Is Shawn Gay in The Waterfront?

Netflix’s ‘The Waterfront’ follows the trials and tribulations of the Buckley family as they try to trudge through a financial crisis. Solving their problems through criminal means throws them into even more problems, but all these things remain unknown to the outsiders. For most people, the Buckleys remain one of the wealthiest and influential families of Havenport. To newcomer Shawn, things seem the same, but the closer he gets to them, the more he finds them falling apart. While there is still a lot that we don’t know about Shawn, a few details about him come to light in the most unexpected conversations. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Shawn’s Sexuality is Revealed After He Displays His Fighting Chops

One of the major revelations of ‘The Waterfront’ is Shawn’s connection to the Buckleys. It turns out that years ago, his mother, Bebe, used to work at the Buckleys’ restaurant, where she had an affair with Harlan, who was married to Belle at the time. The trio was well-acquainted, and it seems even Belle liked Bebe. This is why, when Shawn comes forward with the truth about his parentage to Belle, she is neither shocked nor angry. It seems that she already knew that her husband slept with Belle, and while she is surprised by the discovery that Bebe was pregnant when she left, she does not seem to hold any grudges against her.

This, however, is just the beginning of many revelations about Shawn, which might continue to unfold as the story progresses over more seasons. Another thing we find out about him is that he is a great fighter. As a bartender, he never gets in much conflict, but when Belle punches Grady for shooting her grandson during an impromptu hunting trip, Shawn comes to the rescue by beating up Grady’s men, who were ready to harm Belle. It is entirely unexpected for her to see him fight like this, and when she asks him about it, he reveals that he got martial arts lessons when he was young to ensure his survival. It is a passing remark, but he mentions that he is gay, which means that life hasn’t exactly been easy for him, and so, he has had to learn a few things to fight for himself.

The Revelation About Shawn’s Sexuality Reveals That He is a True Buckley

While Shawn may have been Harlan’s son, Bebe took him to Texas, where she raised him on her own. When he came out as gay, things became tough for him because the town he lived in was prone to homophobia. It is no surprise that he would have been targeted for his homosexuality. However, instead of letting the bullies defeat him or running away, Shawn decided to face his problem by preparing for it. To protect himself, he took fighting lessons and got pretty good at it. He tells Belle that he is a black belt in taekwondo, and the way he fights off Grady’s goons, his skills are on clear display.

This shows that while he may not have been raised as a Buckley, Shawn has that fighting spirit inside him. It is a great credit to his mother, who supported him through his difficult times and most likely was the one to encourage her son to face his problems rather than turning his back on them. In any case, his fighting skills have also unwittingly prepared him for the challenges that come with being a part of the Buckley family, which he truly is by the end of this season. Not only is he aware of the family’s problems, but he has also actively participated in saving a couple of them by putting his own life on the line.

His actions have even impressed Cane, who was initially reticent about accepting him as his father’s son. Moreover, Harlan, too, has accepted him completely, as he calls him “son.” So, while Shawn being gay doesn’t have much impact on his storyline with respect to being accepted and welcomed into the family by the Buckleys, it did lead him on a path that has given him the tools to become more adept at facing the problems that are a part of the Buckley family package.