WATCH: Elliott London Explores Growing Up Queer In The South In “Friend”

Meet Joseph, a real-life gay kid in rural Tennessee, talking about the abuse he’s endured and his battle with suicidal thoughts. (Let’s all get together and give Joseph a really big hug.)

This interview comes by way of Elliott London, who traveled the country interviewing LGBT people. Now he’s raising money to make Friend, a feature influenced by Joseph and Sara, another young queer person he met.

The [film] follows the life of two seniors in high school, Brad and Alejandro. Their lives are ones we can relate to; Brad, a straight A student, active with the school’s football team, the definition of your typical all-American male teenager. Alejandro, a good student, artistic, stays clear of petty school politics; a definable hipster finding his place in the world.

The two meet as juniors, and the sparks rapidly see the two teens to becoming a couple. Everything about the relationship follows its natural course, until Brad begins to face the suppressed doubts about his gender identity.

The film takes a journey of self-discovery, bullying, and acceptance.

If you’d like to make Friend a reality, pop over to London’s Indiegogo page.