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"I'm Scott Bailey, and I'm here to recruit you."
Borrowing a popular line from gay icon Harvey Milk, one of the stars of Lifetime's Prayers for Bobby greeted nearly 200 people last night at the Georgetown home of Dixon Osburn & Jeremy Hodder in Washington, D.C. Bailey, who portrays Bobby's first boyfriend in the film, was the headline guest at PFLAG National's official celebration of the film's premiere, and energized a standing-room-only crowd (at two receptions on the same evening) with his thoughts on the movie, the book and the power of PFLAG.
"Are any of you a little disappointed in the success of Proposition 8 in California?," Bailey asked. "Did any of you have some difficulty coming out to your own family?"
"Then do I have the film for you."
Prayers, Bailey told the crowd, is the film he is "most proud of," adding that the movie had been in the works for many years and "when I finally got a call about it, the producers told me I was a little old to play Bobby now, but did I want to come to Detroit and film for four weeks with Sigourney and play the perfect boyfriend?"
"I said 'Let me think about that . . . ummmm, yeah!'"
"I got to play the perfect, supportive, loving boyfriend," he said, adding that he hopes - and expects - star Sigourney Weaver to pull in an Emmy nod for her role as PFLAG mom Mary Griffith. And PFLAG, Bailey told those in the room, has been a tremendous resource for families like the Griffiths.
"I'm so thankful for groups like PFLAG," Bailey concluded before taking questions from the crowd. "There are many other Bobby's out there, and they are looking for a place to go, like PFLAG, to be safe and find the support they need."
And all of us at PFLAG are grateful for the support of Scott and others who joined us to toast the film and help raise funds for PFLAG's work.
('Prayers for Bobby' airs again tonight - Sunday - at 8pm ET on Lifetime. Read Scott's thoughts on the film in his earlier PFLAG blog entry . . . and check out 'Metro Weekly' and 'The Washington Blade,' later this week, for more photos from Saturday's evening.)
On Saturday evening, PFLAG supporters are invited to join students at the Columbia Theological Seminary for a screening of Lifetime's Prayers for Bobby. Students, led by Laura Jones, will hold a viewing at 9pm in the Richards Center.For directions to the Center, click here. And a campus map is available online here. For more information, or to RSVP, please email Laura ahead of the event.
Columbia Theological Seminal Seminary is a Presbyterian-PCUSA school with an active Imago Dei group dedicated to gays being honored and recognized in the Church.
Actor Scott Bailey (pictured), who will join PFLAG in Washington on Saturday to celebrate the premiere of 'Prayers for Bobby,' penned this guest blog post about the story, his experience making the film, and the importance of 'Prayers.'
Yes, “PRAYERS FOR BOBBY†will air on LIFETIME starting Jan 24th but the title is more than just clever wordplay: it is my heartfelt truth! It feels like a miracle that such a timely and meaningful film has come to fruition and I am beyond honored to have been a part of it.
FROM REAL LIFE STORY TO BOOK TO FILM:
Prayers for Bobby is based upon the true story and critically acclaimed book by Leroy Aarons about a young gay man, Bobby (played by a heartbreaking Ryan Kelley), who because of his religious beliefs and family pressure, sets out to cure himself of being gay. The attempted cure tragically ends with his suicide which instigates questioning by his mother, Mary Griffith (played powerfully by Sigourney Weaver), of her blind-faith regarding homosexuality. She eventually becomes a gay rights activist and attempts to break this cycle of needless tragedy by telling her story. Mr. Aarons read bout Mary’s heartbreak in an article in his local paper, contacted her and she shared with him Bobby’s journals which chronicled his struggle. From that moment on, Mr. Aarons knew he had to write this story.
Twelve years ago, a young gay man who had recently ‘come out’ to his own family came across this book at a bookstore in West Hollywood. This man was so moved by the story that he enlisted his producing partner in the journey to make it a movie for all to see. For eleven years they doggedly pursued the development of the movie at multiple studios and networks all the while handing out copies of the book to anyone interested. I received a copy after having luckily run into these men in the frozen yogurt aisle in Ralph's grocery store. I wept like a baby while reading it and have since become a friends with and a huge fan of CHRIS TAAFFE and DANIEL SLADEK, the passionate executive producers of this film, great guys, and two of the most remarkable human beings I have ever met!!
Last April , the movie was green lit at Lifetime and Sigourney Weaver was set to star as Mary Griffith. I was lucky enough to audition for and eventually get to play the role of David, Bobby’s loving boyfriend who represents hope in the embodiment of a young gay man with supportive parents who is at peace with homosexuality. In June, I flew out to Detroit for 3 weeks to play the most meaningful role in my career, act with amazing actors such as Sigourney and Ryan, play my first gay character and for the first time in my life: kiss another guy!
