Stars of 13 Reasons Why inspire viewers
The stars of Netflix show 13 Reasons Why say the series is giving young people the courage to be themselves and to speak out.
Based on a young adult novel, the US TV show deals with difficult subjects such as suicide, bullying and sexual assault and its characters come from diverse backgrounds. It's these aspects of the show that two of its stars, Christian Navarro (Tony) and Alisha Boe (Jessica) believe helps their young viewers.
"In our show there's people of every colour, every creed, every sexuality, it's really a melting pot and I think it's indicative of the face of our country, the face of the world, and people are really beginning to be themselves openly and are proud of it," Navarro told AAP.
"TV film and art is just a reflection of what's happening in this world and I'm very happy to be growing up in this era where we're accepting of all religion, sexuality and colour," Boe added.
The pair play friends of protagonist, Hannah Baker, played by Australian actress Katherine Langford, and will both appear in the second season of the show. With filming of the new season now wrapped, the pair came to Sydney to appear in the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade last Saturday.
In the US, they explained, there's a palpable feeling that young people are rising up, particularly in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
In the weeks since it happened, the students of the school have been calling for changes to the US gun laws and have planned a demonstration, March for Our Lives, which will take place on March 24, in Washington to push for gun control.
The stars of 13 Reasons Why have praised them for their actions.
"Young people don't have that much of a voice but they're starting to have more of a voice and we're seeing that especially in our country in lieu of the shootings these young people who are incredibly brave, and I feel confident and proud of where we're headed knowing that those are the kids who are leading the way," Navarro said.
The actor is hopeful that, through their show, more young people will find characters to identify with and to give them courage.
"If I could ask our show to do anything it would be to give some kid in our country or anywhere in the world the opportunity to identify and say 'I see myself in that person and I can live my life a little bit more boldly'.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
Local Aboriginal Medical Service details available from www.bettertoknow.org.au/AMS
