Mary Griffith (October 13, 1934 – February 7, 2020) was an American LGBT rights activist whose son, Bobby, died by suicide due to her religious intolerance.
"[2] After his coming out, Mary sent him to counselling at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, and would put bible verses around the house in an attempt to stop sinning.
[2] Bobby attempted suicide by overdosing on aspirin, and dropped out of Las Lomas High School two months before his graduation.
Following a trip back to Walnut Creek, which Mary described Bobby as having "given up," he returned to Portland and threw himself off an over-pass, dying when his body made contact with the highway and an 18-wheel truck.
[8] In 2019, Griffith wrote an article for The Advocate criticising the use of conversion therapy and asking religious conservatives to reconsider their position on homosexuality.
[9] Griffith's story was adapted into a book written by Leroy F. Aarons and published by HarperCollins in 1995, titled Prayers for Bobby: A Mother's Coming to Terms with the Suicide of Her Gay Son.