: “From 2022 to 2024, I was literally enjoying and exploring bisexuality. And then at the end of 2023, December 2023, my dad all of a sudden was like, ‘Gani, how long are you not gonna be married. Come on, please marry, why are you doing this?’

“And I was like, ‘no, I don’t want to get married, blah, blah, blah’.” In a turning point, Gani explained: “Then my dad asked me [to get married] and I couldn’t say no. That is how I got married in January 2024 with my cousin.”

Jenny was physically stunned by what she had heard as she asked if he is still married. Gani told her: “I am still married, yeah. I have a baby boy – 10 months old.

“And I said to my mother, ‘It is not you, it is your husband [Gani’s father]. It is my dad, your husband – he forced me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have married.”

Gani admitted he would never have planned to get married himself as he insisted it is “not for me”. Jenny said: “As long as you are happy and your wife is happy but talking to you now, I don’t think you want to be married?

“If you don’t want to be married, can you not get divorced or is that really bad in India?” He went on to explain: “The thing is Jenny, I didn’t marry to get divorced actually.

“I love my wife, I love my son. From where I’m standing, I wanted to repair things and I wanted to be with my wife and son. This is me – either take it or leave it. I choose to live like this because this is my second life and I want to live in a f***ing iconic way.”

Viewers were also as surprised as Jenny as one said: “Biggest bombshell of the season is Gani being married and having a child with his COUSIN.” Another added: “GANI IS MARRIED AND HAS A 10 MONTH OLD SON???? Huhhhh?!” Someone else commented: “gani with the crazy lore drop hello??” A fourth wrote: “Gani is married to WHOOOO????”

READ MORE: £6 ‘pain-free’ razors has shoppers ditching professional exfoliating

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Amanda Barrie used to fear that her sexuality would cost her her role on Coronation Street and is certain she would have been sacked if bosses found out

Amanda Barrie used to fear that her sexuality would cost her her role on Coronation Street. The actress, who will celebrate her 90th birthday this weekend, is best-remembered by fans of the world’s longest-running TV soap as Alma Halliwell, and initially appeared in 1981 for a brief stint before appearing regularly from 1988 until 2001.

Over the years, viewers watched the supermarket worker marry fellow legend Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs), and will also recall her partnership with Gail Platt (Helen Worth) when they ran the café for a number of years and her long friendship with Gail’s mother Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls). In 2001, she left the programme for good when her character succumbed to cancer, and in 2003, Amanda came out as bisexual.

But the TV star, who married former Mirror journalist and crime novelist Hilary Bonner in 2014, is now certain that had she come clean about her sexuality any sooner, she would have been dismissed from the programme, although she appreciates now that she has no evidence to back up this claim.

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During an appearance on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, she told hosts Kate Garraway and Ed Balls: “Somebody shopped me to the press. I should’ve known better but I never kept my life from anybody, all my friends know everything.

“I think people thought it was catching, you were pushed away and whispered about in corners. They would not, and I swear to God, I’ve said this but I can’t back it up, I know that I would’ve been sacked from Coronation Street.

“They would’ve got rid. You couldn’t have said ‘It would’ve been that person who did it or that…’ it would’ve been ‘Oh we don’t want anything to do with that, darling.'”

Once Amanda, who has just released her memoir I’m Still Here, had come out, she actually got a pleasant surprise with the reaction she received, having anticipated the worst.

She explained: “I expected to be stoned in the street, I got a lot of hugs. What was I in such a state about? Because it was just ‘Oh, I see, oh…'” before adding: “You automatically revert to the way you’d always behave, lurking about with your head down editing your life is what you do. You change they, he, she, all that editing…”

Amanda and Hilary, who live between Covent Garden and Somerset, are amazed how much public attitudes have changed over the years. For Amanda’s adamant she could never have come out before Alma’s death on Corrie in 2001, but now appreciates the inclusion and diversity within the show.

She said: “It wouldn’t have been the bosses who caused a problem so much as some of the other cast,” she reveals. ”My close friends like Helen Worth all knew the truth. But you heard other people say certain things….Not naming names.

“Now there are so many LGBTQI characters on the show I often joke they should rename it Canal Street! [after Manchester’s gay bar district]. What happened after I left? It’s not contagious, you know!”

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