March 2, 2019

Community members are invited to a screening and panel discussion of “Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution” from 2 to 5 p.m. March 31 at MCC-Longview Metropolitan Community College’s Education Center, 500 SW Longview Road, Lee’s Summit.

Young people as well as their parents and other interested adults are encouraged to participate in the event, presented by Lee’s Summit CARES in cooperation with Launch as a component of the organization’s Positive Parenting program.

The impactful Netflix documentary is about coming of age in today’s young adult hookup culture. After watching the documentary, the audience will participate in a panel discussion featuring Benjamin Nolot, the film’s director, and Donna Freitas, author and a national expert featured in the documentary.

Following the journey of college students on spring break, the film offers shocking insights into attitudes and behaviors regarding the normalization of sexual violation and the struggle against conceptions of gender and sexuality shaped by the media.

“Liberated” is rated TV-MA. While it does not contain nudity, it offers a raw depiction of society’s hypersexualized hookup culture. The film could be triggering for individuals who have experienced or been exposed to sexual assault. Due to the mature content of the documentary, attendees 16 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information about the event and to register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/netflixs-liberated-the-new-sexual-revolution-longview-screening-tickets-55292665852. Select this link to view the film’s trailer.

The two panelists are attending the Lee’s Summit event. They will discuss the film and hookup culture and will answer questions from the audience. Benjamin Nolot is a film producer, director and writer and also directed the 2011 feature film, “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls.” Donna Freitas is the author of fiction and nonfiction books and a writer for national publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Her books include “Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance and Religion on America’s College Campuses,” based on her national study about sex on campus, and “The Happiness Effect: How Social Media is Driving a Generation to Appear Perfect at Any Cost,” based on her research of social media and its impact on identity and relationships.

Lee’s Summit CARES is a community coalition dedicated to preventing youth substance use and violence, promoting exemplary character and positive parenting. Launch, a nonprofit partner of Lee’s Summit CARES, is dedicated to empowering, equipping and preparing recent high-school graduates. Launch’s mission is to reduce the suffering of young adults, specifically as it relates to sexual violence and the prevailing culture dictating dating and relationships.

For more information about Lee’s Summit CARES, visit http://www.lscares.org/. You may also follow Lee’s Summit CARES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.