The Traitors star Freddie Fraser doesn’t owe us an explanation on his sexuality

He’s found love again, this time with social media influencer Bailey Ramsden (Picture: Simon Ackerman/WireImage) The Traitors star Freddie Fraser has unveiled his new boyfriend in adorable pictures, kissing in a photo booth. For the most part, the response has been an outpouring of love and support. But the reaction from large swathes of the queer community has been bitterly disappointing. The 22-year-old appeared on the third series of the BBC’s juggernaut reality show while in a long-term relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Nisha Davenport, who he met at university. Davenport was by his side as he navigated the precarious showbiz industry until they split last year. Now he’s found love again, this time with social media influencer Bailey Ramsden. The natural response from the LGBTQ+ community, you’d imagine, would just be to welcome Freddie with open arms. Another beautiful couple having the time of their lives, able to spread their wings and fly, living life as their authentic selves with nothing but bullet-proof support from their peers. He’s already being labelled ‘gay’ by strangely impassioned men who refuse to use the term ‘queer’ (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images) Instead, it sparked a backlash from corners of the community who are both offended by the term ‘queer’ and determined to affix a label to someone who hasn’t yet given himself one. Freddie is yet to discuss his sexuality beyond confirming he has a boyfriend. Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard joked, ‘Welcome to the club, gayyyy boi,’ to which Freddie replied, ‘LOVEEEE XXXX’ – but still, I wouldn’t jump to conclusions that this confirms his identity in black and white terms. Join Metro's LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Regardless, he’s already being labelled ‘gay’ by strangely impassioned men who refuse to use the term ‘queer’ – which is how the reality star is widely being referred to by the media. ‘So he’s a homosexual then. Stop with the “queer” business, it was old in the 90s and it’s even older now,’ and ‘He came out as gay, what’s with the “queer” nonsense?’ are just two of the countless tweets protesting against calling Freddie by the term. Another said ‘that is a slur’ and seemed to compare it to the N-word. Of course, the word remains divisive within the community. Well within my lifetime, ‘queer’ was used as a derogatory slur against LGBTQ+ people, myself included – but it has recently been reclaimed to describe, essentially, anyone who doesn’t feel they fall under ‘heterosexual.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In Freddie’s case, it feels appropriate to use a blanket term like that because he hasn’t been clear about how he identifies. I appreciate some reluctance. My early years in the closet, and even years out of it, were haunted by the word ‘queer.’ It was demeaning, purposefully used by bigots to highlight the peculiarity of being an LGBTQ+ person, and every time I heard it, I’d feel an abundance of painful feelings, most notably that I was wrong. But its reclamation has been quite literally life-changing for so many. For me, it sums up what I see as the LGBTQ+ spectrum that welcomes all colours of the rainbow and – whatever you are, however you wish to identify outside of heteronormativity, you can fall under the queer umbrella. What is your perspective on public figures keeping their personal identities private? It's their right to keep their private lives confidential.Check I think it's important for them to share, as it can inspire others.Check It depends on the situation and context.Check I don't have a strong opinion on this.Check Want to get bespoke updates on the TV shows you love? Sign up to Metro's TV newsletters and tell us which ones you can't get enough of I appreciate that it’s not quite as simple for others as it has been for me. Of course, bigotry still exists and is still part of my everyday life, but we haven’t quite reverted to the homophobia of the Thatcher years for gay men like myself – even if it often feels as though we’re getting ever closer day by day. Freddie, who hasn’t actually used the ‘Q word’, was born in 2003, and so doesn’t have some of that stigma. His generation is more comfortable with different labels, and maybe for some people they don’t want any labels at all, just the ability to love who they do without bigotry. Following the success of queer TV show Heartstopper – lead Kit Connor felt forced to come out as bisexual (Picture: Netflix) While people argue over Freddie and the word queer, I think it’s more useful to understand why many of us within the community are so quick to label, especially when it comes to public figures. In 2022, following the success of queer TV show Heartstopper – lead Kit Connor felt forced to come out as bisexual after many critics within the community were so quick to assume he was straight and accused him of ‘queerbaiting’ – a term used to describe figures who hint at queerness to attract LGBTQ+ fanbases. That is always in itself a bizarre accusation without knowing anything about a person’s sexuality. Harry Styles is widely criticised as patient zero of queer-baiting with his flamboyant outfits, camp concerts and homages to the LGBTQ+ community, despite never having been forthcoming with a label – and neither should he have to be. Why he can’t be either a staunch ally or attracted to all sexes, I have no idea, but apparently, to some, he can’t. However Freddie wishes to identify, it’s a shame such a moment can’t just be celebrated without the community ripping each other apart over semantics. No one is calling a young man declaring his love publicly for another man ‘queer’ to shame him (Picture: BBC / Listen Entertainment Ltd.) There are many cases within the community when it’s not possible to agree to disagree. Any form of prejudice, or refusal to celebrate every single letter of the LGBTQIA+ community, is a simple no for me. The term queer, however, is not this. Nor is trying to pigeonhole someone into a binary ‘straight’ or ‘gay.’ No one is forcing anyone to use a word they’re not entirely comfortable with but like with most words, the meaning is in the context. Clearly, no one is calling a young man declaring his love publicly for another man ‘queer’ to shame him – it’s simply to give him the respect to define himself and reveal how he wants to be defined by others in his own time. Freddie has a boyfriend – but he can identify a number of ways, if he even wants a label at all. Deals of the Day Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer Whatever he chooses, our community should celebrate him. 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