Wicked star Jonathan Bailey on being bullied at school over his sexuality

Key Concepts

• Inclusivity in Schools: The importance of introducing conversations about diverse identities and experiences to children during their formative years.
• LGBT+ Youth Mental Health: The disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and bullying experienced by LGBT+ students, and their lower sense of safety at school.
• Breaking Limiting Narratives: The concept of challenging societal expectations and stereotypes, particularly in professions like acting, to allow for greater authenticity and representation.
• The Role of Education: How education can foster empathy, understanding, and emotional intelligence in all students, and is a matter of life and death for queer youth.
• Government Support for Charities: The need for government intervention to address budget and time pressures faced by teachers and organizations like "Just Like Us" that deliver vital school programs.
• Dealing with Pushback: The strategy of focusing on the positive impact and the individuals being helped, rather than engaging with or acknowledging opposition.
• Character Metaphor (Fiero): The character Fiero's journey as a metaphor for standing up against marginalization and using privilege to support others, even in the face of propaganda and public opinion shifts.

Main Topics and Key Points

1. The Importance of Inclusivity in Schools and the Role of "Just Like Us"

• Speaker's Motivation: The interviewee, Jonathan Bailey, has chosen to donate his time as an ambassador for the charity "Just Like Us" because they bring crucial conversations about diversity into schools.
• Formative Years Education: The charity aims to help children understand different types of people and represent inclusivity during their formative years.
• Broader Benefits of Inclusivity: While inclusivity is vital for queer children, it also encourages all children to understand different perspectives, experiences, and identities, fostering curiosity, understanding, and empathy in adulthood.

2. The Stark Reality for LGBT+ Students

• Research Findings: "Just Like Us" shared research indicating that LGBT+ students are:
  • Twice as likely to suffer anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
  • Twice as likely to be bullied.
  • Only half feel safe at school on a daily basis.
• Personal Experience: Bailey confirms experiencing similar feelings of unsafety and lack of celebration regarding his identity during his own school years, describing it as feeling like being in a "straight jacket." He equates his feelings about men to how straight individuals feel about the opposite sex.

3. Breaking Boundaries in Hollywood and the Need for Educational Parity

• Representation in Leading Roles: Bailey notes the breaking of boundaries in Hollywood, with gay actors now playing leading roles, citing examples like Lord Anthony Bridgerton and his role as Fiero in "Wicked for Good."
• Education Mirroring Industry Change: He strongly believes that education in the UK needs to undergo a similar transformation in terms of representation and inclusivity.
• Challenging Limiting Narratives: Growing up, individuals are often presented with limiting narratives based on sexuality, race, class, and origin, which they must break free from. Bailey himself didn't anticipate playing such roles due to his sexuality and lack of formal drama school training, highlighting the need to challenge these assumptions.
• Vulnerability and Inspiration: Being safe enough to express one's true identity and be vulnerable at a young age is inspiring to everyone in the classroom.

4. Challenges and Government Support for School Programs

• "Just Like Us" Initiatives: The charity conducts free school talks, aiming for around 500 per year.
• Teacher Pressures: They cite budget and time pressures on teachers as significant obstacles.
• Call for Government Action: Bailey expresses pride in his sister, a teacher in the state system, and understands the strain on resources. He believes that arts programs and important conversations, like those brought by "Just Like Us," are often the first to be cut due to these pressures.
• Personal Contribution: While not claiming to have solutions, Bailey emphasizes his commitment to doing his part.

5. Addressing Pushback and Focusing on Impact

• Opposition to Representation: Bailey acknowledges pushback, such as the "Million Mums" boycott of "Wicked for Good" due to the inclusion of LGBT+ actors.
• Strategy of Non-Engagement: His personal approach is to not acknowledge or engage with such pushback, stating, "I don't even acknowledge it's not even present in my day-to-day."
• Focus on "Little Johnny": The priority is on connecting with and helping young people, particularly the younger versions of themselves, as he and co-star Cynthia Erivo discuss.
• Metaphor of the Broom: Erivo's character falling and her younger self giving her the broom back is presented as a metaphor for overcoming challenges and reclaiming one's identity.
• Beneficiary of Past Struggles: Bailey recognizes that his current opportunities are a result of years of struggle and advocacy by the queer community.
• Anticipation of Future Fights: He feels a sense of readiness for ongoing advocacy, stating, "it feels like there's a fight coming and we're ready to go again."

6. The Character of Fiero as a Symbol of Courage and Allyship

• "Be More Fiero": This phrase encapsulates the desire to be more courageous and assertive in one's identity and actions.
• Fiero's Journey: The character Fiero, particularly in "Wicked for Good," is seen as using his position and evolving from a charming facade to a more profound understanding of marginalization.
• Propaganda and Public Opinion: The narrative highlights how easily public perception can be manipulated, as seen with Madam Morrible turning the populace against a person.
• The Moment of Choice: Fiero's realization mirrors moments individuals face in classrooms or daily life when witnessing someone being vilified.
• Surrendering Privilege: The core of Fiero's arc is the decision to "throw away all my privilege and everything that I have for free and for ease that I'm born into" to stand with the marginalized. This is presented as a powerful act of allyship.
• Thrill of the Present Era: Bailey expresses his excitement to be living in a time where he can play such a character and where organizations like "Just Like Us" are doing impactful work.

Logical Connections Between Sections

The summary progresses logically from the why behind the interviewee's involvement (inclusivity in schools) to the what of the problem (the struggles of LGBT+ youth), then to the how of change (breaking narratives in media and education), the obstacles (teacher pressures), the response to opposition, and finally, a detailed exploration of a symbolic character that embodies the desired change. The personal anecdotes and research findings serve as evidence for the arguments presented.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The core takeaway is the urgent need for greater inclusivity and understanding in educational settings, directly impacting the well-being and safety of LGBT+ youth. The interview highlights the interconnectedness of societal progress in media representation and educational reform. While acknowledging the challenges and opposition, the emphasis remains on the power of individual action, the importance of challenging limiting narratives, and the profound impact of characters and real-life advocates who embody courage and allyship by using their privilege to stand against marginalization. The work of charities like "Just Like Us" is presented as vital in bridging this gap, but requires broader systemic support.