An upcoming edition of Nickelodeon’s kids’ news program, Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, will explore the lives of gay children.

The half-hour special, entitled Coming Out, will tell the personal stories, challenges, and triumphs of openly-gay kids and teenagers.

Nick News, which is in its 23rd year of production, has been nominated for several awards for making complex issues understandable and relatable to children and teens.

Host Linda Ellerbee noted the importance of this edition’s subject matter.

She said: “It takes bravery for a kid to come out. Being accepted by straight people is not a given. Being young and ‘different’ is not easy. This may be tough to talk about, or hear about, but this is important stuff. Not addressing it doesn’t make it go away.”

One of the featured teenagers on the show, 16-year-old Lia, spoke openly about coming out.

She said: “Coming out isn’t going to be a one-time thing. You’re going to meet new people every day. You’re going to always have that burning question in the back of your head: Am I going to come out today? Am I going to come out tomorrow?”

In addition to telling the stories of gay youth, the show will also takes a look at how both gay teens and their straight allies can stand up to bullying.

The show will premiere on 7 October on Nickelodeon, the same week as National Coming Out Day which takes place 11 October.