OUTtv adapts lesbian novel

Canadian LGBTQ+ network OUTtv is developing a TV adaptation of J D Glass’s lesbian coming-of-age novel Punk Like Me.

The debut novel by Glass is set in the 1980s in Staten Island, New York, and tells the story of smart, tenacious and talented teenager Nina, whose family makes the tough financial choice to send her to an elite all-girls Catholic high school.

Along the way, the aspiring punk rock musician must navigate the challenges of high school while learning to understand her identity as a lesbian and cope with the family disputes that ensue.

Glass has teamed up with co-creator and executive producer Kevin Fox (The Negotiator, Queens Supreme, Law & Order: SVU) and executive producer Mike Sword (Legends of the Deep, The Guardians) to adapt the book for the screen.

It will feature a soundtrack of punk and popular music from the 1980s and offer a unique look at what it meant to come of age as a lesbian in an era that still resonates today, the producers said.

“We’re constantly on the lookout for content that not only speaks to the community but is curated by members of the community,” said Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv.

Danks added that Punk Like Me is “perfect for our network and will resonate hugely with our ever-expanding global audience.” It will air on OUTtv and streaming platform OUTtvGo next year.