Film: Prayers for Bobby

Mary Griffith was devout Christian and mother, raising her children in the conservative teaching of her Church in the 1980’s in a small California town. Mary son “Bobby” confides to his older brother that there was something wrong with him and he thinks he is gay, many changes happen after that with the Griffith family. Bobby family accepted that he was gay, except for his mother who believed that being a homosexual is a sin and that God could cure him. Mary tried to change Bobby by taking him to a psychiatrist, religious studies, placing bible quotes around the house, spending more time with his dad and sets him up on a date. Bobby tries everything his mother offer, it just caused more withdraw and he goes into a deep depression. Bobby moves away to Portland Oregon with his cousin, hoping one day that his mother would learn to accept him being gay. He eventually meets a guy at a bar and starts a relationship with him. Bobby kept thinking of his mother’s words and then sees his boyfriend with another man and it just pushes Bobby to the edge. Bobby eventually takes his own life (jumping off an overpass into oncoming traffic and was killed instantly). Bobby’s family received the news of his death; Mary becomes anguished over her own son’s death. She begins to go through Bobby stuff and finds his diary and sees that her son was troubled by the fact he was fighting for his mother and Gods love. Mary couldn’t reconcile her feeling of guilt over Bobby’s death. Mary reaches out to the gay community as a source for information, inspiration and consolation. She eventually goes on a long journey, becomes an advocate for the gay and lesbian community. An eventually is invited to address Congress of the United States, and becomes a force for the fight for human rights. The film “Prayers for Bobby” is very informative and uplifting. Based on a