Love, Simon: The future has arrived
“I think Will & Grace did more to educate the American public more than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that which is different. Now they’re beginning to understand.” said one politician in an interview back in 2012. A lot has changed since then. Now, even the gay couple in Modern Family seems a bit old-fashioned most of the time, which wasn’t the case a few years ago. Because as much as independent media has been the source opening its arms wide to anything that was considered socially unacceptable and asking controversial questions to social morality, the upcoming generation deservedly demands more. That being said, Love, Simon creates a monumental effect in representation of queer people on screen.
Based on the young adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Love, Simon as being a product of generation Z, (people born from the mid 90s to the early 00s) is a coming of age movie about a closeted gay guy whose secret is threatened when the anonymous e-mail exchanges in which he talks freely about his identity with another gay guy who goes by the nickname “Blue” is read by someone else in his school. The film completely focuses on his coming out process in the most respectful way possible. It starts with Simon saying “I’m just like you.” which literally is the main purpose of making this film. He then lists the ordinary parts of his life, trying to explain that being gay is just a part of his identity, not the whole of it. “I don’t want you think anything different, I’m still me.” he keeps saying right after whenever he opens up about his secret to someone. That’s one of the many fears queer teens are forced to overcome before coming out, being treated differently than before; drawing all attention towards yourself, to be more precise, your sexual orientation which is quite scary when you think about it. That also explains how Simon’s character is not straight-washed in any way for the pleasure of heteronormative gaze because the perception of queer people has been evolving in our age. Simon is just some guy who happens to be gay.
While imagining his college life as an openly gay guy, right when Simon embraces his queerness to the fullest, he says “Well, maybe not that gay.” It sounds a bit problematic at first, but it perfectly fits the film. Let me explain. It should be noted that Love, Simon is not an art house film. It is specifically made for a general audience. So for the sake of the films that will be made in the future, taking things step by step shouldn’t hurt anyone right now. Also, overcoming bias toward homosexuality needs to take its time even though we seem to be beyond that.
Played by Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Katherine Langford, Simon’s friends are there to give him nothing but support when he needs the most. Just like in the book, the film doesn’t hesitate to profoundly explore them, even adds more scenes involving their lives, so they wouldn’t be two dimensional characters hanging out with the protagonist. Similar to teens in John Hughes movies, they too have ups and downs in their lives building their identity at an age that is lived for this very purpose. Simon’s best friend Leah even asks him that inevitable question “Do you ever feel weird?” Even though several versions of this were asked in almost every coming of age movie, it never gets old.
As for the adults in the film, they differ from any other films by setting an example to audience. During a homophobic behavior of two students at school cafeteria, the drama teacher arrives on the scene and instead of asking them to behave and saying “Okay guys, show’s over.” She gives them a piece of her mind in front of the entire school. Well, maybe a bit over the top, but if any hate crime is shut down like this, many of the possible upcoming ones can probably be prevented before happening. Besides, Simon’s parents, played by Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner, both have heart-to-heart scenes with their son, showing how proud they are of him, which every queer teen needs to see on the big screen in order to have hope and courage during the process of their coming outs. And for the parents, so they have some idea about how to talk with their children when the time comes.
Mainstream media still plays a critical role in shaping culture even though most of the time we want to escape from it. Lack of representation has been the main reason of this escape part. This is changing now. Love, Simon is the first major studio film about a gay kid coming out when coming out seems to be considered not that big of a deal anymore. It is still a big deal, of course. For the subject to the situation. Just not in terms of social exclusion as it was in the past. Directed by Greg Berlanti, the guy behind the first ever male gay kiss on primetime television happened in Dawson’s Creek when queer people onscreen were murderers or murder victims, the film is a milestone for queer representation in the history of movies and serves as a bridge between the past and the future.
