An Act of Love

A Personal Story About LGBTQ Rights and Religion

Reverend Frank Schaefer was put on trial in the United Methodist Church for officiating his son's same-sex wedding. Several years into Frank's ministry at a small church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, his eldest son, Tim, began to quietly struggle with his sexual orientation. Amidst fear of rejection from his Church and his family, Tim became withdrawn and teetered on the verge of suicide.

Tim moved to Boston for college where he met his future husband. After college, they were married in a private service in Massachusetts, where Frank officiated. The Schaefers knew that having Frank officiate Tim's wedding was a risk to his career, but they figured since it was a private family affair that it wouldn't ruffle any feathers. They were wrong.

This compelling documentary chronicles the Schaefer family's struggle and the movement for LGBTQ equality in the nation's second largest protestant denomination.

2nd Place Award Winner for the Audience Award - Valley of the Docs at the Mill Valley Film Festival.