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|| Entertainment News ||

May 20, 2008

Sigourney to Play Mom in Prayers for Bobby

Oscar-nominated actor Sigourney Weaver has signed on to star in a movie about a devout Christian woman who questions her faith after her gay son commits suicide. Prayers for Bobby, a Lifetime Original Movie, is being adapted from Leroy Aarons's 1995 nonfiction book of the same name, the network announced on Monday.

When Mary Griffith finds that her son Bobby is gay, she becomes convinced that he could be cured of what she sees as his sin, while the rest of their family comes to terms with his sexual orientation. Desperate for his mother's approval, Bobby steps up his prayers and church activities, while becoming increasingly depressed because of his Presbyterian Church's disapproval of homosexuality. Eventually Bobby commits suicide, prompting Mary to reflect on her son's life and accept his orientation.

The film is slated to premiere in February 2009 on Lifetime. (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: CommonSense
Date posted: 2009-01-28 11:25 PM
Hometown: Arizona

Comment:

That's right, Steven, that's right. And I pray that God awakens wisdom in the mother that wrote about her little child; the one who said that she doesn't care whether her kid falls in love with a man or woman when she grows up. This is part, but not all, of the reason for this Sodom era. I feel so sorry for the children that are raised with these kinds of parents. There is nothing natural about two men or two women being together and if it was natural, babies would be the result. We need to help and love those into respecting themselves. We all have crosses to bear and for those who believe some are born that way need to learn to live with that cross and not act upon it through the strength and love of Jesus Christ.

Name: CommonSense
Date posted: 2009-01-28 11:23 PM
Hometown: Arizona

Comment:

Name: heather Gaedt
Date posted: 2009-01-26 2:03 AM
Hometown: Chatham NJ

Comment:

I began reading the comments I felt compelled 2 share my own. first that I am a 32 yr old heterosexual mother. I am appauled that in 2009 closed minds still exist over sexual orientation.What gives us the rite 2 say what is or isn't sinful about who we fall in love with? It's having a type or preference like any other-blondes or brunettes, brown eyes or blue, man or woman. My daughter is only 9 now but 4 her- I wish only happiness when shes older & falls in love, I want it 2 b first & foremost with a caring, respectful, trusting individual- someone worthy of her heart, male or female. We finally have an African American president. Can't the biggots accept that the times have changed & whether ur gay or straight should b the least of any of our concerns these days- who cares??? If ur happy & fulfilled then GOD BLESS! It's not a moral or religious issue- it's a human one!! it's the prejudice individuals with the real problems, they're who I worry about!

Name: derek phillips
Date posted: 2009-01-25 5:12 AM
Hometown: concord, ca

Comment:

Homosexuality is not a "lifestyle." It is not a sickness. It is not a sin. It is innate, built in at conception. It is as normal and natural and right as one's eye color or hair color or skin color. I don't know any reputable psychologist or social scientist who thinks hmosexuality is anything other than an inherent characteristic. It is not sinful. Sin is teaching people to hate other people for who they are. Sin is being intolerant and bigoted towards people just because they are different from you. Stop trying to use the Bible to justify your bigotry. The Bible is a flawed, archaic book written by flawed, archaic people. God gave you a brain - use it. Open your mind and see the truth - homosexuality is godly and right. Love between two men or two women, including sexual love, is godly and right. Peace and love to all people.

Name: Blanch
Date posted: 2009-01-14 4:14 PM
Hometown: Oakland

Comment:

Buddy, you dont have to be a scientist to understand human emotions. Open your eyes. When I was a kid my personal instinct attracted me to the opposite sex. There were at that time, and still are today of course other people, that at that very same middle school age felt the same non-sexual attraction, but to the same sex. Its a no-brainer. Why would anyone feel the need to cure or change something that is natural and harmless. They are very generally speaking the least threatening people in our society! All of the destructive people out there are, well lets face it, straight men...rapists, pedophiles, murderers. But good god, a man falling in love with another man - thats just horrific! A woman being in love with another woman is usually ok - because you men get off on it...if you ask me - that is sick, selfish & twisted. What are you people so afraid of?? Oh, yes - fear is what the bible teaches. Thats a very spiriual emotion isn't it?

Name: Aaron Esparza
Date posted: 2009-01-11 2:56 PM
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Comment:

Gays are people and people should be accepted for who they are. I came out to my paresnt about 4 months ago and they do not accept it for anything.i guess my story is very similar to Bobbys, but Bobby succeded and i didnt but sometimes i wish i did. Parents need to know that what they say and think about their children can be death threatning. Also if a child come out to them please dont make them seem like sick, gross, disturbing, evil people with diseases. Be accepting and helpful if you act the way my parents and Bobbys mother did youll walk into your childs room one day with them dead on the floor, with a note telling you how much they hated you and how much they wanted you dead. Gays are people and people should live to be who they are its not a choice its just how they are.

