Berena became very important
to me because it helped
me realise who I was. I’d
buried it, and it was only
seeing Berena on screen when
that unlocked the truth and
I admitted it to myself.
And then with a growing
sense and understanding of
myself, I finally spoke to
someone about it and their
acceptance was wonderful.
I am just a year younger
than Jemma and Catherine
and for most of my life I
have had absolutely none or
very little representation
on television
and mainstream
films. Now I have
two women of my
age, who work in
the NHS just as
I do and they
are lesbians.
I finally feel
that I have
representation
and a voice both
in the characters
and via Catherine
and Jemma.
I see the Berena fandom as
a community. I’ve met so
many lovely people through
it online. I’ve talked to
teenagers who are questioning
their identity. Who are fully
or semi-closeted. I’ve talked
to older women, in their
thirties and forties, who are
out and proud queer women, who
have girlfriends and wives.
And they give me so much hope.
I’ve found their
relationship to have
had a remarkably large
impact on my perception
of what the future
may hold. As a young
lgbt woman, seeing two
women fall in love,
and seeing them face
both the challenges
and the positives that
come with that, has
been a great source of
reassurance.
Women of all ages and
at various stages
of their journey
have reached out to
me and expressed
their concerns.
People who are
worried about family
deserting them,
people suffering
from depression and
anxiety, people who
are lonely and feel
misunderstoo d. This
fandom was there for
me when I needed them
and I am only too happy
to return the favour.
That is what I love about
the Berena fandom and
something that I have
found nowhere else.
I’d just like to say
thank you to all you
lovely people who have
made such a loving
and warm environment.
Something which I don’t
really have at home so
thank you all so much.