Off the job, she hangs out with her lesbian friends and girlfriend Viv at a local gay bar. Jean hides her relationship with Viv from her family, to Viv's annoyance, straining the couple's relationship. A new student named Lois shows up at the gay bar, and both must face the homophobia rife in the era.
Tropes:
- The '80s: It's set in 1988, with the homophobia of the decade the focus as the protagonist is a closeted lesbian. Common eighties styles also are prevalent.
- Armoured Closet Gay: Siobhan, the student who mocked and bullied Lois over her lesbianism, kisses her later in the shower. When she's caught this way by Jean, Siobhan then says Lois assaulted her.
- Bittersweet Ending: Jean has broken up with her girlfriend, and though they're courteous to each other it doesn't seem like the two will reunite. Lois has been suspended, with it partly being Jean's fault. Still, she's made aware of a fund the local lesbians maintain which could support her if necessary. Jean has come out to at least some people. By the end, it's implied that she's more confident in herself, despite the passage of Section 28.
- Butch Lesbian: Jean has short hair and fairly masculine clothing. Her girlfriend Viv is a bit more butch, with even shorter hair while she usually wears punk-style clothing. A couple of their friends and other lesbians who visit their local gay bar also have butch looks. Jean also works as a PE teacher, which is a less stereotypically feminine job.
- Closet Gay: Jean is in the closet about her lesbianism at the start of the film. It's set in 1988 England, when being out as a teacher like she is could cost Jean her job. Viv, her girlfriend, is not happy with being introduced as Jean's 'friend' to other people outside their circle. She gets alarmed when Viv calls at the school to flirt with her over the phone as well. She then finds out a student of hers, Lois, is also a closeted lesbian. Viv's not happy with her remaining closeted, saying that it sets a terrible example for students like Lois, but Jean protests she'd never work again if outed as a lesbian. Jean then goes along with a lie claiming Lois assaulted another girl by a forceful kiss (who's actually the one that initiated it) to cover herself. Viv later breaks up with her tearfully as she can't stand hiding their relationship any longer. Jean apologizes tearfully to Lois for not speaking out later.
- Coming-Out Story: Jean comes out to her brother-in-law as a lesbian at a party, when she had been closeted a long time beforehand, before leaving abruptly.
- Heteronormative Crusader: In 1988 England, homophobia is pervasive and the new law Section 28 has just been passed to prohibit any local government "promoting homosexuality", which meant schools had to not say homosexuality could be normal or acceptable. Jean, a lesbian teacher, keeps firmly closeted as a result while many of her colleagues support this law, blissfully unaware of her sexuality. Jean's own sister objects to her having Viv, her girlfriend, in her own home while her nephew's there as it's "confusing" to explain their relationship.
- Intimate Marks: Jean's girlfriend Viv has multiple tattoos on her breasts, including a large one around her left nipple, as seen while they're having sex.
- Last Het Romance: Jean was formerly married to a man a few years ago before divorcing him. She's a lesbian, dating a woman when the story begins, so it's indicated this was her last straight relationship.
- Lesbian Jock: Jean, a Butch Lesbian, teaches PE. One girl in her class, Lois, is a lesbian. Her classmate Siobhan later kisses Lois as well.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Viv thinks briefly that Jean was having sex with Lois while in a bathroom stall together, leaving angrily before Jean clears things up.
- Mistaken for Gay: Inverted. Jean, a lesbian, is mistakenly thought to be straight when talking with a man at a party. It prompts her to come out.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Jean is wracked with guilt after going along with the lie that gets Lois suspended from her school, and apologizes to her afterward.
- Shower Scene: The girls Jean teaches PE are shown in the showers several times. Siobhan kissing Lois there causes drama, as Jean catches them together.
- Transparent Closet: It turns out some schoolmates of Lois already suspect that she's a lesbian (though she has kept herself closeted), bullying and mocking her for this, which leads to a fight. It turns out that Jean's sister is also well aware she's a lesbian, which she is largely accepting of.
- Where Everybody Knows Your Flame: Jean, her girlfriend Viv and their friends often visit a local gay bar. A student of Jean's, Lois, also goes there and each realizes the other's a lesbian from this.
