Consenting Adult

I saw this movie back in 1985 when it premiered on television. Marlo Thomas plays Tess Lynd a mother whose son announces that he is gay. Tess' husband is not accepting of the son and a battle ensues. Tess is torn between the love of her son and her husband. Marlo Thomas gives a great performance!! I was a bit shocked though, parts of this film are pretty risque for the time and television! I can remember vividly how the viewer almost was part of the sexual activity the son was having, but it was done tastefully. I recommend this film!

I saw this film when it came out on TV. I was thoroughly impressed with the way this subject was handled. Marlo should be very proud of her work. I was 26 when I saw this and think this is a film all young people should see when considering coming out to their parents.

A young man (Barry Tubb) comes out to his parents. The father (Martin Sheen) immediately rejects him, while his mother (Marlo Thomas) tries to accept him and get her husband to also.

Way ahead of its time (for TV). The man is allowed to have a handsome young lover and even has sex (not shown) without being punished! The acting is all good and the subject matter is handled extremely well.

The only bad part was how the parents (over)reacted. They acted like he had committed murder or something! Thomas' overreaction actually had me smirking a little. Also it's quite interesting to see Sheen playing a homophobe--in real life he's very accepting of gays. In fact he played one in an early 1970s TV movie ("That Certain Summer")which I've never seen.

Anyways this is a little dated (AIDS isn't mentioned) but still very worthwhile...especially for gay kids planning to come out.

Also Tubb is REALLY cute!!!!!

Well, I was dealing with these very same issues, at the time that I saw this television show, in 1985. I actually taped the show, well of course, as Marlo Thomas was one of my favorite actors. This story, dealt with the very topical subjects of coming out to your parents, friends and family during a very scary period of time, when AIDS was devastating our community. Though somewhat superficial, due to the subject matter, and the fact that this was a broadcast television show, it had special meaning to anyone dealing with all of the conflicting emotions related to coming to terms with your own homosexuality during a very conservative time. A time whose conservatism, unfortunately, is being mirrored in 2005, nearly 20 years later.

I believe this show should be made available for all to see as it treats the subject with some honesty and tenderness.

I've just transferred the show from my old and deteriorating video tape to DVD and hope it will last another 20 years. Gosh, I can't believe how far we've come in 20 years, and yet how far we have yet to go.

this movie is atrue example of a boy how had to come to realize he is gay and does not know how to deal with it. as we all have gone through this back in those days it was difficult for the whole family. but this movie gives us an insite of one parent coming to deal with the boys situation and the other who cannot.i saw this movie on TV here in Australia quite a few years ago and i still admire it and the wat it dealt with this situation. i give it 5 stars because when it was shown people in general could not deal with the fact their son or daughter were gay. still thought it was a disease or mental problem. i know i went through this and just left home and moved to a place where i was not know and eventually my family came to deal with it and all is OK now thanks charles ps. i am 70 years old now