GLSEN and 20th Century Fox Film Announce Love, Simon Partnership

Media Contacts:

Joanna Cifredo Media Relations Manager joanna.cifredo@glsen.org  646-388-6575

Tomie Shaw 20th Century Fox Publicity Coordinator Tomie.Shaw@fox.com 310-369-2543

GLSEN and 20th Century Fox Film Announce Love, Simon Partnership to Support Inclusive Schools for All

New York, NY (February 27, 2018) – GLSEN, the leading education organization working to create safe and inclusive K-12 schools for LGBTQ youth, and 20th Century Fox Film announced today a new partnership in support of LGBTQ youth with the upcoming feature film Love, Simon. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Riverdale) and starring Nick Robinson (Jurassic World) Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), Jennifer Garner (13 Going On 30), Josh Duhamel (Transformers), and Tony Hale (Veep) Love, Simon is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.

“Not only have Greg Berlanti and Fox 2000 brought us a moving story about self-discovery, falling in love, and community, but with this partnership, they’re helping students and educators use this story to ensure every student can be themselves,” said Eliza Byard, GLSEN Executive Director. “Even with the recent visibility on marriage equality and the need to protect trans youth, it’s still rare for LGBTQ youth to see themselves reflected in a Hollywood feature film. Much less, a love story. Thank you, Greg and Fox, for sharing this story with the world, and for supporting inclusive schools for all.”

“When I first read Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker’s script for Love, Simon, I knew I had to make this movie,” said Greg Berlanti, Director of Love, Simon. “I identified with Simon’s character, and I hoped we could make a movie that millions of LGBTQ youth could identify with, too. I’m thrilled to know that this partnership with GLSEN will ensure Love, Simon is a resource for creating safe and inclusive schools where every student can live fully and authentically.”

Set in a suburban high school, Simon Spier’s (Nick Robinson) journey towards embracing his identity includes dealing with the fear of rejection from friends and family, and bullying and harassment from classmates at school -- issues too many LGBTQ youth have come to experience.

Through this partnership, GLSEN and 20th Century Fox Film are creating two resources for educators and students to utilize in discussing themes of identity, coming out, and harassment. The Love, Simon Educator Lesson Plan and Love, Simon Student Discussion Guide will be distributed nationally and available for free download for use in classrooms, student clubs, and youth groups.

“With Prom season approaching, now is an opportune time for educators and school administrators to have thoughtful conversations on how we can come together to create schools that are truly inclusive of all our youth,” said Ikaika Regidor, GLSEN Director of Education and Youth Programs. “We hear from many students who are told they can’t attend prom with their same gender date. And transgender youth, who are too often told they couldn’t participate in prom or school as their authentic selves. Love, Simon is one of many LGBTQ stories that need to be told, now more than ever, and we hope educators will use these resources to ensure both classrooms and dances are welcoming for all.”

GLSEN and Fox’s Love, Simon partnership provides educators and students with the resources to facilitate necessary conversations about the need for respect, acceptance, and support for LGBTQ youth. The Love, Simon Educators Guide and Love, Simon Student Discussion Guide will both be distributed in March to thousands of educators and students, and available for free download from www.glsen.org.

Love, Simon is rated PG-13 and will be in theaters nationwide March 16. Love, Simon is written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us) and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Other cast members include Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Miles Heizer, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Logan Miller.

 

About GLSEN

GLSEN works to create safe and inclusive schools for all. We envision a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or expression. Each year, GLSEN programs and resources reach millions of students and educators in K-12 schools across the United States, and our network of 39 community-led chapters in 26 states brings GLSEN’s expertise to local communities. GLSEN's progress and impact have won support for inclusive schools at all levels of education in the United States and sparked an international movement to ensure equality for LGBTQ students and respect for all in schools. For more information on GLSEN’s policy advocacy, student leadership initiatives, public education, research, and educator training programs, please visit www.glsen.org.

About Twentieth Century Fox Film

One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of 20th Century Fox Film: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Twentieth Century Fox Family.