Advertisement

The Kiwi soap opera has won praise for the introduction of its first intersex character.

Shortland Street viewers are praising the show after the soap opera introduced its first intersex character.

Harper and Drew welcomed their first child Billy during the last week with the baby later revealed to be intersex.

Advertisement

Shortly after the new character’s introduction, the soap took to its Facebook page, posting an image of Billy, prompting fans to share their thoughts – with some sharing how they personally relate to the storyline and praising the show for how it handled the subject.

Among the comments were: “I never thought in my entire time of watching soaps that I would finally see an intersex child,” one person wrote. “It’s very rare for this to happen, but I am fortunate to have a gorgeous baby who was born like this. Not something people talk about in case of ridicule or teasing and taunting. My baby is now 20 and happy to tell people how it is and is ultra-confident.”

“Well done Shortland Street, this is a very real storyline and one very close to my heart,” one commenter wrote. 

“I never thought in my entire time of watching soaps that I would finally see an intersex child,” said another.

“It’s very rare for this to happen, but I am fortunate to have a gorgeous baby who was born like this.”

The praise for the introduction of baby Billy is in sharp contrast to the reaction the show received in a recent storyline which suggested a pregnancy be terminated due to the possibility the baby would be born with Down syndrome.

The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association slammed the storyline as “insensitive and ignorant”.

Shortland Street acknowledged it addressed a difficult topic but ultimately stood by the storyline.

Advertisement