It's really difficult to grow up in today’s world of high technology, absent parents, limited jobs, and exponential information growth. It's even harder if you're queer. From the moment that you start questioning your sexuality you're battling your conscience and questioning if it's really true. You wonder and worry about coming out, fearing that you'll loose your friends and possibly even your parents, You're afraid of being bullied or even beaten up. You also question the lifestyle you would be entering and the stereotypical image that the media portrays of queer youth. You are fighting a war between what your heart, hormones and possibly even physical characteristics are telling you and what many members of society find acceptable. You are fighting to be yourself.

On the completion of it’s last short called “I’m Not Gay”, a number of organizations asked if Dream Weaver would consider producing a movie to try to help closeted youth better understand the community and just what it means to come out. Now, over five years later, “Queer” is being released as a full-length high definition narrative feature on the life of a closeted young man. Director Kerry Chalmers, in his feature debut, worked with a team of dedicated and creative youth crafting this unique and informative approach to exposing closeted and newly out individuals to the trials and passions of taking their first steps into the queer community. Dedicated to Jamie Hubley, a young man who took his own life, after continually being bullied in his search for acceptance, it is hoped that Queer will not only entertain but also educate along the way, thus making the transition both easier and safer for others.

Aiden, the focus of our story finds himself trapped in a nightmare world full of homophobic bullies, people who want to cure him, and a teacher who seems determined to make his life miserable. With only Emma his best friend for support, he is forced to come face-to-face with his “deviant” sexual ways. The question is, will he survive the roller-coaster ride of desire and despair in the unforgiving world around him.

Confronted by Justine, a trans youth, Aiden’s eyes are opened to the diversity of individuals under the rainbow umbrella. She teaches him that it’s not important where you fit into the GLBTTQ lifestyle, but more that you feel positive about yourself and your sexuality. Comfortable with her own lifestyle, she helps Aiden start to evolve his.

Summoning up all of his courage, Aiden next explores the world of a queer youth group. It’s there that he meets Danny, the charismatic gay youth who is soon to become the target of his attentions and his shoulder to cry on. Danny is open, comfortable and passionate about the GLBTTQ cause and even more important, he’s available, having recently dumped his boyfriend for cheating on him.

Just when it seems that Aiden’s lust for love is about to be filled, his world collapses into a physical, verbal and digital barrage of abuse. Francis the typical homophobic bully, who takes every opportunity to pick on the little guy, the outcast and any student who even has the slightest feature that might suggest he is queer, has Aiden in his sites.

One foot into the community and his world crumbling around him, only time will tell if his lust for a same-sex partner will be fulfilled, or if his fate will be far more terminal.

Synopsis

It's always nice to have a story with a happy ending. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out that way. There are far too many gay youth who give up on trying to be themselves.

Canadian, Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are at a higher risk of attempting suicide (28% vs. 4% of heterosexual youth) [McCreary 2008]

We hope that things have improved since those statistics were published but every year a number of gay youth still commit suicide. Queer was written not just to tell a story, but to try to help inform closeted youth about what to consider when they are thinking of coming put; what resources are available; and what the lifestyle is like once they do come out. It can't give all of the answers but hopefully it will help make the transitions more positive for some.

We very much appreciate Jamie Hubley's parents giving us permission to dedicate Queer to Jamie's memory. He, unfortunately, was a young man who didn't survive the stresses of trying to be himself as an out gay youth.