Exclusive: Chloe Grace Moretz is making a docuseries to expose gay conversion therapy
Chloe Moretz talks to PinkNews about ‘Cameron Post’ (PinkNews)
You first saw Chloe Grace Moretz on screens as a foul-mouthed 11-year-old killer in Kick-Ass. But now aged 21, the actor is tackling more serious fare, such as gay conversion therapy.
Moretz’s new film, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, tackles the practice of reversing—or ‘curing’—homosexuality within faith-based communities. Gay conversion therapy, though dismissed by medical experts, continues to be prevalent in darker corners of society.
In Cameron Post, Moretz plays the titular teenage character, who is sent to God’s Promise, a Christian conversion camp, after being caught having sex with another girl.
“Growing up in a conservative southern baptist community, ‘praying the gay away,’ as they would say, was something we were very aware of in our community—didn’t believe in, but were aware of,” Moretz tells PinkNews.
“Doing research for this film, I was unaware of the modernity of the issue of gay conversion in America. It’s a silent epidemic that, now more than ever, especially under our administration, is growing in traction.”
Moretz says her experience of filming the moving teen drama has led her to activism. Together with her family, she wants to put an end to gay conversion.
“[This movie] started something within me—I cared so much about the cause of overturning conversion therapy in America that I have my own docuseries that I just sold to a major company,” Moretz tells PinkNews. “My mother, my brother and I are going to be going into these camps in America and exposing the realities [of gay conversion therapy].”
Cameron Post is directed by Desiree Akhavan, a queer filmmaker, and marks one of two films tackling gay conversion therapy this year. But there’s a difference between the two.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (Vertigo Releasing)
Akhavan’s film is a small budget labour of love. The other movie, Boy Erased, has major film studio backing, is directed by and stars Oscar-nominated actor/director Joel Edgerton, and features the likes of Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Troye Sivan and Lucas Hedges.
Says Moretz: “I wouldn’t have made this film with anyone other than Desi. Her perspective is one that deserves to be told, and seen, in this movie. All queer stories should be told—the more queer stories, the better.”
While countries across the globe are taking a stance on gay conversion therapy, the issue of transgender rights has become one of the most divisive in the LGBT+ community, and indeed the world.
As a staunch LGBT+ supporter, Moretz says she fully stands with the trans community.
“Trans issues are human issues. It’s a human rights issue. I believe in equality for all human life. I think what’s going on against the trans community is really devastating and incredibly dark,” the actor tells PinkNews.
“The way they are being ostracised is different to other layers in the community. We all need to stand together, because trans lives matter. We all need to stand together in unison, because they can’t take us down if we all do that.”
The Miseducation of Cameron Post is released in the UK on September 7
