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Netflix's queer-themed British drama Heartstopper has become a hit among LGBTQ+ people, especially younger ones, so naturally they were asked to join London's LGBTQ+ Pride parade this past weekend.
And when the usual anti-gay protestors showed up to harass attendees and participants, the show's cast lived up to the honor of being invited to join the parade.
As the protestors tried harder and harder to ruin the day, several Heartstopper cast members trolled them with defiantly joyful—and occasionally profane—revelry that perfectly upstaged the trolls, and fans are cheering them for it.
For one of Heartstopper's lead cast members Joe Locke, fighting back against the bigoted trolls took the form of merrily dancing and giving the protestors the finger, as seen below.
\u201cThe stars of Heartstopper absolutely loving it as anti-LGBT protesters are challenged by a young Pride supporter #Pride\u201d— Scott Beasley (@Scott Beasley) 1656764269
Not even an old British man yelling about eternal damnation, as can be heard in the background of the video, was any match for Locke's revelry.
As Whitney Houston's iconic gay anthem "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" blared from the parade's sound system, it would almost seem like Locke and his friends didn't even notice the protestors if it weren't for the middle fingers they threw out.
Sharing the footage himself, Locke, who is openly gay, jokingly said he was just doing his job.
\u201cHad to do my job properly \ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d— Joe Locke (@Joe Locke) 1656770215
Along with a shrugging emoji, Locke quipped:
"Had to do my job properly"
All in a day's work!
Locke's costar Kit Connor, who has declined to confirm his sexual orientation but definitely has a crush on actor Hugh Grant just like the rest of us, also joined in the bigot-vanquishing festivities, videoing Locke and fellow co-star Sebastian Croft's attempts to not let bigots spoil Pride.
\u201cuhhh I was videoing and screaming at them but please don\u2019t be mistaken, it wasn\u2019t \u2019Kit Connor and the rest of the cast\u2019, it was @joelocke03 and @SebastianCroft front and centre. Please give them the credit for doing something so powerful.\u201d— Kit Connor (@Kit Connor) 1656774919
Croft was able to capture footage from an angle that gives a clearer view of Locke's and others' middle fingers--which somehow makes the moment all the more joyful.
\u201cLove always wins\ud83d\udc96\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83e\udd73\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f #Pride\u201d— Sebastian Croft (@Sebastian Croft) 1656775645
Fans of the show absolutely adored the Heartstopper castmembers for standing up for what's right while not even remotely letting the bigots ruin their big queer dance party.
\u201c@SebastianCroft I\u2019m so grateful for each and every one of you Heartstopper cast\ud83d\udc96\u201d— Sebastian Croft (@Sebastian Croft) 1656775645
\u201c@joelocke03 WE LOVE U SO MUCHHHHHH\u201d— Joe Locke (@Joe Locke) 1656770215
\u201c@kit_connor @joelocke03 @SebastianCroft Iconic \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u201d— Kit Connor (@Kit Connor) 1656774919
\u201c@SkyScottBeasley To be that age (with such little time left on earth) and still make time to harass young queer people??? Let me stop and not say what I want to say \ud83d\udc80 I\u2019ll just say I love my Heartstopper cast \ud83e\udd70\ud83e\udd70\ud83e\udd70\u201d— Scott Beasley (@Scott Beasley) 1656764269
\u201c@joelocke03 u know u made me cry this morning\u201d— Joe Locke (@Joe Locke) 1656770215
\u201c@SebastianCroft We are so grateful for you all and proud of you too \ud83e\udd70\ud83d\udc96\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83e\udef6 https://t.co/UEHHC3z5MN\u201d— Sebastian Croft (@Sebastian Croft) 1656775645
\u201c@SebastianCroft @kit_connor @joelocke03 I love u guys, so much.\nU\u2019re my safety place. \n\nNeed a hug, right now\u2026 \ud83e\udec2\ud83d\udc99\u201d— Kit Connor (@Kit Connor) 1656774919
\u201c@kit_connor @joelocke03 @SebastianCroft thank you for helping me come out\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf08 Happy Pride https://t.co/EQjm1bqeDu\u201d— Kit Connor (@Kit Connor) 1656774919
One elderly queer man was particularly touched by the Heartstopper casts efforts.
\u201c@SkyScottBeasley Wow. I'm so proud of them. The torch has been passed. A great weight has been lifted from this old (75 year old) queer who faced much the same reaction in many Pride Parades in NYC. Bravo.\u201d— Scott Beasley (@Scott Beasley) 1656764269
The kids are definitely alright.