Nickelodeon will look at the plight of gay kids with a special to debut Oct. 7, the network said Thursday.

The special, Nick News With Linda Elerbee: Coming Out will follow the everyday lives of gay kids as they face fear, acceptance, bullying, isolation, encouragement and ignorance, said the network. The half-hour special will also show how straight and non-straight teens can come together to triumph over bullying.

“It takes bravery for a kid to come out,” says Ellerbee in a statement. “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.”