It might sound difficult to believe, but the film "Love, Simon" is the first film produced by a major Hollywood studio that features a gay teenager as its protagonist. That's right, in 2018, we have finally been delivered a film in which the gay character is not a sidekick, a villain, or an otherwise irrelevant and unimportant figure.
Simon, the protagonist, is 17 years old. He is thoughtful, funny, and honest. He carries a fierce and unwavering loyalty for his friends and family; so much so that he picks up each of his three friends for school every morning and taste-tests all of his aspiring-chef sister's culinary creations. He has a "huge-ass" secret, however, that no one knows and that he doesn't want anyone to find out. He is gay.
While the sole fact that the film features a gay protagonist should allow anyone to see how important the creation of this film has been, there are countless other reasons everyone should see this film.
1. Simon has a love interest.
Towards the beginning of the film, an anonymous user by the name of Blue posts on the school's gossip site, "Creek Secrets," that he is gay but that he is keeping it a secret. Simon, who sees the post, creates an anonymous email and responds. From there, the two email back-and-forth daily for months, getting to know each other and building a relationship despite the fact that neither one of the characters knows the other's true identity. Whether or not the two characters actually end up together, though, isn't as important as the simple existence of a potential love interest for Simon.
2. The film exemplifies meaningful representation.
Obviously, the existence of a gay protagonist in the film is already an excellent example of the representation of the LGBTQ+ in television and film. However, there are other notable examples of representation in the film, as well. In terms of people close to Simon, two of his best friends are people of color, one of which is a woman. Although they are close to Simon, they still have thoughts, feelings, and large personalities. The only "out" gay student at Simon's school is also a person of color with feelings and experiences and he plays a major part in helping Simon accept his identity. In terms of the cast of the film as a whole, it's brimming with people of color.
3. It's a film anyone can relate to.
For some members of the LGBTQ+ community, this film portrays a harsh reality that they know all too well. Some who are gay or bisexual can relate to Simon's struggle of not wanting the world to know his identity and his reluctance to tell the people closest to him. In general, the film is easy to relate to in that everyone can relate to the pressures of being a high school student, having nosy parents, having a crush, participating in a play, and getting your first car, among other things. "Love, Simon" is incredibly realistic in its portrayal of being a teenager and themes and moments within it are not exclusive to those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community and that's quite possibly the most important aspect of the film.
4. It's inspiring and educational.
Following the release of the "Love, Simon," people across the globe have been empowered and inspired to come out. In fact, the film's very own Keiynan Lonsdale, who plays Bram, came out as bisexual on Instagram following the production of the film. During an appearance on "The Ellen Show," Nick Robinson, who plays Simon, revealed that his own brother also came out during the production of the film. Viewers have also been positively influenced by the film and many have come out after watching it. The film has also educated people and exposed them to the experience of being gay in high school. Parents who see the film can empathize with their children who identify with the LGBTQ+ community and have come out. People who are intolerant of the LGBTQ+ community might also be able to better understand the experience of being gay and out after watching the film.
Hopefully, "Love, Simon" will continue to influence people all around the globe, inspire them, and educate them. The film has a 91 percent on Rotton Tomatoes and it has already made $11,756,244 just within its opening weekend in the United States, so it's safe to say the film is quite well-received. This film has already made its mark and it will certainly go down as one of the most important films in history.
