Hi! Sorry if I make mistakes while writing, English is not my first language!

I was wondering, what was your first contact with the show? Yesterday I was talking about it with a friend and she asked me: “Do you think watching this changed you?” And, well…

I was born in 1993 and I’m from Spain. Back in the 90s, Xena was on TV here and I remember it was really successful — at least in the south of Spain (Andalucía). And, obviously, at least in my house, hahahaha.

I remember watching the show with my mum when I was about 6 or 7. She loved it! Then I grew up and forgot about the show until one day, when I was 13 and didn’t know anything about myself yet (ah… the wonderful teenage phase…), I was walking to the kitchen, passed through the living room and saw that my mum was watching the show (Xena: Warrior Princess came back every single year to our country).

“Uh, I remember that show, mum. Xena, isn’t it?” I said.“Yeah, you liked it a lot when you were a child. You should watch it again,” she replied.

But I was 13. I just wanted to grab a glass of water and go back to my room. So I did… but then I walked through the living room again and...

There it was. The Quest. The moment when Xena was talking to Gabrielle. And then, the kiss.

You can imagine my face.

“What… what’s that? She’s kissing Gabrielle!” I told my mum.“Yeah. They were a couple. Don’t you remember?” my mother said calmly.“No! Oh my god! I don’t remember anything about this show, just a strong woman fighting for good!”“Honey… YOU SHOULD WATCH IT AGAIN.”

I have to say some things about this:

1. In Spain, we have good shows now, and even back then we had some good ones too, but representation was not really a thing. Gay men, yes, but lesbians? Nope. Not until 2003, when Maca and Esther in Hospital Central started a revolution (remember that in 2004 Spain approved gay marriage). They opened the door, and now we have lesbians in every show, hahahaha.

   
   

2. Watching that kiss, watching something like Xena and Gabrielle, was liberating. It was like: What is this and why do I feel it’s so, so important to me??? I found the full show, I watched it, and a year later I finally understood that I was in love with a girl. Maybe, without Xena, that wouldn’t have happened.

   
   

3. For my mum, there was no debate. For years and years people kept talking about subtext, about “maybe they are, maybe they aren’t”, but for my mum there was no discussion. They were a couple. She was so sure of it.

4. And also, she knew I was lesbian before I did. That’s why she told me: PLEASE, WATCH THE DAMN SHOW.

   
   

And now I ask you all… When did Xena: Warrior Princess hit you?

P.S. I don’t really understand this forum very well. I think it would be easier if we had sections or something… Right now we can’t reach the first post without scrolling forever. Just an idea! And thank you, of course, for keeping this alive!!!