Same Sex America (2006) - full transcript

(Child)
First I'm going to church.

And then, I'm going to--
I'm going to the wedding.

And then,
I don't know what else.

Give US some beefcake!

(Man)
Come on!

(Woman)
Are you wearing that?

You bitches know we all
would've gotten over there

and someone would have said,
"where are the rings?"

"Where are the rings?
Corey, did you bring the rings?"

Don't take it
all off.

Well, I don't think
you need it.



You know I don't like you
with lipstick, darling.

Well, some of US
are butch dykes

and some
of US aren't.

(Woman)
Make sure that we have
your medical certificates.

This is what you do
in emergencies

when the moths eat
your clothes.

Look Mary, our fingers,
they're empty.

(Mary)
Our bare fingers.

We're gonna have
another ring.

Yeah, you shouldn't
wear these.

I feel like I'm doing a Broadway
play or something, you know?

In front of all these people.

But they're all my
really good friends.

And I'm telling
myself that.



It's the band that
goes with mine now.

How do they function
with--

[chuckles]

[Cellist plays
here comes the bride]

Very important.

I love marriage.

You know,
god said that we are--

if we do all that he says,
we will be his bride in heaven.

And I want to be that bride.

I want to be
that glorious person.

I want that so badly.

I think there is--

marybeth isn't here yet.

She had two she was bringing.

And I'm also expecting--

'cause I can't wait forever,
we gotta get going.

Who's the other one?
Judy.

Man was made to deposit
the seed of life.

And woman was made to
receive--that seed.

And out of which comes the fruit
of their love, a baby.

A human being.

And that's the way
god said to, you know,

to multiply everybody
on the earth, you know?

And so that's what I believe
so much in that--

to stand up for the first time.

[Laughing]

From the days
of Adam and Eve

and throughout all
salvation history

marriage has been the union

the sacred union of only
one man and one woman.

I've been afraid...

Of people's anger.

Now I cannot not stand up
for what I believe.

And I don't have hate.

I saw a television program
where a lesbian was saying

"oh, how they hate US!"

I don't hate them.

We're all children of god.

I just want to do it the way
god does it.

If you have not been involved
in politics before

you have to be involved now.

God is calling on US,

and I don't care if people
don't like god.

God is calling on US
at this time of crisis

to stand up
and be counted.

(Reporter)
In about a half an hour,
a constitutional convention is

set to convene in Massachusetts
to consider a ban

on gay marriage,
among other issues.

(Reporter #2)
Boston police tell me
they are prepared to

shut down the streets around
the state capital if necessary

anticipating thousands
of demonstrators out here

both for and against
gay marriage.

It's a civil rights issue!

(Reporter #3)
President bush is planning to
endorse an amendment

to the u.S. Constitution that
would also define marriage

as the union of
a man and a woman.

(Man)
Was civil rights
taken away

when we took
away slavery?

Did slavery take
away civil rights?

He's saying
"let the bigots vote."

That says a lot about them
not about US.

Amen! Amen! Amen!

[Crowd chanting]

May god bless
all of you.

God bless all of you.

(Byron rushing)
We have, in Massachusetts
right now,

marriage open to everyone
regardless of gender.

That happened in November.
That is right now!

[Crowd roars]

The goal for US is to persuade
all the legislators

in this building
not to turn back the clock!

Not to turn back
the clock!

(Man)
They did not
change the rule.

It's about marriage,

what marriage is.

If you open
the door to this

you have to allow
for incest.

You have to allow
for polygamy.

You have to allow
for anybody,

to marry anybody
they want.

--And vote yes
for this amendment.

Keeping marriage between
one man and one woman.

(Elaine)
I have a brother who is
homosexual.

So, I don't have any hate.

I have all love for
god's children

to have the best we can--
he can give US.

You know, growing up you dream
about getting married.

You do, I think it's every
child's dream.

You know?

And it's like--

(cameraman)
Thinking about
a wedding and...

Yeah! You think about
the wedding.

And all the people gathering
together and, you know,

just a big celebration
and the amounts of love.

It's something I've always
dreamt about, you know.

And then, I kinda put it on
the back shelf.

So I said,

"it's never gonna happen,
not in this world."

(Cameraman)
And now?

And now, I'm like--

it's gonna happen, you know,
it's gonna happen.

Whether people like it or not.

You know, we're equal.

(Woman)
"D" for dotreve.

'Cause that's
going to be our last name.

Dotreve,
that's my last name.

A long time ago I asked
Natalie to marry me,

and she said, "no."

