Prayers for Bobby

Prayers for Bobby

Year: 2009

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Russell Mulcahy

DramaTV MovieHistoryFaith and religionEmotional and touching family dramas

She adores every aspect of her son, yet cannot accept who he truly is. Bobby Griffith was the all‑American boy raised amid religious traditions in Walnut Creek, California. Though admired, he is gay and wrestles with an inner conflict hidden from everyone. Eventually he gathers the courage to reveal his sexuality to his family.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Prayers for Bobby (2009)

Trace every key event in Prayers for Bobby (2009) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Birthday party tension and Bobby's journal begins

On the day of his grandmother's birthday party in Walnut Creek, Bobby is uncomfortable as his family makes homophobic jokes. His sister gifts their grandmother a journal but is rebuked, and Bobby starts writing in it to vent his anxiety and depression. The scene foreshadows the conflict between his private life and public expectations.

late 1970s Walnut Creek, California
2

Bobby wrestles with dating and faith

Bobby is uncomfortable kissing his girlfriend and ends the relationship; he enters a local gay bar but leaves flustered. Across the street, he notices the Metropolitan Community Church and later tells Mary that he had been at church, signaling his search for acceptance. The moment marks a turning point between desire, religion, and belonging.

late 1970s Walnut Creek, California
3

Ed learns Bobby's truth and tells Mary

After Bobby's aspirin overdose, Ed finds him and Bobby confides that he is gay, begging him not to tell Mary. Ed decides to tell Mary anyway, hoping to protect him but unaware of the emotional cost. This disclosure strains the family’s dynamics and faith-based expectations.

shortly after the attempt Walnut Creek, California
4

Conversion therapy and misguided cures

Mary and Robert take Bobby to a conversion therapist who blames inadequate parenting and prescribes prayer and church activity as cures. The therapist also urges Mary to bond more with Bobby and to push for a ‘cure’ through faith. The session deepens Bobby's sense of isolation and mistrust toward his family.

early 1980s Therapy center, Walnut Creek
5

Camping trip and the writer's dream

During a camping trip with Ed and Robert, Bobby declares his dream of becoming a writer, which his father dismisses as unrealistic. He agrees to go along with his parents' plan for acceptance, but the pressure of expectations strains him further. The moment highlights the clash between parental ideology and personal aspiration.

early 1980s Camping trip (location unspecified)
6

Family shifts but faith remains intact

Over time, Bobby's father and siblings become less uncomfortable with his sexuality, while Mary clings to the belief that he can be cured through faith. The family’s outward acceptance contrasts with Mary's ongoing struggle to reconcile belief and Bobby's reality. The home remains emotionally tense as old beliefs collide with new truths.

early to mid-1980s Walnut Creek, California
7

Summer in Portland and a new romance

In the summer in Portland, Bobby stays with his accepting cousin Jeanette, who introduces him to David at a gay bar. The two begin dating, and Bobby experiences a sense of belonging he hasn’t felt before. The relationship offers him a temporary refuge from the family’s conflict.

summer Portland, Oregon
8

David's warning and distant optimism

David tells Bobby that his own parents eventually accepted his sexuality, giving Bobby hope for his own future. The couple grows closer, yet David’s distance in the following weeks threatens Bobby’s fragile happiness. The warning foreshadows the fragility of chosen families.

summer Portland, Oregon
9

High school dropout and relocation

Bobby drops out of high school and moves to Portland to be with David, seeking a fresh start. David’s growing distance and the weight of Bobby's depression intensify his sense of alienation. The move marks a turning point toward isolation rather than reconciliation.

late summer / fall Portland, Oregon
10

Despair culminates in tragedy

After seeing David leave the gay bar with another man, Bobby descends into deep despair and becomes suicidal. He free-falls off a bridge onto a highway, where an oncoming truck kills him instantly. The tragedy devastates his family and shatters their fragile beliefs.

late 1980s (following summer) Portland, Oregon area
11

Funeral tensions and public disrespect

At Bobby's funeral, the priest leading the eulogy disrespects him for his sexuality, and Jeanette publicly denounces Mary's stance. The event exposes the harm caused by prejudice and the pain of parental judgment in the wake of loss.

the day after the funeral Walnut Creek / local church
12

Journal revelation and awakening faith

Mary discovers Bobby's journal and begins to read the emotions he kept hidden. She becomes despondent and questions her church's interpretation of scripture, seeking guidance from the MCC reverend and attending a PFLAG meeting. The process marks the start of her transformation.

months after the funeral Home; Metropolitan Community Church; PFLAG meeting
13

Public reckoning with beliefs

Having confronted her role in Bobby's death, Mary delivers a candid speech at a local city council meeting condemning religious homophobia. She admits her earlier bigotry and urges people to consider the impact of their words on children. The measure she supports is rejected, but the message endures.

months after the funeral City council, Walnut Creek
14

A pledge to fight for gay rights

The family travels to San Francisco with fellow PFLAG members to walk in the Pride parade. Mary sees a young man who reminds her of Bobby and embraces him, recommitting to the fight for gay rights. The experience seals her new resolve to advocate for acceptance.

after the city council speech San Francisco, California

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:43

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Prayers for Bobby Summary

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Prayers for Bobby Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Prayers for Bobby

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