SF State News {University Communications}

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Family Acceptance Project film screens at festival

June 11, 2010 -- "Always My Son," a short documentary film produced by the Family Acceptance Project, has earned a screening at Frameline34 -- The San Francisco International Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Film Festival.

A photo from the film showing a father having his hair cut by his gay son.

In "Always My Son" a self-described "macho Mexican" becomes a supporter of his gay son."

The film is the first of seven in a series focusing on how diverse families integrate their deeply held values with the healthy acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender children. The series reflects the Family Acceptance Project's (FAP) research that shows the impact of a family's reaction to their children's LGBT identity on the children's health, mental health and well-being. The film is intended for use by community groups and counselors across the country.

"Always My Son" tells the story of a self-described "macho Mexican" who co-founds his town's first LGBT youth support group after his son comes out as gay.

"This film presents a real life story that can offer hope to LGBT youth and families and help decrease the isolation that so many families of these youth experience," said FAP Director Caitlin Ryan. "Our intent is to show the family journey from struggle to support, while humanizing the lives of ethnically and religiously diverse young people and families."  

"Always My Son" was directed by Vivien Kleiman, a Peabody Award-winning filmmaker whose work is noted for its cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. It will be screened at the Victoria Theatre in San Francisco with the longer documentary "8: The Mormon Proposition" on June 18 at 7 p.m.  It will receive a second screening on Sunday June 20 at the Roxie Theater as part of the festival's "Generations: Youth and Elders Making Movies" segment. For more information, visit the festival website.

Based at SF State, the Family Acceptance Project is a community research, intervention and education initiative that studies the impact of family acceptance and rejection on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

-- Denize Springer

 

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