[Laughing]

But I knew
it was fate.

But then, when did
I ask you to marry me?

Wait, I bought her
a diamond necklace.

And I gave it back to
the store, too

'cause I was pissed.

So tell 'em.

The next year
we went to venice

and Natalie asked me
to marry her.

But we decided that--

Natalie didn't want
a public ceremony.

I don't know,

she didn't want a ceremony
so I did,

so we fought about that
for a few years

and then we dropped it.

She really wanted to have
a traditional wedding

and I really thought about it

'cause you know at first,
I really didn't.

But I thought,

"well, you know, it's okay
to do that, you know."

And so that's what she wants.

And now I'm kind of
getting into it.

I hate to admit it but--

we're ready.

Oh my god!

The shoes.

Wow!

You're beautiful.

They're awesome!

Now this has--
this is what we get.

[Crowd chanting]

(Woman)
Tony and partner.

Ahhh!

(Man)
She didn't
think of that.

She didn't think
about anybody

changing their names.

I didn't think anyone
would change and so--

at first I thought
it was a joke.

I said, "are you changing
your name?"

(Woman)
I just never assumed

anybody would change
their name.

(Man)
Right, well it's new
to everybody.

Exactly, so you don't
think of that.

The cheese is out there.
The wine is out there.

Get out of my kitchen.

(Woman)
I had suspected
for a long time.

Had you really?

Oh, I had.

I had suspected since
he was a young teenager.

But then
he got married.

So that threw me
a curve.

So I said,
"oh no, I'm wrong."

You know, I mean
he got married.

And he had Kayla.

Can Brianna--

Brianna.

Can she sleep over
by any chance?

Brianna,
the one you like.

Either come over
or sleep over.

You're gonna have to
talk with the parents.

Okay.

She's good!

That's fine,

but I just need to
talk to her mother.

Yeah, but he has to talk
to you mom,

or your dad.

He can talk to
your dad.

--May 17th,

you can be issued
marriage licenses.

(Men together)
Right.

And that's where
were going,

we're going to get
our license on may 17th.

Just to make sure we have
everything in place.

Even though,
we're hoping nothing--

the conservative town
of Holden

will forever
go down in history

(woman)
I know.

As having an interracial
gay couple

getting
a marriage license.

[Laughing]

I gotta love that.

Brianna has you
hanging on her wall.

(Man)
She does?

And you.

I open the door, I was like,
"that's my dad."

She's like, "I thought
it was pretty cool,

he was in the paper."

I was like, "okay."

Nice.

11 and 19.

(Paul)
So we're gonna get
our license on may 18th.

(Sara)
Is there gonna be
a big cake?

There's gonna be a big cake
we hope, yeah.

Like one big one
and then the medium--

oh! You mean like
a wedding cake?

Yeah!
Yeah.

Well, we actually haven't
talked about that.

Would you like to have
a wedding cake?

Yeah?
Yeah!

Can you help daddy
pick it out?

Yeah.
Okay.

Are you gonna be on top
of the wedding cake?

You know how
they have little--

people?

They usually have
a bride and a groom.

No, uh--

should we have
a daddy and a poppa

and a Matthew
and a Sara?

[Laughing]

(Cameraman)
Where are you from?

China.

(Paul)
No way, really?

Did you walk here?

No, you adopted me.

Right. How old were you?
Do you remember?

Yeah.

How old?

I think three.

You're right.

And who went to China
to get you?

Daddy and poppa.

Both of US, right.

(Paul)
Yeah, Matthew was
adopted first

and he was also
three years old.

So it was two years
before Sarah.

And Jon went to Russia
to get him.

Where did you stay?

(Paul)
Oh, you mean when poppa
went to Russia?

Yeah.

They were awake
when I was going to sleep

and I couldn't sleep
at night because I knew

the time I was going to bed,

Jon was actually in court
adopting Matthew.

And I couldn't sleep
and I was nervous.

And then in the middle
of the night he called me

by telephone and told me
that he adopted Matthew.

And do you know Matthew said
his first words to me was,

"hi, daddy."

On the phone from Russia.
And I cried and cried.

(George w. Bush)
After more than two centuries
of American jurisprudence

and a millennia of
human experience,

a few judges and local
authorities are presuming

to change the most fundamental
institution of civilization.

Impeach the judges!

We all have to be
accountable.

We're not going to let them
get away with it.

Their actions have
created confusion

on an issue
that requires clarity.

This court case is like

the shot that was heard
'round the world.