AN IMPORTANT FILM!
I will never forget the energy and emotion on the set while filming Prayers for Bobby. The poignancy and importance of this story fueled a reverence and passion amongst producers, actors and crew alike which resulted in the most visceral movie-making I have ever experienced! Many people involved had experienced similar hardships ‘coming out’ and all were united in wanting to open hearts and minds toward an understanding of homosexuality.
It was admittedly a learning experience even for me, an actor, living in Hollywood, with many close gay friends. I learned that the suicide rate is 4 TIMES higher amongst gay teens than straight teens. I also learned that homosexuality is definitely not a “choice†or “preference†or even something that can be taught yet it is widely feared and viewed askance! Hopefully, films like this can reveal the ongoing discrimination for what it is, show examples of how life can be, and by doing so provide a beacon of hope to homosexuals and their families.
A PRESCIENT FILM!
This past November we elected the first African American President of the United States of America. In that same election, California passed Proposition 8 which basically repeals the right of homosexual marriage. In the 60’s the interracial parents of our new President Barack Obama were not legally allowed to marry, segregation was rampant, and the 14th amendment of the U.S constitution, in particular the guarantee to equal protection under the law, was denied to African American citizens. This same14th amendment is being denied to our homosexual citizens today and I feel it is an extremely prescient time to stand up and express my disapproval. I am reminded that “All it takes for evil to flourish is for enough good me to do nothingâ€! As an actor, I am doing what I can by portraying characters like David and promoting films such as “Prayers for Bobby†which have the power to educate, enlighten and save lives.
WHO AM I?
I am Scott Bailey, proud American, actor, writer, artist, engineer and the kind of guy who strives to stand up for what is right and to be a part of the solution instead of part of the problem. I try to live by the principle my grandfather, Bill J. Bailey, instilled in me: “Always leave a place better off than when you arrived.†I am a descendent of John Alden who came over on the Mayflower and I can only imagine the kind of courage it took to risk life and family in the pursuit of the freedom we now enjoy. I am also a huge admirer of our founding fathers who risked their own power, wealth, and lives to stand up against a tyrannical government.
Growing up I had few examples of homosexuality: Liberace, Robin Williams in “The Birdcageâ€, Seinfeld's oft repeated stance “not that there is anything wrong with that..â€, and the occasional “that's gay!†comment. I don’t even remember knowing any gay people until I moved to Los Angeles. I do, however, remember the first time I heard the comment “that's so gay!†when I was with a gay friend. I remember it because I felt a sense of injustice and later embarrassment for not saying anything. Thereafter I decided that I would never “not say anything†again!! Today, I know enough gay people to know that there is no difference, they are as “normal†as anyone else and simply have a different sexuality.
I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS FILM AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.
“I am Scott Bailey and I am here to recruit you!! “You may recognize that line from Harvey Milk, the first openly gay publicly elected official in the U.S. who recruited people to stand up for their own rights. He then proceeded to lead by example. I’d like to recruit you to watch this film and similarly stand up for what you think is right.
As a straight white guy I think it is right and important for me to stand up for the minority, don’t you? I hope I’d have stood up to give my seat to Rosa Parks, don’t you? I hope if I’d been a founding father I would have risked my life to create a better future, don’t you? I hope if I’d been around during WWII that I would’ve volunteered to fight for freedom, don’t you? In this day and age I am proud to see an African American President, not merely because he is black but because he was the best man for the job, aren’t you? I am also very disappointed that anyone in this great country is discriminated against, aren’t you? I therefore think it is a moral imperative that movies like Prayers for Bobby are made and seen! DON’T YOU?!
- Scott Bailey
In support of legislation to be introduced, hundreds of people marched from downtown Salt Lake to Capitol Hill. The bills are aimed to add rights and protections for Utah’s LBGT community. Watch the video here. Video Courtesy of KSL.com
It must be thought provoking because Focus on the Family warned conservative Christians not to watch it, since after all they are a group that discourages independent thought. Read the rd the rest of this post and much more by Jim and Brenda Johnson at Straight, Not Narrow - Advocating for LGBT equality in the body of Christ [...]
Republicans are getting ready to pick their poison elect the next chair of their party, with six candidates vying to head the Republican National Committee. And for a party that’s recently been talking about increasing their reputation when it comes to inclusion, their next leader is set to continue a platform of anti-LGBT rights. Six [...]
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