For EastEnders legend Cheryl Fergison, championing a diverse array of LGBTQ+ storylines in soaps holds a very personal significance. Her son Alex is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and his own coming out journey was not without difficulties. An advocate for equality since she herself was Alex's age, Cheryl 'embraced' her son fully when he first opened up about his sexuality, while she claims his father disowned him.
Proud ally Cheryl recently appeared at the inaugural Gaydio Awards, in Manchester, an event held to celebrate exceptional members of the LGBTQ+ community in various fields, from music to human rights.
Accompanied on the red carpet by Alex, Cheryl spoke with the Mirror about the role soaps have to play in educating audiences about marginalised communities, and what more needs to be done going forward.
Cheryl's popular EastEnders character Heather Trott sadly met her grisly end in 2012 after Ben Mitchell bludgeoned her to death with a photo frame.
More than ten years on, Cheryl still makes sure to tune into the soap that made her a household name and is currently gripped by the storyline about Zach Hudson's ( James Farrar ) HIV diagnosis.
This is the sort of inclusive, issue-based storyline Cheryl would like to see more of, and she believes all soaps - not just EastEnders - 'need to rein a little bit back on the violence, and make more [storylines] about the community'.
Speaking with the Mirror at the star-studded event, Cheryl said: "I think it's really, really important to tackle lots of different issues, and focus on what's going on around you, rather than 'oh, where's the next serial killer going to come from?' or how many serial killers can be on this street, on this square, on this farm?'."
She added: "I think it's very important that everyone is portrayed in a positive light, and to show the ups and the downs of it. It's not all about 'oh, hello, we're here!'"
Cheryl and Alex say they've recently been discussing how storylines that represent the journeys of those with LGBTQ+ children can be so very impactful, reflecting on their own personal experiences as a family.
The mother and son duo say they've both had a role to play in educating each other, and they believe soaps also have a part to play in educating audiences.
Cheryl stated: "That's what the audiences need. The audiences need to be educated and not have that old-fashioned view about what something is.
"If a soap can portray a community in a positive light, that will make the world more educated about things, and it's got to be."
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