You have legislatures
across this country

reinforcing marriage
because of four judges

UN-elected judges
in this state.

[Crowd chanting]

(Commentator)
Four judges in Massachusetts,
arrogant in their black robes

should not be allowed to force
gay marriage on this country.

The people need to be able to
vote on this issue.

And we need to think about

changing the way
these judges are appointed.

Let the people vote!
Let the people vote!

[Continues chanting]

One thing I was thinking,
if Massachusetts is turned

there are 37 states right now
for one man, one woman.

Think of the chaos
that would result.

Across the country.

(Reporter)
For the second time in a week

conservatives have been turned
back in their efforts

to keep San Francisco from
granting any more

marriage licenses to same
sex couples.

Well tonight, a judge there
once again refused

to issue a temporary restraining
order against the city.

Meanwhile, the same sex
marriage movement

has officially made its way
to new Mexico.

(Reporter 2)
No more same sex weddings in
asbury park, New Jersey.

At least for now.

(Reporter 3)
New York's Attorney General
has already indicated

that there is no legal authority
to issue marriage licenses--

(Laurie)
What bothers me
is being called a "bigot"

and these vile names because
I have certain beliefs.

I don't do that to them,
I'm not callin' them.

I said the practice
of anal--

the practice is
what is offensive.

And to call it marriage
offends me deeply.

As human beings, on that level
they don't offend me.

They're just people
like you and me

going to work,
doing their job, whatever.

(Reporter #3)
They've tried to go to court
in Oregon and blocked them

where some 1700
marriage licenses

have already been issued.

But, there's a big difference
between tolerance

and full acceptance.

And we're being asked to
accept something

that we know is bad for society
and bad for our children.

So, that's the bottom line.

(George w. Bush)
I have consistently stated that
if we support law

to protect marriage between
a man and a woman.

And obviously these events are
influencing my decision.

What sin is worth
going to hell for?

Nothing people,
it's wrong!

It doesn't fit,
people.

It's wrong!

It doesn't reproduce life,
it's wrong!

It produces death,
it's wrong!

Look at
the suicide rates.

[Low bark]

Then they're
all coming.

(Cameraman)
Oh, yeah?

Oh yeah.
They're coming.

People in
this house.

People in this house.

The people
in that house.

There's a couple
of gay guys

lives in
this house.

First of all, I never thought
I was going to be a lesbian.

I was married for 23 years.
That's kind of a long time.

And I have three
wonderful children

and three granddaughters.

So I didn't come out
until I was 45.

This finger
is now empty.

It used to have
a ring on it,

which I had resized
and moved my rings

around here so that
I could keep

this finger empty.

Because we've ordered
our rings

from provincetown.

And this is ready
for my wedding ring.

We don't walk around
town holding hands.

We might after
we get married, we will.

I walk downtown
holding hands
in provincetown

but I wouldn't walk
down the streets

in maynard
holding hands

and all of a sudden,

today I feel that
I can do that.

[Chanting]
Equal rights! Equal rights!

(Corey)
And we had to talk
about that a lot.

We had some very serious
discussions about,

"you know that this
is forever, right?"

There's a kid
involved now.

So we had to make sure
we were okay with all of that

before--before we went
anywhere with the adoption.

(Cameraman)
Were you both basically

long-term relationship
people before this?

No. Tricks.

I like tricks.

No. His real first
relationship was 12 years long.

I married a straight boy--

not married,

I was with a straight
guy for 12 years,

(cameraman)
What?

Yeah, my first relationship
was with a guy that

I knew he was straight.

He'd always said,
"if I weren't with you,
I'd be with a woman."

Like, "okay, that's cool."

And we were
together for 12 years.

And he's married
with kids now.

And his name is-- no.

[Laughs]

Kidding.

-That'd be great.
-Can you imagine?

He'd be upset.

I like being with someone,
I was never good by myself.

I think some people are.

You know, I think some people
are very good by themselves.

They don't mind being alone.

It's just not the way that
I ever really saw myself.

See, I, on the other hand,

even though I've been
in long-term relationships,

I've definitely come
to the conclusion that

if this relationship
doesn't work out

I do not see myself
in another relationship.

I just don't,
I don't see it.

I really like
being by myself.

I like having
a bed to myself.

I like opening the door
at night and walking in

and saying hello
and no one answers.

Whereas, I know that if
something, as unlikely as it is,

if it just didn't work out
for whatever reason,

I'm sure that there'll
be somebody else.

But--
you know--

[chuckling]

Here's our article.

Here's US, really big.

