Sometimes simple is best and that’s certainly true of Overcoming Adversities as a Gay Teen: One Generation at a Time, which features interviews with ten gay men aged 15-82, about their life experiences and how they came out. The 87-minute film is definitely worth watching, looking at both how the gay experience has changed over time and also how similar it can be.
Interestingly this feature-length project isn’t from a professional filmmaker, but was put together by a high school senior, Devon Yaffe, who was the task of creating a research project based on a topic of interest.
He decided to look at overcoming adversities as a gay teen, which led to the film above. Yaffe says, “I felt so strongly about my project that there was no turning back, and that deep down I knew this was going to be something life changing. During the process of this project my world had been changed, as my eyes were opened to a community in which I regretfully wasn’t active. Now, after learning so much about this incredible world, I feel I would love to be involved with the community and possibly become a gay rights activist. I am proud of my project and feel that I did, in fact, do it justice. I explored unknown territory for many gay teens. I hope that gay youth all over can see what I have created and be inspired to add their voice to the community.”
It’s well worth watching what is an insightful and interesting documentary that you’d never guess was made by someone who’s yet to leave high school.
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