Name: Kelsea Kline
Date posted: 2009-01-08 7:11 AM
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Comment:

I cant wait to see this movie, My friends and I are going to seek 'Milk' this weekend and we have to go to a more "gay friendly" city about 40-50 miles away because none of our theatres have it here. It just goes to show. One of my best friends is going through this with his parents and I know it is hard for him, but he knows he isn't wrong, neither am I. I luckily have the support of both my parents and the rest of my family, I wish everyone was as lucky as I am. So stories like Bobby's and my friend's never happened. It is disgusting and wrong. My love goes out to Bobby's friends and family. I hope the world takes a turn for the better soon. So our children do not have to struggle like we do now.

Name: Lisa Ibarra
Date posted: 2009-01-07 8:29 PM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:

I have 1 15 Year old daughter who "came out" to me and her father about a year ago. Although, I had known since she was 13, I never questioned her. I felt she would let us know when she was ready. I hugged her and told her straight out, you are my daughter now and forever. I will accept you for who you are no matter what. We discussed her questions about the religious aspect of her sexuality. We are catholic. I told her that being gay was not about religion beliefs, politics, financial status etc... It was about the way God made her. That her being gay was about the way she was suppose to be. Period. Finally, not to let anyone ever make her feel unaccepted. She will always be accepted by everyone who should matter to her.

Name: Jeff
Date posted: 2009-01-02 10:02 PM
Hometown: Mesa

Comment:

People need to stop attacking religious intolerance. Religion, more often than not, is tolerant of gays. We just don't accept that lifestyle. Non-acceptance is different than intolerance. Gays want to be accepted and when they see a religion not accepting their lifestyle they label that religion as "intolerant", but they are wrong. Those who try to banish religion and call it evil are the ones who are being intolerant. Maybe those who are religious understand something you don't and not the other way around. The religious attacks are getting old and aren't the solution to the problem. There is more good in religion than there is bad.

Name: Dustin Anderson
Date posted: 2008-12-27 7:06 AM
Hometown: Nashville, TN

Comment:

Although Bobby felt weak when he took his life, the mistakes and self-hatred that created this story turned him into one of my heroes. I went through a lot of what he did growing up. In 1998,I went into a bookstore where I found "Prayers for Bobby." It was like meeting a friend who went through the same things as I did. His death seemed like a senseless end to a trivial quibble about a subject that no one knows anything about-only speculation. The book helped me end a cycle that almost ended my life. I'd all but forgotten about the book when I moved to Portland in 2001. One night, I walked across the bridge that he had jumped from. Suddenly I noticed the street sign on the other side. I looked down at the traffic through the wire that now rose above the bridge railing and remembered his story. After that, anytime someone came to me because a relative had come out, and they didn't know how to deal with it, I bought them "Prayers for Bobby." It shows them what they are capable of.

Name: Justin
Date posted: 2008-12-27 12:57 AM
Hometown: kihei Hawaii

Comment:

I was a friend of Bobby and I remember we had to pick him up down the road so his mom wouldn't see us sneaking off to the midnight show of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the El Rel theater in Walnut Creek.. Seeing the announcement of this movie brought back alot of fun memories and some very sad ones as well. Its so nice to know that Bobby is still relevent and alive in this way. Dora died a couple years ago and Tim is just too much better than the rest of the gang to stay in touch ;0) . But we are all still joined by Bobby and his story. Thanks Bobby. And to Mary, I always carried around harsh feelings about you and christianity because of what Bobby went through.I hope that what you've done since Bobby's death will open some eyes and minds and build a bridge between Gays and Christians. I miss Bobby. I forgive you Mary. Justin ( Nagy) Acasio

Name: Jason Dubans
Date posted: 2008-12-26 11:47 AM
Hometown: Stockton, New Jersey

Comment:

Since the theme of this movie seems to be of impotance to many in this day & age, I hope that such movies, books, etc. will serve to call for support of scientific and medical research of this issue. To date there is no real medical or scientific evidence, which indicates whether or not homosexuality is a choice or not, or whether or not homosexuality can effecitvely be cured. We simply do not know at this point. People on both sides of the argument claim to have evidence supporting their views. But as a scientist, I am not seeing it. "IT AIN'T THERE!" Ergo, since the issue appears to be of importance, let's get some answers instead of continuing to debate this in a vacuum. Ask congress to fund unbiased, scientific research in an attempt to determine once and for all wherher or not homosexuality is a choice, a mental illness, and whether or not it can be cured.