Like a really
ridiculously big picture.

They wrote, "to get
a license rechoran and karno

"will likely have to fib
about where they live,

"possibly giving the address
of the resort

where they are getting married
may 22nd."

I mean that is like--
that's completely not true.

We would not perjure ourselves
to get this license.

You can change.

(Man)
One man, one woman.

It's not his future that's
being affected, it's ours.

It's US who are going to be
affected by this amendment

if it doesn't get passed.

It is our country.

It's up to US to decide this.

They say that it's for
the children

that this right
can't be passed.

But it's US who want
it to be passed.

(Mary bonauto)
Tomorrow's vote is a real civil
rights moment in this state.

And the simple question is
do our legislators stand

for discrimination
in our constitution

or do they stand
against it?

It is simply that easy
and that simple.

[Cheering]

We're here to let our
representatives know that

we want them to oppose
this constitutional amendment.

This is our lives,
these are our lives.

This is not
some abstract principal.

This is our lives
you're talking about.

While we're standing here
right now, the house,

under the leadership
of the speaker,

is going to try and thwart
the process by passing

a civil unions bill that will
deny US the right

to civil marriage licenses
come may.

And so, hopefully--

[jeering]

And what our opponents don't
seem to understand is this:

They can try as they will
to take our rights away,

but we're a people
who are determined

we have friends who
are determined.

And we are a people with
friends who are going

to keep coming back, year after
year, after year, after year.

[Cheering]

My name is Phoebe and
this is mama.

Right, mama?

Yes.

Look, I thought--
I never ever thought

that there would be
the possibility of civil unions,

much less marriage,
in my lifetime.

Nobody thought it.

I think there
will be a backlash.

I absolutely think
there'll be a backlash.

I don't think there'll be
a constitutional amendment here,

in the long run.

And I don't think there'll

be a federal
constitutional amendment.

I don't think it
will go through.

I don't think they'll get--
I mean because the founders

of this country, and the people
who wrote the constitution

were so brilliant.

Here I go, this
is my legal hat.

Here, I'll put on
my legal hat.

They were so brilliant because
they knew that it's a real--

if this is something that is
fundamental to how we live

as a country, right, and what
this country stands for--

freedom and freedom
of expression

and freedom of religion
and from religion,

you can't have it be easy
to change the constitution.

You have
to make it really hard.

(Robin)
We've had these
rings for--

(Audrey)
For nine years.

And we wear these.

Yeah, pretty much
non-stop.

When our relationship
has been really bad

we did not wear them.

I think these rings--

mean a lot.

Yeah, I mean mine's--
the stone on mine

is falling apart.

(Audrey)
So, I think it's a big
decision to get married.

I agree with Robin,
it's a big decision.

And we've only been together
almost ten years.

You have to take
this thing seriously.

You have to take
your time.

(Brian camenker)
The facts of changing
the marriage laws

and the enforcement
of legalizing

same-sex relationships
in the schools,

in society, with benefits,
turns society around

in many, many ways.

And even the opinion
of the court admitted that.

It admitted that this is going
to turn society

almost inside out.

[Applause]

Excuse me.

Are you homophobic?

(Mr. Camenker)
Yeah.

Are you?

Well, you should
be ashamed.

You should be ashamed
of yourself.

Ladies and gentlemen, this
is where it all begins.

This is where your
tax dollars are going.

And we're not going
to be intimidated.

[Applause]

(Woman)
The courts did their job.

It's the job of the courts
to make determination

about what it
and isn't constitutional.

So the supreme judicial court
of Massachusetts

did precisely what
they were supposed to.

Every major civil rights
decision in this nation

made by the courts have
been split decisions,

including the laws that banned
interracial marriage.

Those were split decisions, too.

And had those questions gone
to the ballot,

those interracial marriage bans
would still be on the books

today in many states
across this nation.

This is very similar to what
happened many decades ago

about interracial marriage
couples.

(Singing amazing grace)
I once was lost

but now I'm found

[chanting]
It's not about property,
it's all about children.

It's not about property,
it's all about children.

One mother, one father.

Honor your mother,
honor your father.

This law breaks
all commandments.

One mother, one father.

Where's my mother?
Where's my father?

I feel sick to my stomach.

I feel like the whole world
as I've known it is gone.

I just feel like sanity
does not reign anymore.

That this is--i think we're
living in a really sick society.

And I don't think people know

the pandora's box
they're opening.

They don't understand what
all this is going to do,

once this starts getting
in your schools.

Because they're going to be
saying to these kids,

"oh no, homosexuality is
the same as heterosexuality."

