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Coronation Street Accused Of Playing Up To 'Bury Your Gays' Trope By Killing Off Rana

"I'm not expecting bullet-proof gays, but I am expecting more from long-running shows like this."
Daniel Welsh
By 

Entertainment Editor

Some Coronation Street viewers have been left unimpressed with the show’s decision to kill off Rana Habeeb, claiming it plays into the mistreatment of LGBTQ+ characters in drama.

In last night’s episode, Rana – played by Bhavna Limbachia – died on what should have been the day of her wedding to Kate Connor, after being caught up in the Underworld roof collapse.

However, many have taken issue with the storyline, suggesting it feeds into an ongoing trope within television (dubbed “Bury Your Gays”) of introducing LGBTQ+ characters, only to eventually kill them off.

if u wanna see an example of the absolute worst treatment of a queer character ever tune into coronation street

— 𝖆𝖒𝖞 (@amyhughess_) March 20, 2019

#Corrie playing off the bury-your-gays trope is a really terrible move

— ed ✨☔️ (@funkenpaldi) March 20, 2019

Logging out of Twitter before @itvcorrie because I’m not watching live. To my #kana fam—love and hugs. I’ll be back on after I see today’s episode. #corrie has no excuse for its blantant, homophobic ‘bury your gays’ trope. Shame on them. 💔 Fucking heartbroken.

— S | RIP 💔 👭KANA/KADENA ⚢ (@kanafan4) March 20, 2019

Yet another LGBT character killed off. Yet another WOC killed off. When are you going to learn that there are other ways to tell a story?

You build up these characters & their relationship. You give the community hope. This is baiting & Bury Your Gays. It’s 2019. Stop.#Corrie

— (The Other) Dani (@DaniJaneCox) March 20, 2019

I don’t watch Coronation Street but killing off a Muslim lesbian character on her wedding day does play into harmful tropes. The fact it was the actress’s decision is irrelevant as it just shows that she doesn’t understand the on-screen history of LGBT representation

— brie larson’s oscar (@wescravn) March 21, 2019

With this mind, I‘m aware she was looking the leave the series and a massive exit like this is in true Coronation Street style. But it’s just infuriating to see the harmful trope here specifically as the series has apparently never portrayed a long-term happy lesbian couple

— brie larson’s oscar (@wescravn) March 21, 2019

Coronation Street had a perfect opportunity to show a happily married gay couple but chose yet again to kill off another LBTQ character. I know that Corrie isn’t homophobic but I’m just massively disappointed by another wasted opportunity.

— Matthew RB (@bluejovanka) March 20, 2019

I’m so disappointed. Thought more of Corrie than the bury your gays trope

— Georgina (@geohollifield) March 21, 2019

disappointed but not surprised that #corrie has contributed to the 'bury your gays' trope. can we get a lesbian couple that both get to live at least once

— martha (@witchyqueer) March 20, 2019

#corrie not good at keeping same sex couples together are you. Very disappointed that there are never positive happy relationships portrayed,they exist you know

— Treaclesmum (@Treaclesmum1) March 20, 2019

I’m pretty disappointed with #Corrie and Rana’s exit. The second violent lesbian death after Sophie’s fiancée was killed by an explosion. Why?? 😡

— Mrs Bob (Cowbag) 👁👀 (@Mrs_Bob_Here) March 20, 2019

I cried at Coronation Street, not gonna lie. Such a cop out though. I'm not expecting bullet-proof gays, but I am expecting more from long-running shows like this. Especially when their viewers are younger members of the queer community. #Kana #CoronationStreet

— Kayleigh King (@EndlessWonderKK) March 20, 2019

Imagine killing off an LGBTQ+ Muslim woman on her wedding day 💔 Her and Kate were actually happy!! Shame on you Coronation Street!! #Corrie #Rana

— Laura (@eponinetaire) March 20, 2019

Bhavna has said since her character was killed off that it was her decision for Rana to die, explaining: “When I told Kate Oates and Iain McLeod that I wanted to leave the show to try other things, it was my decision and my choice for Rana to die because it was the only fitting end to the character.

“Kate and Rana had fought so hard to be together and they had been through thick and thin together.”

She added: “I believe their love was so pure as two souls that there was no way that Rana was just going to have a change of heart, hop in a cab and leave. I felt that if they were to be separated, they had to be torn apart and it couldn’t have been their decision.

“The only way to go was if Rana were to die. Rana would never leave Kate, ever.”

Kate discovers Rana in the rubble
Kate discovers Rana in the rubble
ITV

Bhavna later told This Morning: “My decision to leave and to be killed off was never intended to offend the LGBTQ+ community. It was made in the same way I’ve tried to portray the character throughout the years and that’s with truth and integrity.

“My decision to leave and to have her killed off was made with the decision on two people being in love and their love being pure – regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, religion.”

A rep for Coronation Street had nothing to add when contacted by HuffPost UK.

Rana arrived on the cobbles in 2016, and is the soap’s first ever LGBTQ+ Muslim character.

Coronation Street previously faced a backlash in December of last year, when Kate Connor slept with Adam Barlow behind Rana’s back in a bid to get pregnant.

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