This profile is part of Queerty’s 2023 Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out and make a difference in the past year.
Name: Joe Locke, 20
Bio: Joe Locke is a British actor known for his breakout, Queerties-award winning role in Netflix’s Heartstopper. In the show, Locke stars as Charlie, an adorably awkward, gay high schooler who falls in love with his best friend, Nick.
He’ll next appear in the Disney+ WandaVision spin-off, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries.
Coming Out: When Heartstopper first premiered in April 2022, fans and media alike were quick to speculate (or downright assume) the sexuality of the show’s co-leads – which Locke was (rightfully) not a fan of, according to British GQ.
“The idea of a tabloid being interested in a teenager’s love life is really gross,” Locke told the pub amid his meteoric rise in fame. “Someone making money out of rumors about who I – an 18-year-old boy – might be liking or talking to, it’s really gross and perverted.
I’m 18… I don’t know who I am yet.”
It wasn’t until August 2023 that Locke set the record straight.
“I have been openly gay since I was, like, 12,” he confirmed in an interview with Teen Vogue. “People have assumed and written it,” he says, “and I haven’t ever corrected anyone because I haven’t felt the need to. But I’ve never specifically stated my sexuality [until now].”
In the interview, Locke said he felt as though he needed to hold off on coming out publicly as a means to protect his family. His mother, the actor recalls, had to make new social media accounts after strangers attempted to pinpoint her location. Others even tried to call his grandmother – all things that took a toll on Locke.
“It’s a weird guilt I sometimes feel that, by association, their lives are affected by choices in my life,” he said.
“It’s a mutual thing. I need to learn my boundaries and people need to learn their boundaries. Most attention comes from a really good place, and I hope I always appreciate that.”
Upon reflecting on his own experiences and the intense speculation of his sexuality, Locke shared with Teen Vogue how he hopes to see a shift in the future.
“There’s an idea that it’s part of the job to lose your privacy, that you lose your right to having privacy,” he said. “That’s something I hope the next generation of people in the public eye can change…. I think people are understanding that privacy is a nonnegotiable.”
Be still our hearts! We are proud of Locke for coming out on his terms, when the time was right for him. Plus, we stan anyone who acknowledges the need for healthy boundaries and is actively working on them.
Welcome to the LGBTQ+ family, Joe! We are proud to have you!
Fenwick22
He’s a talented, cute kid that seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I wish him well on his future endeavors.
nope1
Love how we’re acting like news sites like this weren’t responsible for Kit Connor being forced out with all their lgbt must play lgbt bull crap. And now it’s all ‘awww Joe Locke came out on his own terms’. Well yes, Just like he should. But Kit didn’t really get that option, same with Alex Lincoln, Lukas Gage, Lee Pace, all the other people bullied into coming out
LunaSol2010
Bullied threatened and blackmailed by news sources … this is as ugly as the 20’s -70’s Hedda Hopper and gossip mongering powerful news columnists that took pride but no moral compass on gossip.
As if public is entitled to sexuality, likes, dislikes, family issues, and health issues of people with celebrity. They are not.
Its so exhausting to see gossip making $$$ billions! Literally an international business. Paparazzi. Evening news, ET Canada and People magazine etc.
Its harassment and a hyper aggressive violation of human rights (because laws are still being formed).
*Why I turned off all news but CBS SUNDAY MORNING NEWS. Emmy Award winning – often.
They have been mostly positive, uplifting and inspiring stories with brief stories on horrors of war and #45 antics.
Laws in San Francisco state that you cannot photograph children legally. If the teachers on outings and parents go to police about the photographer they will be criminally charged.
These values should be national and international. Family, friends of celebrities should be off limits.
Its extremely sad we live in a world that race religion sexual orientation are volatile issues and likewise public access information for only gossip value. Pollution for the mind and heart.
I look forward to the day when our differences no longer matter to anyone. Where we don’t care about sexuality because we don’t shame our youth to feel ashamed of our/themselves.
When we stop judging, we allow for a normalization of all current list 28 sexual orientations. Celebrities are not role models. They are struggling in all the ways to be as human as everyone does. For what? So they can get a better seat in a restaurant or enjoy more choices with more money?
To have zero filters or zero privacy does harm. Fact.
Also at this time out celebrities are a benefit to youth and adults struggling to come out. But many were forced to be out. Gayle and Oprah have been assaulted for decades of gossipmongers. If 2 guys socialize often they are rarely treated so miserably and aggressively.
So this causes a ghettoization where we need Gay Writers Festivals, Gay Film Festivals and Gay Games (Olympic like world competitions). Pray for the day we don’t need specialized treatment.
When we are all free from judging we don’t need the protectionism and highlighting minorities and for special interest groups.
Gay Centers now are targets for vandalism and bombing as are churches, synagogues, temples and religious buildings.
I am tired of the need to be sensitive to every difference for every type of minority in every corner of our cultural diversity.
Alphabet Soup Sexuality LGBTQ2A+ …. and the killing of people in each group sector religion and race is the ugly darkest side of how people are taught to hate judge and fear human differences. Acceptance to the ignorant is anathema! Education is being censored.
231 different animal species have documented homosexuality. Science. But few persecute these animal species as aggressively and as hate fueled as humans.
We can make things easier with common sense. Kindness. Compassion. Until the higher common sensevcase for all is the way of life… we need new laws and bylaws to make boundaries we refuse to respect now because we obsess on others business vs our own business.
A few gay actors lost everything and left Hollywood broken, destroyed, some to suicide. As mere folder for ‘The Smoking Gun.’
Because Film Studios and agents wanted to protect Rock Hudson, other actors were offered to the press as lambs for the slaughter. Careers ended. Not everyone could adapt. Imagine trying to get a job as a mechanic when 100 million people read about your sexuality in the news last month? Some actors had trouble eating living and even selling their homes! Our greed for Gossip.
Celebrity hood is brutal and destroys human wellbeing. For what? Entertainment? Are we this shallow?
Yes, at this time.
Why should young people 18-25 be slandered or outted for any reasons as every one of their family members are affect. Easy. For cheap thrills.
nm4047
there are some that don’t need for formalise it, this is one of them, Helen Keller would have picked him as gay.
LumpyPillows
It is very difficult to be famous. To be young and famous is a nightmare. I wish him well, I do like his work so far.