Name: Aaron
Date posted: 2008-12-26 3:33 AM
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale

Comment:

Just because there are some people that don't understand the struggle of homosexual temptation does not mean that religion is bad and full of hypocrites. The temptation is not the sin. Acting on the temptation is. We all have struggles and trials in this life and that is how we spiritually progress. Feeling like a reject because of homosexual temptation is not happiness. Acting out a gay lifestyle is not happiness either. Two men are trying to fill the same void and it doesn't work. We may not know the reason we have this temptation now but one day we will and we will feel grateful for what we've learned. God loves us but He also has commandments because of that love. There is help for this. I know.

Name: Amy
Date posted: 2008-12-12 10:21 AM
Hometown: Marietta, OH

Comment:

These "the gay guy dies" movies are still being written because in real life, it really is happening. It's a true story. I, along with a majority of others live in a religious belt of hipocrits and it's enough to drive someone over the edge. And I feel that these types of movies need to continue in order to see the destruction it's causing to innocent people who want nothing more than respect and acknowledgement as a human being. We're not monsters and we're not freaks. Bobby's story is continuing, and his mother has realized that just being a part of that "religious belt" is what beat her son down. Her story must be told, so that other parents of homosexual children can hopefully see that in order to "save" their children isn't necessarily a religious term... they may have to "save" their children from a much deeper darkness from which there is no remedy...suicide. The religious sactions are full of hate and unacceptance, and they lead this world in it.

Name: Noelle Raiford
Date posted: 2008-09-24 12:07 AM
Hometown: Statesboro, GA

Comment:

So much has changed, and it is due to the sacrifices of people like Bobby, the sufferings of people like Mary, who learned by losing. But I am so, so sad that 25 years after his death, the religious right is still demonizing 10% of the population. I'm glad this movie is being made, because not enough people know the story of Bobby. The cover-up of the suicide rates of gay teens by the republican party and the religious right has kept the general public in the dark about this problem. Can't we all just love each other? Love does not mean you "agree;" it only means you "respect" the other as a human being. I wish my own father could see that. But unlike some, I made it through that darkest time of rejection from him and found God loves me unconditionally, even if my father cannot.

Name: Mary Griffith
Date posted: 2008-05-31 6:45 PM
Hometown: Walnut Creek CA.

Comment:

Name Mary G Hometown Walnut Creek CA. I hope Ron from Clifton, NJ watches this film because , he will see, the "bad guy dosen't die" " the good guy dies" that being , my son Bobby.... the bad guys/women who pushed him over the edge still live , I am one of them.I'm thankful I was able to overcome my fear of a man made God of wrath and vengeance , giving me the freedom to search for the truth without the fear of receiving retribution from the wrathful God of "Mans" imagination, and the imagination of the homophobes as well, "Truth and Justice will always prevail over ignorance and bigotry" god of "Mans

Name: Sean
Date posted: 2008-05-31 12:22 AM
Hometown: Warren

Comment:

Religion is not about compromise, it’s about faith, unwavering in devotion and love. This choice is the true life preference. Maybe the only one we are granted in this life. The choice between embracing something you do or don’t want to be and/or embracing something higher can be the choice the drives you mad. I’ve read Prayers for Bobby and can identify with the story. I’ve had suicidal thoughts and desires because of my sexuality. The gay community declares it miss-interpretation, The Christians declares sin. Then the games begin. Battle of words while the people trapped between both worlds are slowly crushed. This inner struggle can not be dismissed or ignored for us who feel this burden. It is our constant companion. It is an uncompromising struggle for sanity. Happiness Vs Salvation, Sanity Vs Religious devotion, and Acceptance Vs Eternal Damnation. Maybe this is the gay cancer.

Name: Anne
Date posted: 2008-05-30 3:16 PM
Hometown: Lafayette

Comment:

Hopefully this movie will allow people to relate to a regular family of the suburbs. And all the religous folk will see that they are not the only ones spinging thier wheels trying to service a god whom the bible portrays as a cruel and hateful who picks and chooses who he cures or saves? That is not love. The right wing will be their own demise - And perhaps kids, people in general won't waste thier time and energy trying to cure themselves or be someone they are not. Human rights - amen. These movies need to be out there until the majority gets a clue...and hopefully provoke people to think for themselves, be accepting and loving to all fellow humans, thus - a movie about gays with a happy ending will be one day soon be born.

Name: Johnny Green
Date posted: 2008-05-21 5:26 PM
Hometown: Dallas, Tx

Comment:

Lifetime produces a lot of good movies with very good everyday lessons. Some bigoted people still won't accept us but just maybe someone who is struggling with themselves or a parent that is struggling with their child's gayness will realize that this is something real. I think if we could just change, most of us would because of the discrimination that is thrown at us. I would say that if some parents would go back and think about a child's or a relative's suicide they could find some signs that this person was struggling with being gay. When you accept yourself and accept God's unconditional love, it will set you free to be whom God created you. I wish it would be a happy ending but until hypocritical christians change there will be a lot of unhappy endings.

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