Mary Griffith, a conservative Christian who came to champion LGBTQ equality after the death of her gay son in 1983, died last Friday at her home in California. Her journey inspired a book and the award-winning movie based on it, Prayers for Bobby.
Photo: Lifetime / Ben Mark Holzberg
When Griffith first found out that her son Bobby was gay, she feared for his soul and prayed for him to be “healed,” sending him to a Presbyterian church that continued the messages of intolerance. Bobby died by suicide at age 20. After his death, his mother began to question the church’s teachings and reached out to a PFLAG group. Eventually, she became a champion for LGBTQ youth.
The book Prayers for Bobby: A Mother’s Coming to Terms with the Suicide of Her Gay Son
Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National, said in a statement, “The PFLAG family is deeply saddened by the loss of Mary Griffith, who led by heroic example on changing hearts and minds by sharing her personal story. After the devastating loss of her son to suicide, Mary found PFLAG and learned that one can love both their child and their faith and not have to choose between them. Mary used this personal journey to help countless other parents, so that they would not have to face the same loss that she did.”
At a time when many still see incompatibility between faith and LGBTQ equality, her message is needed more than ever. May her legacy carry on.
PFLAG National has set up a special page to accept donations in memory of Mary Griffith.