Coming Out During Pretty Little Liars- Why Its Ending Will Be So Hard

I’m not a big watcher of television. But one show that I’ve been consistently keeping up with, almost since its inception is Pretty Little Liars. The show features five girlfriends in the small town of Rosewood. When one girl mysteriously disappears, her four friends begin receiving messages from a mysterious A, which also happens to be the initial of Alison, who disappeared. “A” seems to know everything about their histories and present lives. The series features romantic relationships, friendships, school bullies, family drama, and of course, the mysterious “A,” who sends the girls in a whirlwind of questions that makes them question their own innocence (and sometimes for good reason).

(L to R): Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hannah

Pretty Little Liars is coming to a close this Tuesday. The character “A” has become a more complicated sophisticated figure, eventually becoming known as AD, manipulating its victims more than ever and testing their friendship among each other. AD is finally supposed to be revealed in this last episode, closing the 7 seasons, and 7 years of airing since 2010.

But the revelation of AD is not what will have impacted me most about this show.

Like I said, I don’t get hooked on television shows often. It certainly doesn’t affect me on an emotional level. But Pretty Little Liars became an experience, not just a show. It represents the tension and realities of teenage-hood, the horrors of betrayal, the sacrifices we make for love. Most of all, for me, it helped me in my coming out process- coming out as a lesbian. One of the characters, Emily Fields, realizes she’s gay after a few encounters with a new neighbor, who moves into Alison’s house after her disappearance. However, Emily lives in fear of her true identity becoming known, fearing judgment and rejection by her family and peers. She eventually becomes comfortable in her own skin, and realizes those closest to her love regardless of her identity. Emily experiences loss and betrayal by her significant others- seemingly more so than the loss and betrayal of the other young women.

I relate to Emily- I was afraid that my attraction to women would cause tension and rejection in my family and my community. I eventually accepted that I was gay; I experienced loss. Those closest to me were understanding and accepting of my identity. Emily was also a more quiet, introverted character, even after coming out, occasionally rising up to challenge others’ shallowness or ignorance. But she didn’t come out with rainbow flags, screaming for justice (not that I condone these behaviors, it’s just not something I relate to). Quiet strength is so powerful.

It was partly due to Emily’s character that I came to accept myself and become strong and confident as an introverted lesbian. This is why the ending of Pretty Little Liars will hit me so hard. It will be the end of a character who lifted me up in times of confusion, helped me feel supported in this new world I’ve discovered, of allowing me to be myself. Emily Fields and Pretty Little Liars are elements of my positive LGBTQ experiences I will never forget.

(L to R: Hannah, Emily, Alison, Aria, Spencer)