Two school rivals fall for each other in this groundbreaking Native Hawaiian gay romance
previously covered the increasing popularity of “boy love,” a sub-genre of TV and film predominantly centered on gay young adult romance.With origins in Japanese manga, boy love stories—commonly referred to simply as “BL”—have become increasingly common as movies and television series in recent years, especially in Thailand where LGBTQ+ representation in media was previously harder to come by.As Thai BL dramas found audiences in South Korea, Vietnam, and beyond, the phenomenon began to grow across the globe.
You can even see the ripple effect of its popularity in the success of shows like the U.K.’s Heartstopper and Sweden’s Young Royals.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.The latest example of the genre’s worldwide appeal is in a new coming-of-age romance called My Partner, which has been described as one of the first films made by and starring Native Hawaiians—or Kānaka Maoli— to focus on a gay relationship.The first feature from filmmaker Keli’i Grace, My Partner is the story of an unlikely connection between two rival seniors at Lahainaluna High School.
