NCIS star Pauley Perrette has joined the documentary film An Act of Love as Executive Producer. An Act of Love follows the story of Rev. Frank Schaefer, who was stripped of his credentials as a minister in the United Methodist Church in December of 2013. He was convicted in a church trial for officiating the wedding of his son to another man.
Pauley Perrette is a producer, director, in her eleventh season playing Abby on NCIS and proud member of the United Methodist Church. She has lent a strong and persistent voice as a straight ally for the LGBT community and has worked tirelessly for local, federal and international LGBT equality. Last year, Perrette was a part of GLAAD's "Coming Out for Equality" campaign and appeared in a PSA calling for others to come out about being an ally to the LGBT community.
The story of Rev. Frank is one that I think needs to be told," said Perrette. "To anyone in the LGBT community, the most important thing is that no one convinces them they don’t have a right to God and a right to God’s love.”
Schaefer’s story attracted international media attention. He appeared on The View, CNN, MSNBC, CBS Evening News, and countless regional news outlets. With the spotlight on him, Schaefer went from being a small-town minister to an outspoken LGBT activist with a national platform.
When film director Scott Sheppard heard Schaefer’s story, he immediately reached out to him about making a documentary. Sheppard (himself the son of a Methodist minister) says, “When I heard Pastor Frank’s story, I connected with it in such a deep way that I knew I had to make a film about it.”
Sheppard is joined by producer Kate S. Logan, who recently won the Audience Award for best feature documentary at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival, for her film Kidnapped For Christ, which follows the harrowing story of American teenagers sent to a so-called reform camp in the Dominican Republic.
The film project is currently in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign. Please help support this important film. And follow An Act of Love on Facebook and Twitter.