Arnold Beckoff (Benji Schulman) is wearing women’s makeup and clothes by age six, and his mother finds this out. The older Arnold (Harvey Fierstein) both loves and hates his mom (Anne Bancroft), and the feeling is mutual. Arnold has a relationship with Ed (Brian Kerwin), who dumps him and marries a lady instead because he wants to stay in the closet. Arnold also loves Alan (Matthew Broderick), who is a model; and later, Arnold adopts a boy named David (Eddie Castrodad). Arnold must try to make amends with his mom even though she does not approve of his being gay.