Pride Month, a month in which (especially in the United States) special attention is paid to the status of the LGBTQ+ community, will end on Sunday. Personally, I’m surprised a dating show is only for gay men. Because honestly, as a 28-year-old gay man, I’d never watched a love show for like-minded people before it made me think: yeah, this is fun!

The show is new to Videoland, but has previously been broadcast by the BBC. I kissed a boypresented by Dannii Minogue (actually a sister). It features a group of gay men looking for love. Matches are already made upon arrival. Each pair kisses before they can say “hello”, it’s up to them. After that, each match must always be a one-on-one match. Kiss They reveal whether they want to stay together by kissing each other again, or whether they are saving their kiss for another man. If this is the case and the other man chooses that person as well, they form a new couple. Every candidate joins Kiss He is not kissed, and has to leave the beautiful villa they are all staying in.

What does it make? I kissed a boy Well, it’s totally different, because there are actually other gay dating shows out there, right? Yes, that’s right, Prince Charming For example. I watched the Dutch version for three seasons and it wasn’t that good. The formula is wrong. It’s weird to have a bunch of gay guys competing for one guy. Why can’t one candidate fall in love with another candidate instead of Prince Charming? That setup works much better. BSC And And the bachelorette. in I kissed a boy So it’s more likely to be a success story. Because not everyone is chasing one person like a pack of sharks, but each candidate can do what they want. That creates more love and what could be more fun than seeing it flourish? And yes, of course there’s the necessary drama. I really don’t hate that either.

Furthermore, the cast is more diverse than you see on your average dating show; White people, people of color, different body types. And the best thing is: no one says anything about it. It’s normal, because it’s also normal to be different.

Some people might think I want every dating app to have a gay version now. No, please no. Leave it. Temptation Island, Previous on the beach, Love Island And all of these programs are beautiful as they are. Although I like it in shows like First dates And Married at first sight It often features a gay or lesbian couple.

Just give me another season of it. I kissed a boy. This is more than good. Because besides the fact that I think it’s a good format, there’s also a lot of room for clever jokes from queer culture. This includes conversations about the topics and issues I face and see myself in relation to being a gay man in today’s society. I know: In the Netherlands we cannot complain about the situation of the LGBTQ+ community compared to its situation in many other countries. But believe me, from my own experience I also know that there is still a lot to be gained in the area of ​​acceptance and tolerance.

Fortunately, the BBC has announced that a second series is in the works, once again with Dannii Minogue in the role of Cupid. Now let’s hope for a Dutch version. This might contribute a little to (re)normalizing love that is different from love between a man and a woman only. Because love is love.