(2009, 91 min)
Country: U.S.
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Studio: Lifetime Network
SYNOPSIS: Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Sigourney Weaver stars in this emotional true story about a 1970s religious suburban housewife and mother who struggles to accept her young son Bobby being gay. What happens to Bobby is tragic and causes Mary to question her faith; ultimately this mom changes her views in ways that she never could have imagined. Also starring Ryan Kelly ("John From Cincinnati"), Susan Ruttan ("LA Law"), Dan Butler ("Frasier") and Henry Czerny ("The Tudors"). Based on the book “Prayers for Bobby” by Leroy Aarons
REVIEW:
"I can't ever let anyone find out that I'm not straight. It would be so humiliating. My friends would hate me. They might even want to beat me up. And my family? I've overheard them. They've said they hate gays, and even God hates gays, too. Gays are bad, and God sends bad boys to hell. It really scares me when they are talking about me."
From Bobby Griffith's diary.
Bobby Griffith was an all-American boy. He was a nice, hardworking suburban boy. He was also gay. His family and his religion told him he was a bad person. Through Bobby' journal and his mother's reminiscences and Leroy Aaron's insight we relive the emotional torment that led Bobby to commit suicide. Prayers for Bobby is the story of a mother who made the transition from praying that her son change to a national crusader for gay and lesbian youth. Mary Griffith's brutal honesty and her ability to accept responsibility for her part in her son's death is truly inspiring. The message here is clear:
Don't let this happen to another child.
