Introduction
Love, Simon is an excellent example of a movie that expresses the difficulties of people who are afraid to open their sexual orientation to others. Doubt, insecurity, fear of seeming ridiculous or wrong are the main feelings for a person who is going through a transition period between understanding his or her sexuality and committing a coming-out. However, Love, Simon demonstrates that the most important thing is the self-acceptance of a person’s sexuality; everyone can express it differently, and the support is especially crucial for people committing a coming-out.
Main body
The movie begins with the story of the main character, high school student Simon, about his ideal life, since he has an incredibly loving family, great friends, a rich house, and a good school. However, there is one big secret in his life because he is gay. Simon’s life changes when he sees an anonymous post on the school’s website in which some guy describes very Simon’s feelings: he is also gay who is afraid to confess to society. Simon creates a new email for himself, writes this anonymously, calls himself Blue, and understands that he is not alone. Guys chat with each other every day, and in their emails, they reveal secrets that they cannot tell others, build a strong connection, and fall in love.
However, Simon’s correspondence is accidentally discovered by his classmate Martin. Martin blackmails Simon by promising to publish the emails if he does not help him to start dating his female friend Abby. Simon is afraid that such a post will scare away Blue more than the fact of his own revelation, so he helps Martin and quarrels because of his actions with all his friends. After another unsuccessful attempt to get closer to Abby, Martin publishes Simon’s correspondence on the school website, which causes a stir in the school and a block of Simon’s emails by Blue. Simon tells about his orientation to his parents, and although he feels support from his family, classmates, and teachers at school, he feels confusing in the first weeks.
After a while, Simon has an honest conversation with his mother and father, reconciles with his best friend, receives support from teachers, and decides to find Blue again. Simon publishes a post on the school website in which he confirms that he is gay, sincerely admits his feelings to Blue, and asks him to come to the carnival if he feels the same. A support group of friends is gathered around the Ferris wheel while Simon is waiting for his anonymous friend, and after a long wait, his classmate Bram sits next to him, thereby revealing to the public and Simon himself.
The main message of this story is that people should accept their own sexuality as there are no right or wrong feelings, and everyone deserves love. In the example of Simon, the viewer can see that although the guy is afraid to admit to other people his sexual orientation, he is not trying to change or correct himself. In this fact, the controversy of his condition is manifested. As Lee notes, “The daily deception, the constructed behaviors, the niggling fear of exposure – there are nifty, poignant insights into how terrifying an already terrifying time can be…” The fact that he indulges the desires of Martin demonstrates his indecision and unwillingness to open his identity to other people since he is afraid that his recognition may change everything.
Nevertheless, many of Simon’s phrases and actions, especially with Blue, demonstrate that he admits to himself his sexuality and is not afraid to accept it. Simon does not try to pretend that he likes girls; he shouts to his sister that he does not want to deny his orientation after the publication of the post (Berlanti). The boy understands that there is nothing wrong or shameful in his way of feeling. However, he cares about the opinions of other people and does not want something to change in their relationship. As Fedorov notes, “The movie’s messages are about acceptance, inclusion, remaining true to yourself, and treating others with care and kindness” (34). Blue makes Simon’s path of confession especially tricky, since he does not want to reveal even to Simon, so Simon does not want to open to Blue or others. The whole film, Simon is on the verge of confessing, but Blue’s doubts push and delay him from this move at the same time.
For this reason, Simon’s forced coming-out is not as painful for him as it could be. The guy is angry that he was deprived of the right to choose, and he is afraid of the reaction of his classmates; however, he knows that there is nothing wrong with his sexuality, and he is not scared to admit it. This feeling of acceptance, and perhaps even pride, soften the shock and stress that Simon is experiencing. If his friends were not offended by him because his tricks with Martin and Blue did not stop their communication, the guy might not have worried at all. The very confession was not too painful for Simon, although, for him, the reaction of the others was important. Simon always understood that he, like other LGBTQ + representatives or any other person, deserves love, and therefore it was easier for him to recover.
Moreover, the support that Simon received throughout his life and in the most challenging period is also a factor that helps him to accept his sexuality. The guy grows up in a tolerant society and knows that all people are equal, and no one has the right to make fun of their choice or desires. From the very beginning, Simon says that he does not understand why it is so difficult for him to confess to his loving and liberal family, or friends who are with him always and everywhere (Berlanti). He knows that his classmates will react normally, and all this combination of factors reduces his fear. The famous writer Aaron Hartzler, in his review of the film Love, Simon, also talks about his childhood, which shaped his concern of “wrong” sexuality and slightly envies Simon who had parental support and the Internet.
Furthermore, Simon was lucky that in addition to his family and friends, his school is loyal and does not condemn his sexuality. The acting teacher rudely but fairly screamed at two homophobic teenagers who are trying to insult Simon, and the director punishes them and gives a lecture on tolerance (Berlanti). In addition, Simon realizes that he is not alone with his problems by having a conversation with his classmate Ethan, who told about his sexual orientation several years ago. Therefore, comprehensive understanding and support help Simon avoid the enormous stress, depression, and mental problems that many teens and adults face when society condemns them because of their sexual orientation.
Another message is that each person can express his or her sexuality differently. The directors send this message through an ironic demonstration of stereotypes and their refutation. For example, Felix emphasizes a scene in which Simon dreams that after entering college, he will wear bright clothes, put Whitney Houston posters on the walls, and wave a rainbow flag. However, Felix continues that Simon knows that he is not this kind of gay; he is not a stereotype. At the same time, the viewer sees the image of Ethan, who looks more typical in his style of dressing and talking and, therefore, does not surprise his friends when he confesses his orientation. The viewer can also note a small brooch in the form of a rainbow flag on Bram’s costume, who at that moment still hides his orientation and, maybe in this way, he wants to express his feelings covertly (Cook). However, the scriptwriters do not make fun of guys’ behavior, and they show it for granted because any manifestation of sexuality is normal.
Conclusion
Therefore, the film Love, Simon shows how a coming-out could be ideal with positive and negative examples. The tolerance of others helps people accept their sexuality and not feel like an outcast, and this feeling, in turn, helps them to avoid severe stress and depression. At the same time, any person is free in his or her displays of emotions, clothing, behavior, preferences, and sympathies, so no one has the right to impose any stereotypes and especially stigma on others. For this reason, in the film Love, Simon, the viewer can see the world that could exist without bias and inequality, and that honesty and love can make it much better.
References
Berlanti, Greg, director. Love, Simon. Twentieth Century Fox, 2018.
Cook, Jenna. “‘Love, Simon’ Offers a Powerful Message.” The Echo, 2018.
Fedorov, Alexander. “Film ‘Love, Simon’ (2018) as a Gay Manifesto in Cinema on School Theme.” Media Education, vol. 58, no.3, 2018, pp. 32-38.
Felix, Doreen St. “The Chaste Optimism of ‘Love, Simon.‘” The New Yorker, 2018.
Hartzler, Aaron. “News & Views: What ‘Love, Simon’ Says to Gay Teens – and Why That Message Matters.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 2018.
Lee, Benjamin. “Love, Simon Review – Coming-out Comedy Is a Landmark Teen Classic.” The Guardian, 2018.