So, here's the thing about the movie I Am Michael. If you haven't seen it, you've probably at least heard the elevator pitch: James Franco plays a gay activist who suddenly "turns" straight and becomes a Christian pastor. It sounds like the kind of plot designed specifically to set the internet on fire.
The film dropped back in 2015, but it still manages to spark some pretty heated debates whenever it pops up on a streaming service or in a film theory class. Honestly, it’s a weirdly quiet, internal movie for such a loud subject.
The Story Behind I Am Michael James Franco
Basically, the whole thing is based on a real guy named Michael Glatze. In the 90s and early 2000s, Glatze was a big deal in the LGBTQ+ community. He co-founded Young Gay America magazine. He was an editor at XY. He was the guy telling queer youth that they were perfect exactly as they were.
Then, everything shifted.
Following a massive health scare—he thought he had the same heart condition that killed his father—Glatze fell into a spiral of existential dread. He started looking for answers in places he previously mocked. He dabbled in Mormonism. He looked at Buddhism. Eventually, he landed on a very conservative brand of Christianity.
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He didn't just join a church; he publicly renounced his "homosexual lifestyle." He left his longtime boyfriend, Bennett (played by Zachary Quinto in the movie), and eventually married a woman named Rebekah (Emma Roberts).
Why James Franco Was the Choice (And Why It’s Still Complicated)
James Franco has always been a bit of a "gay-for-indie-pay" actor, as some critics affectionately (or not so affectionately) put it. He spent a good chunk of his career exploring queer identity in films like Milk, Howl, and Interior. Leather Bar. When he took on the role of Michael Glatze, he brought this specific kind of intense, almost academic curiosity to it.
The movie doesn't actually treat Glatze like a villain. It also doesn't treat him like a hero. That’s what messes people up.
- The Nuance: Director Justin Kelly (who had Gus Van Sant as an executive producer) refused to make a "propaganda" film for either side.
- The Performance: Franco plays Michael as a man who is constantly searching for a box to fit into. When the "activist" box feels too small or too scary, he finds a new one.
- The Visuals: You’ll notice in the film that as Michael moves toward his "conversion," the lighting gets colder. The vibrant San Francisco colors fade into the drab, flat tones of rural Wyoming.
Is It a "Conversion Therapy" Movie?
Not exactly. If you're looking for a film that advocates for ex-gay therapy, this isn't it. But if you’re looking for a film that condemns it, you might be disappointed too.
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The movie is more of a character study about fear. Michael Glatze was terrified of dying. He was terrified of being "wrong." The film suggests that his transition wasn't necessarily about a miraculous change in his biology, but a psychological survival tactic.
One of the most telling scenes involves a phone call between Franco’s Michael and Quinto’s Bennett. You see the cost of the change. You see the people left in the wake of Michael's "self-discovery." It’s heartbreaking.
What Really Happened After the Credits?
Life is usually messier than the movies. In real life, Glatze became the pastor of a small Presbyterian church in Wyoming, though he eventually broke ties with that denomination when they started moving toward more inclusive stances on marriage.
Interestingly, there have been reports and Reddit threads over the years claiming Glatze eventually distanced himself from the "ex-gay" movement or changed his name. However, according to the most reliable sources, including his own past statements, he remains committed to his faith and his marriage.
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Whether he’s truly "changed" or just living in a very committed state of suppression is the question the movie leaves you with.
Why You Should (or Shouldn't) Watch It
If you want a movie with a clear moral at the end, I Am Michael will frustrate you. It’s a movie that sits in the gray area.
- Watch it for the acting. Franco and Quinto are genuinely great together. The chemistry at the beginning of the film makes the eventual breakup feel like a physical blow.
- Watch it for the history. It captures a very specific moment in the mid-2000s when the "ex-gay" narrative was at its peak in the media.
- Don't watch it if you want a happy ending. There isn't one.
The film serves as a reminder that identity isn't always a straight line. Sometimes it’s a circle, and sometimes it’s a dead end.
If you're interested in digging deeper into the actual history of this case, you should track down the original New York Times Magazine article by Benoit Denizet-Lewis titled "My Ex-Gay Friend." It provides a lot of the "why" that a 100-minute movie sometimes has to gloss over. You can also look into the 2017 documentary Michael Lost and Found, which catches up with the real people involved. Regardless of how you feel about Glatze's choices, the story remains one of the most unique—and polarizing—portraits of identity ever put to film.