The Gay Problem With Netflix's 'Fear Street' Trilogy That We Need To Talk About

July has been a fun month for horror fans on Netflix with the release of the Fear Street trilogy. The 3-movie adaptation of R.L. Stine's YA Goosebumps-like series, Fear Street, struck a chord with a lot of Millennial viewers and horror fans alike. Set in the cursed town of Shadyside, the trilogy takes viewers through multiple time jumps to try and uncover the mystery behind the woman believed to be responsible... the unholy witch, Sarah Fier.

Other than being familiar for Millennial-age viewers, a main selling point with is that the Fear Street trilogy boasts a lot of inclusion. Not only are there POC main characters, two of the main characters are part of the LGBTQ+ community. The main plot point (aside from the Shadyside curse) in Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is that two of the main girls, Deena and Samantha, were lovers. When Samantha is moved away from Shadyside, it was basically because her relationship with Deena was suspected. After the murders at the Shadyside Mall, Deena and Samantha reunite and fight through the curse so they can be together.

Being the only LGBTQ+ representation in the trilogy, the rather stereotypical but cute situation quickly became problematic by the time we got to Fear Street Part 3: 1666. Why do I say that? Well, let's take a look.

Did they really have to do... that?

After discovering more about Sarah Fier and the Shadyside curse in Fear Street Part 2: 1978, we were transported back to the year 1666 - the year that Fier was executed for witchcraft. Well, at least we thought she was executed for witchcraft.

When we're introduced to the year 1666, the town of Shadyside didn't exist yet. Sarah Fier lived in the settlement of Union and the embodiment of her was Deena. To our eyes as viewers, the characters of Part 3: 1666 were portrayed by current and former Shadyside residents from Parts 1 & 2. We see 1600s era Union residents portrayed by Samantha, Josh, Kate, Simon, young Ziggy, Sheriff Goode, and Tommy. Shortly after discovering that 1994 era Deena and Samantha were now Union residents Sarah and Hannah, we also discover that they are also lesbians on the down-low.

Now, what they didn't have to do with the storyline surrounding Sarah Fier is exactly what they did - she was ultimately executed by her peers not for witchcraft, but for homosexuality. After falling for the pastor's daughter, Sarah finds herself in a sticky situation because the women believe they were spotted by the town drunkard, Thomas. Not only that, but Hannah is guilted into believing that her father's possession (which we later discover is due to the Goode's deal with Satan) is her fault because she acted sinfully with Sarah.

Sarah is basically rejected by Hannah and goes to the man who she is basically betrothed to - a man named Solomon Goode. Solomon convinces Sarah that they will be okay because he understands that she is different and admits that he is different, as well. At last, Sarah finds that Solomon is responsible for the actions of Hannah's father because he made a deal with Satan. To avoid breaking the curse and facing consequences, Sarah is framed to take the fall due to her sinful choices and influence.

From my viewpoint, they really didn't have to do this. Similar to other groups demanding inclusion in Hollywood, I didn't appreciate that Sarah and Hannah being lesbians was used as the ultimate scapegoat in Part 3: 1666. The entire trilogy was setup to surround the Shadyside curse and it implied that Sarah Fier was responsible for putting a hex on the town. But when all was said and done, she wasn't even a witch and was hanged for being gay.

In my opinion, Fear Street had a perfectly good direction with the Goode family bargaining with Satan for good fortune. The revelation that Sarah was set to marry into the Goode's before uncovering the root of the wickedness was the perfect out. Solomon had enough fuel to frame her without sexuality even being considered. But the avenue taken was, no, let's just kill her for being gay and lead her to choose to sacrifice herself for her lover, the pastor's daughter.

It also leaned into a typical anti-LGBTQ+ argument of the lifestyle being sinful and responsible for negativity in one's life. We see this perpetuated with the fact that Hannah feels so guilty about her father's behavior that she believes it's her fault for being gay, leading her to reject Sarah. This is something that is typically used to convince teenagers to begin conversion therapy so they can reject who they are.

I love that shows and movies are being more inclusive and welcoming more LGBTQ+ storylines and characters, don't get me wrong. But I also don't want it if it's all going to be like this. I'm a bit tired of Hollywood representation being nothing but continuing the persecution and killing of the LGBTQ+ community for simply being who we are. We shouldn't have to accept traumatizing scenarios in exchange for being in Hollywood movies and TV shows. Unfortunately, this is the road taken with the Fear Street trilogy and it's not acceptable.

What did you think about the 'Fear Street' trilogy? Let us know!