For decades, LGBTQ+ audiences have fought for a seat at the table in mainstream media. When the BBC launched "I Kissed a Boy" and its follow-up "I Kissed a Girl," it felt like a breakthrough. For the first time, queer joy, dating, and community were given the high-production, primetime treatment usually reserved for heteronormative reality TV.

Now, that progress is under threat.

Recent reports and budget shifts show that the future of these groundbreaking series, and others like them are in jeopardy. By failing to ring-fence funding for queer-led programming, the BBC is effectively telling the LGBTQ+ community that our stories are "disposable" luxuries rather than essential public service broadcasting.

Why This Matters

The BBC is funded by the taxpayer—which includes millions of LGBTQ+ people. Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty to "reflect the diversity of the UK."  Visibility Saves Lives: For many young people in rural or isolated areas, these shows are a lifeline that validates their identity.

Authentic Storytelling: Unlike many "dating shows" that include one token queer couple, these series create an entire ecosystem of LGBTQ+ representation.

A Public Mandate: Representation shouldn't be the first thing on the chopping block when budgets get tight.

Our Demand

We call on the BBC Director-General and the Board of Commissioners to:

Guarantee the renewal of the "I Kissed A..." franchise and ensure its continued production.

Commit to a dedicated fund specifically for LGBTQ+ unscripted and scripted content to ensure representation is not subject to "flavour of the month" budgeting.

Transparently report on how the BBC License Fee is being allocated to serve minority communities, ensuring that queer joy is prioritised alongside queer struggle.