You're going to see these kids
experimenting with, you know,

woman on woman, men on men.

It's going to be
a nightmare.

Sodom and gomorrah
in Massachusetts.

This is wrong,
in Massachusetts

they want to marry
a man with a man.

How sick can you get
and still breathe!

My parents are here.

I didn't realize they
were going to be here.

And they're actually
on the other side.

(Cameraman)
Where are they?

I couldn't locate them.

When I first came in
I saw them,

and I gave my mom a hug.

And I stood next
to her.

I love my parents dearly.
They love me dearly.

We're just-- we're on opposite
sides, and it breaks my heart.

Amazing grace
how sweet--

I got to fight
for what's right.

I've got to stick to
my beliefs, you know,

not just for myself but
for all the people.

You know, it's not just for me,
it's for everybody.

You know, it's all the children.

It's like, god made me too.

God made me in his image.

You know, so why
is it so wrong?

It's not wrong.

It is not wrong.

It is not wrong.

(Man singing amazing grace)
Was blind

but now I see

defend our constitution
we shall not be moved

defend our constitution
we shall not be moved

like a tree that's planted
by the water

we shall not be moved

give US equal coverage
we shall not be moved

give US equal coverage
we shall not be moved

(Cameraman)
Going home?

Have a safe trip.

(Modern pop version)
Amazing grace

how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch
like me

I once was lost
but now I'm found

I was blind

but now I see

'twas grace that taught
my heart to fear

and grace my fears

today is-- the constitutional
convention is reconvening

again today to discuss
the compromise, you know,

to try to pass this amendment.

And, of course, we're trying
to prevent the amendment

from being passed.

We don't want to amend
the constitution.

Leave the constitution alone.

[Chanting]
Equal rights! Equal rights!

Are you also
getting married?

We're getting married
July 31st.

July 31st?

We're June 19th.

How long have
you been together?

We've been
together, 17 years.

We've been
together, 14 years.

[Crowd chanting]
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Applause]

(Arline issacson)
20 years ago when almost every
gay legislative aide

in this building was closeted,
they used to be terrified

if they knew that
I knew about them.

They used to be terrified
of getting a call from me

when I was lobbying the
gay-lesbian civil rights bill.

And so I had to use a fake name,
you know, because

if arline isaacson
left a message,

that might implicate them.

And so I'd call

and if I couldn't get through
to them directly,

I'd say, my code name
was Sally.

"Hi, would you tell them
Sally called."

Welcome to being
an American.

For me it's all about--

it's about time.

Too many conservatives just
sit back on their haunches

and be conservative.

And that's kind of the way
a lot of US are by nature.

But if no one speaks up then
nothing will ever be done.

We've a real consciousness,
many of US, of the fact

that we are in the middle
of making history,

or participating in the making
of history.

Win, lose or draw, history is
going to be made in this state.

And is being made in this state.

I often build that in to
my conversations

with certain legislators
because as they struggle

with the issues of how they're
going to vote on gay marriage

and what are they going to do

about the constitutional
amendment,

I try and remind them to think
not simply in the moment.

Don't think up
to the next election.

But project yourself,
astroproject yourself,

project yourself
ten years ahead.

And turn around
and look back at yourself

and what are you going
to see?

And what are you going
to say?

And how you going to feel

and what are you going
to think?

And what you going to tell
your kids,

or your grandchildren?

That they are, no matter
how much, how painful

it might be right now
for the more conservative ones

to either support gay marriage

or at least
to not oppose it,

to not take our rights away,

they need to understand

that they are
going to be judged

not simply by tomorrow's voter

as in this election
but, by history.

And they have to decide
each and every one of them,

and the governor too
mitt romney

has to decide does he
want to be Orville faubus

standing in the schoolhouse
door with his arms crossed

saying, "you can't come in"

and right now, that's the role
romney's playing.

And that's the role many
of our opponents are playing.

And I don't think
some of them get it.

(Reporter)
Massachusetts legislators
have taken the first step

in a lengthy process
that could ban

gay men and lesbians
from marrying.

[Applause]

(Peter gomes)
Now let me in this great house
say a word about Massachusetts.

Because there are people
constantly complaining

that Massachusetts is out
of the mainstream.

We are not like everybody else.

Somehow we are uniquely
different.

Thank god we are.

[Cheering]

I do not wish to
take my social signals

from Mississippi or Georgia
or Alabama.

Or for that matter,
or California

or even Virginia.

Or Texas, praise god.

