A young actress on U.S. television show Pretty Little Liars has
said that her on-screen lesbian character has resonated deeply with
young viewers.
In a new interview with Canada's Fashion Magazine, Shay Mitchell -
a 24 year-old performer from Canada who plays Emily in the hit ABC
Family show - says it has impacted positively on teenagers.
"I was out for dinner last night and this girl came up to me in
the washroom and said, 'Hey, I just want to tell you you've done a
lot for the lesbian and gay community, and I think your character
is amazing, and [so is] the way they're handling it,'" she
says.
According to Mitchell, who is also the face of Pantene shampoo, TV
executives are also to thank for letting the character be
multi-faceted.
"People are like, 'Oh, my gosh, they show you kissing on ABC
Family!' I'm like, 'Yes, but if it was a heterosexual relationship,
would they probably be kissing at this age? Yes. Would they be
showing it on TV? Yes. So why shouldn't my character be doing the
exact same thing?'"
Pretty Little Liars is created by Marlene King and broadcasts on
ABC Family.
Set in the fictitious town of Rosewood, it follows the lives of
four girls whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of
their leader - sparking a race to keep their dark secrets
hidden.
