Bohemian Rhapsody and Navigating Relationships with an LGBTQ+ Identity

The way Freddie Mercury’s relationships with others was portrayed in Bohemian Rhapsody, a film about the creation and legacy of the band Queen, was an incredible showcasing of the complexity of problems that LGBTQIA+ people may have with intimacy as a result of  trauma and exclusivity. Freddie’s relationship with Mary (his first partner in the film) dispelled the stereotype that members of the gay community are hypersexual, soulless or deviant from what is normal. Freddie wanted to be with Mary and got upset when he realized he couldn’t be because he wasn’t sexually attracted to her in a way that he was to men or masculine-presenting people. Mary’s reaction to Freddie’s coming out also showed how an ally can still validate their own feelings of sadness or confusion yet simultaneously love somebody and accept them without being violent, emotionally abusive or negative in any other capacity. Freddie and Mary remain best friends, but are often distanced from each other because of various forces at play (an abusive relationship, societal pressures, etc). It is expressed in the film that Freddie and Mary possess a special type of relationship; like kindred spirits. This representation of intense friendship and allyship is another method of showcasing how being lost in society’s expectations of sexuality does not always have to negatively affect friendships or deep connections with another person, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.