Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa: ‘Black, gay experience isn’t often told’

Ncuti Gatwa, who stars in Netflix’s hit show Sex Education, has said that it’s important to represent the experiences of the black, gay community because TV only offers a “narrow representation” of gay people.

The 26-year-old star, who plays Eric, an openly gay black teen, told PinkNews that the acting world needs to have more diversity.

Sex Education follows Otis (Asa Butterfield), whose best pal is Eric, and his friend Maeve (Emma Mackey), as they set up a sex clinic at their school, based somewhere in the UK, in order to give their peers relationship therapy sessions.

Ncuti Gatwa: It’s important to represent the experience of black, gay teenagers

“It’s very important to see a black gay teen represented,” Gatwa told PinkNews of his character.

“I think there’s quite a narrow representation of gay people on TV and I think that we need to push that.

“Being a minority within a minority is an extremely difficult thing.”

—Ncuti Gatwa

“And I think that we need to allow for a lot more stories to be told.”

He added: “The black gay experience isn’t one that is often told. And that community is struggling to find its feet because being a minority within a minority is an extremely difficult thing.”

Sex Education has been praised for its inclusion of LGBT+ characters and relationships.