The theme of Freedom in Moonlight is used to elaborate on the kind of life Chiron led; one where he could not live in the manner that he desired. According to Michael Kimmel, there is a certain code of masculinity expected to be exhibited by all guys. The aphorism established by the author about the guy code is based on the assumption that a man is never to be seen as a weakling. It embraces the behavioral traits and attitudes that define what it means for someone to be a real man. A similar perspective is visible to the viewer when Chiron decides to wear a mask that is meant to protect him from the world. Further still, he is presented as a vulnerable individual. The mask is represented as an attempt use by Chiron to erase himself. Also, this is seen as a way of building up a firmament to show the world what he wants to be seen about him.
The mask is based on the idea of Chiron protecting himself from being judged by the world for being part of the Lesbian gay bisexual, transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community. By the time he resolved to adorn this mask, he had already undergone a lot of suffering in the course of his childhood, by being demeaned and insulted, which made him view himself as a lesser being. It is generally assumed that boys get their masculinity by replicating the behaviors portrayed by their fathers, yet Chiron did not have a male figure to look up to. His mother was the only person in his life yet she often criticized him and belittled him, since all she cared about was satisfying her illustrious desire for cocaine.
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The mask of masculinity adopted by Chiron does not shield him entirely from the insecurities that he is facing in the course of the film. It only offers him a false sense of security. He creates a version of himself where he is unworthy of the love being projected to other characters. At one point he gets to accept love but ends up facing betrayal which is really hurting to him. It later occurs to him that the new mask he has put on is a form of confinement. This is due to the fact that it does not offer him a lasting satisfaction since he is not in a position to reveal his true character.
Finally, unlike Chiron, Kevin appears to be more at peace with his sexuality. This is despite the fact that in the betrayal, he acts in a similar way to the other characters and begins to perform a version of hyper-masculinity rather than be open about who he really is. In the third story, nevertheless, Kevin arrives at a point where he accepts himself as he is. He even encourages Chiron to appreciate the person he has become; an indication that Kevin was more in control of his identity compared to Chiron.
