Emily Danforth’s 2012 novel The Miseducation of Cameron Post is getting a timely film adaptation. The coming-of-age story is set in 1993 Montana and follows a girl forced into a gay conversion therapy center after her ultra-conservative aunt catches her with another girl.
It’s been announced that Chloë Grace Moretz will play Cameron, the lead, and American Honey‘s Sasha Lane will play her friend at the conversion clinic. The cast also includes John Gallagher Jr., Forrest Goodluck, and Jennifer Ehle. Directing is Appropriate Behavior‘s Desiree Akhavan and Ashley Connor will be the cinematographer.
This is, of course, especially relevant as soon-to-be VP Mike Pence has advocated for conversion therapy—a practice that attempts to change individuals from gay to straight. Not only is it scientifically proven to be wildly ineffective, it’s incredibly dangerous and has led to depression, homelessness, and suicide in LGBTQIA youth. Danforth’s novel was influenced by the story of Zach Stark, a 16-year-old boy who was sent to a “de-gaying” camp in 2005.
Hopefully, the film adaptation will draw more public attention to the dangerous effects of conversion centers that translates to legal action. Currently, only a handful of states in the U.S. have banned this practice.
(Image via The Late Late Show)
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