"Love, Simon" is a teen romance about a gay high school student coming out and finding love.

Before teenage rom-com "Love, Simon" hit the big screens, high school student Simon Spier was the center of the novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda."

Set in Atlanta, both the film and the novel follow Simon as he struggles to be open about his sexual identity. 

"I'm just like you, except I have one huge ass secret," Simon says in the film. "Nobody knows I'm gay."

There have been films about coming of age and films about coming out, but "Love, Simon" is the first mainstream, major studio production to center around a gay teenager. 

We spoke with "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" author Becky Albertalli, who is from Atlanta. Her alma mater, Riverwood International Charter School, served as inspiration for Simon's fictional Creekwood High School. We were also joined by "Love, Simon" actor Clark Moore, who plays Ethan in the film. He, too, is from Atlanta. Host Adam Ragusea talks with "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" author Becky Albertalli and "Love, Simon" actor Clark Moore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0cbWdlQg_8

The film is based on Becky Albertalli's

The film is based on Becky Albertalli's "Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda."

Tags: gay teenager  Becky Albertalli  romcom  Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda  Love Simon