In his search for heaven, Mean Girls star Daniel Franzese went to hell and back.
Franzese is openly religious to this day, notably as a co-host of the LGBTQ+ Christian podcast Yass Jesus!.
However, the actor has recently shared the harrowing conversion therapy experience that tested his faith in a new interview with Page Six.
Related: Daniel Franzese says he was fired this week for being gay, shares receipts
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Even with gay-accepting parents, a pair of gay uncles, and lesbian relatives, Franzese’s felt his faith and the homophobic society of his adolescence required him to undergo conversion into heterosexuality at age 21.
“I went to one-on-one therapy sessions with a person who was trying to change me straight and make me pray the gay away and alienate all my allies,” he explains.
“They told me to tell my mom that my mom was the reason that I was leaning toward bisexual thoughts or whatever because she was so open. They made me come out to my mom, who was literally like my best ally, and say, ‘It’s your fault.’”
The actor said that he and his mother didn’t speak for two months afterwards.
It wasn’t until months later that he would come to accept his sexuality and leave the conversion sessions.
“I was scared, and [my therapist] was like, ‘What are you afraid of?’ I was like, ‘I’m afraid I’m gonna go to hell,’” Franzese recounts.
“He was like, ‘You could be [s–king a d–k], and the second coming of Christ could happen, and you’re not gonna go to hell if you love God. That’s not what it is.’”
Related: NJ conversion therapy “experts” lose big in court to tune of $3.5 million
Even after leaving conversion therapy and playing the iconically gay character Damian in Mean Girls in 2004, Franzese didn’t become comfortable coming out to public until receiving a heartfelt message from a gay fan a decade later.
Thankfully, we all know this story has had a happy ending. He just walked the Queer as Folk red carpet, he had a booth at this year’s DragCon — Franzese is as out and proud as anyone.
And as far as his relationship with his mom goes, the two have reconciled completely! In fact, the actor is bringing a character based on his beloved mother to the stage later this Summer in his new play, Italian Mom Loves You.
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It may have taken some time, but Franzese has come to marry his religion, his sexuality, and his sense of self in perfect harmony.
In anticipation of his upcoming comedy show, check out the hilarious video that first brought the iconic “Italian Mom” character to life:
abfab
I’m so glad that you included the hysterical Shit Italian Mothers Say video. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve played it and passed it along to others. DON’T EAT THAT THAT’S FOR THURSDAY!!
Thad
That looks like it’s worth a trip to Waterbury.
I’m from Delaware County, PA, home of hilarious Aunt Mary Pat, who seems somehow related.
BEARY FLINTSTONE
Aunt Mary Pat is FUNNY! Philly loves her!
barryaksarben
I hope him all the best but I just wish I had a supportive family. Proves we all take a different path
Mario
I would never submit to conversion therapy as I’m happy with myself. However, if an adult wants to voluntarily enter conversion therapy because he or she is unhappy being gay, then that’s his or her decision. Who am I to judge?
Bosch
If you are actually gay, then you should be fully aware that there is no such thing as sexual conversion.
Den
Said like the dull, heterosexual cow we all know you are. You must get hard being humiliated by your intellectual superiors.
There is no empirical evidence to support conversion therapy. If you know what Google is, Google dictionary, figure out how to use one and then look up empirical, you twit!
Mr. Stadnick
Who are you to judge? You are constantly judging and posting hate.
Mario
I guess Franzese isn’t a proud Italian American.
Promoting anti-Italian stereotypes is pretty awful.
The “Italian mother” he portrays is really a white-trash version of how anti-Italian bigots think an Italian mother behaves and speaks.
Most Italian Americans are smart and well-educated, and do NOT act or sound this way.
Franzese must have spent his youth idolizing the trash on “Jersey Shore.”
Sad!
Bosch
Funny how you see a loving charicature as “anti-italian”. If it’s the liberals who are supposedly offended by everything, then why are you such a fragile little snowflake?
Ps – I LOVE how you’ve adopted trump’s “Sad!” catchphrase! It’s soooo delightfully trashy.
Kangol2
Are you now claiming to be Italian American? From where? Let’s see what tale you come up with. Franzese, who is Italian American, is engaging in comedic caricature. Comedians of all backgrounds do it about the groups they belong to. Also, have you ever spent any time on Staten Island? Or in New Jersey, Rhode Island, or other places where there are working-class Italian Americans? I’m curious to hear your response.
Mr. Stadnick
You need to get a life and maybe do something positive rather posting generally nasty comments.