FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Contact: Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Communications Director
cvasquez@nclrights.org / (415) 365-1337
The video seeks to spread awareness about the harmful practice of conversion therapy
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – BOBBY’S BIG PROBLEM, produced by Born Perfect and Enfranchisement, was released today digitally, featuring a celebrity cast, including Patton Oswalt, D’Arcy Carden, Jasika Nicole, and RB Butcher.
Click here to watch the video. Click here for stills from the video.
The video tells the story of Bobby, played by RB Butcher, who recounts his conversion therapy experience to his friend Renee, played by Jasika Nicole. Patton Oswalt plays the therapist, and D’arcy Carden plays Bobby’s mom. Using puppets, the film satirizes a conversion therapy session to highlight its absurdity and provide a glimpse into this dangerous practice.
Every leading medical and mental health organization in the country has warned that conversion therapy for minors is dangerous and ineffective. Research shows that 63% of LGBTQ youth who are sent to conversion therapy have attempted suicide.
Mathew Shurka, Born Perfect co-founder, said, “We are proud of the work we’ve accomplished so far with 20 states passing conversion therapy bans for minors. Increasingly, conversion therapists are marketing this abusive practice online. This video is about exposing those efforts and telling the truth about conversion therapy. We made this video as a public education tool to help raise public awareness about the absurdity of conversion therapy and to help LGBTQ young people and their families recognize this fraudulent so-called ‘therapy’ when they see it.”
The film is written and directed by Carly Usdin, whose past work includes the award-winning feature film Suicide Kale: “I’m so grateful Born Perfect trusted me with this project and with helping to expose the truth of what happens behind closed doors when LGBTQ youth are subjected to this atrocious practice.”
The film was produced by Rudy Jansen.
RB Butcher, who plays Bobby, said, “This project is incredibly important to me, to reach people who are looking for help to care for and understand their queer child or relative or friend, but maybe don’t know where or how to look and get taken advantage of in their lack of tools. It’s also important to show that conversion therapy can be subtly traumatic, not obviously evil.”
Jasika Nicole, who plays Renee, said, “Working with other queer creatives to tell queer stories that don’t get much attention is one of the most powerful things I get to do as an actor. It’s an opportunity for our community to claim our narratives and define ourselves.”
D’Arcy Carden, who plays Bobby’s mom, said, “I was honored to lend my voice to help put a spotlight on the dangers of conversion therapy.”
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ABOUT BORN PERFECT
Born Perfect is a survivor-led campaign created by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) in 2014 to end conversion therapy by passing laws across the country that protect LGBTQ children and young people, fighting in courtrooms to ensure their safety, and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by these dangerous practices. Since its founding, Born Perfect has passed laws banning conversion therapy in 20 states and more than 100 localities, successfully defended these laws against five federal court challenges, and represented conversion therapy survivors in consumer fraud cases.
ABOUT ENFRANCHISEMENT
Enfranchisement is a creative agency and strategy production company founded by Brad Jenkins, the former Executive Producer and Managing Director of Funny Or Die and former Obama White House Director, known for the Emmy-Award winning Between Two Ferns with President Obama and Zach Galifianakis. Enfranchisement produces social impact films, campaigns, and live specials with the leading civil rights and anti-hate organizations in the country. Enfranchisement is proud to support Born Perfect in this critical campaign to protect the safety and well-being of LGBTQ youth.
