Miles Heizer is still processing the reality of headlining a Netflix show.
And this isn’t just any production. The 31-year-old openly gay actor stars in the eight-episode coming-of-age dramedy titled “Boots,” where he plays Cameron Cope, a high school senior navigating his sexual identity as he unexpectedly joins the U.S. Marines alongside his straight best friend (Liam Oh) to escape a turbulent family life.
The series draws inspiration from “The Pink Marine,” a memoir by Greg Cope White that recounts his experience of enlisting in 1979 when LGBTQ individuals faced barring from military service.
“I was at the gym recently, and someone approached me, asking, ‘Are you in “Boots”? I was in the Coast Guard and I’m gay,’” Heizer shares over tea one Friday afternoon at Botanica Restaurant and Market in Silverlake, Los Angeles. “He was completely comfortable, but it’s really nice to hear people share their stories.”
Heizer, who first gained fame for his role in “13 Reasons Why,” where his character Alex Standall came out as queer in the final season, is not alone in his representation in “Boots.” Angus O’Brien plays a hyper-masculine enlistee, and Max Parker takes on the role of a closeted drill sergeant.
“It’s incredibly exciting to work with a crew of predominantly queer individuals behind the scenes,” Heizer remarks. “Having so many queer folks and women collaborating to create this show is quite unique.”
Heizer came out at 19, but it wasn’t an easy journey. He reflects on being raised in “a super conservative, religious family” in Kentucky before moving to Los Angeles at age 10 to pursue acting, supported by his single mother and grandmother.
“I experienced a classic gay coming-out saga. It was rocky, and it upset a lot of people,” Heizer says. “I feel fortunate that my sister, my best friend, was utterly supportive. My friends rallied around me, and over time, my family’s views have softened. But initially, I faced a lot of the resistance that comes from a traditional Christian upbringing.”
The series adapts the timeline of “The Pink Marine” to just four years before the implementation of President Bill Clinton’s divisive Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 1994, which allowed LGBTQ individuals to serve under the condition of not disclosing their sexual orientation. This policy was fully repealed in 2011.
Conversely, “Boots” emerges as President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term barring transgender individuals from military service. “When we began filming [in 2023], we didn’t anticipate that our story would resonate with current events,” Heizer notes. “Yet, as we progressed, real-life events began to unfold. It’s poignant that ‘Boots’ reflects the present landscape despite being set in the 1990s. It’s disheartening.”
Despite any apprehensions, Heizer was initially nervous about taking on his lead role in “Boots.” This changed dramatically during the head-shaving scene. “We had waited so long for this moment, having filmed all the pre-boot camp segments with our hair intact,” Heizer explains. “I had anxiety because I didn’t know what I would look like afterward. But once my hair was shaved, it brought a feeling of relief. Starting a show often brings worries about being recast; however, with our heads shaved, it felt like we were safe in our roles. It was liberating because I no longer had to stress about my hair.”
Heizer is optimistic about a second season. “There are numerous stories waiting to unfold, from Greg’s various military experiences to the complexities surrounding Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and its repeal,” he shares. “I’d gladly sign on for 10 seasons if they’d let me.”
You can catch Season 1 of “Boots” on Netflix.
