I just finished watching “Love, Simon” and I have to say it’s probably the best of the gay movies I’ve watched up to this time. But I think the most important thing is that I figured out something that this genre of movies generally have in common and what makes them enjoyable.
It is the fact that this type of movie captures the internal struggle of a person who must choose whether to reveal the truth about themselves or keep it a secret. In fact the very idea that someone would be afraid for someone to know the fact that they are gay is a statement on the state of society. Although this varies among location and culture, a person must fear the individual response of their friends, family members, coworkers, etc. People have been disowned by their family, lost their homes, jobs, reputation, etc. because they are seen as some evil enemy for not fitting in with the majority.
This form of hatred of gay people is not unique because people can discriminate against somebody based on their skin color,sex, or species as well.
But what is unique is the ability, at least for a certain length of time to hide being gay because it’s something that is invisible and can’t be seen like the color of someone’s skin for example.
But obviously keeping any secret, no matter what it is or the reason behind it completely destroys a person as they have to have the ability to constantly invent lies in order to keep people from figuring out the truth. In fact I promise you, if you take the lying out of movies you pretty much have deleted 90% of the plot.
There would have been no story in Love, Simon if people had been openly gay from the start, and then Martin could not have blackmailed Simon.
I think the moral of this story is that by telling the truth about yourself you take away the power of others to control your life and prevent them from telling the wrong version of your story.
Chastity White Rose 