We, after all, have
the mayflower compact.

We have John winthrop
and his vision set on a hill.

We have John Adams
and the oldest constitution

in the world.

Why should we yield to
the sentiments of main street

or the mainstream?

We set the mainstream.

We don't follow it.

Hello.

Yeah, they're voting
right now.

Roll call.

The clerk
will call the roll.

Stephen a. Baddour.

No.

Jarrett t. Barrios.

(Barrios)
No.

No.

Fredrick e. Berry.

(Berry)
No.

No.

Robert a. Havern.

(Havern)
No.

No.

Robert. L. Hedlan.

(Hedlan)
Yes.

Brian. A. Joyce.

It is not about polygamy.

It is not about
special rights.

It is not about the defense
or definition of marriage.

It is not about the future
shape of the family.

It is not about hearing
the voice of the people.

It is not about the judiciary.

It is not about religion.

Yours or mine
or the absence thereof.

It is about nothing more
and nothing less

than civil rights.

[Applause]

Robert a. Havern.

(Havern)
No.

No.

Robert l. Hedland.

Yes.

Robert s. Creedon Jr.

Cynthia stone creem.

No.

Susan c. Fargo.

David p. Magnani.

No.

Thomas m. McGee.

No.

Linda j. Melconian.

Through this amendment
just say no.

[Cheering, applause]

Clerk will call
the chair.

Robert e. Travaglini.

No.

(Clerk)
105 votes in the affirmative.

92 in the negative.

(Crowd)
Oh god.

(Clerk)
This institution convention
will be in brief recess.

(Man)
May 17th still happens.

It's not over.

(Woman)
This just means
that in 2005

they're going to
put this up again

and they still
they're--thank god

they still have
a lot to go through

to make this, to put this
on the constitution, so...

I mean we knew it was
going to be an uphill--

it is disappointing,

and it's going to be
an uphill battle.

And we knew that.

We're just going to have to
just, keep on trucking.

It's like your whole life

you feel really
discriminated against

and then you finally
get to a place

where you feel so much better.

And then this comes up
and it brings up

all that same feeling again
because you,

you really see people
who really hate you for just,

for something they don't
even know about you.

That's what makes it hard.

Well, we're still
going to get married.

(Cameraman)
Good for you.

We're still going
to get married.

And I think all of US
people that get married

are just going
to change this.

It makes me sad.

(Reporter)
For those fighting to protect
traditional marriages

it is a partial victory.

(Ron crews)
At least we have the legislature
on record now

as preserving marriages
one man and one woman.

(Reporter)
But for same sex couples
fighting to hold onto

their court mandated
marriage rights,

there is shock.

(Arline issacson)
It's clearly disappointing.

(Reporter)
And defiance.

(Mary bonauto)
The inescapable truth

is that there is equality
in this constitution

and we are all equal.

And there is nothing any
legislator is going to do

in the end to take that
away from US.

It is just true!

[Crowd roars]

(Woman)
Mom?

Mom?

Hi, sweetheart.

All right, mother.

(Father)
Yeah, again
as you well know,

we love you,
you're our daughter

no matter what.

You know,
that's life.

(Daughter)
Yeah, I mean I really
love my family

I really--

(mother)
Absolutely.

You know, I want to be
part of my family.

And I want to be
accepted as equal.

What's it going to do if,

if we are able
to get married?

You know, what problems
is it going to cause you?

Why would you be
against it

if it's not going to
cause you any problems?

You know, I mean

I believe in god, dad.

God loves me too.

(Father)
We've already
discussed that.

I still have a belief that,
you know, what I believe.

You know, but again
I have to accept

what's going on
in this world,

especially with
my own daughter.

You know, and if that's
where she's at--

(mother)
It scares me.

You know it scares--

it scares--

(daughter)
What scares you?

I just, well because
of these stupid other people

who have
different thinkings.

And I guess
that scares me.

We don't ever want
anything to happen to you.

Right, so you don't
want me to have rights

because it scares you?

[Laughing]

We can't lie
for our beliefs, though.

That's the only thing.

Yeah, you know, so.

It's just how we feel.

So again it opens up
these communication,

like I say, channels.

And allow US to
you know,

openly discuss
this a little more.

So first of all it'll
help you to feel a lot better.

You know,
what you feel

and do, and so on
type of thing.

(Daughter)
Who I am.

Yeah, who you are.
And that's fine.

It's just that you
can't expect me

to go out to fight for
your rights in that sense.

Okay, I mean,
you know, that's kind--

I can expect you to sit back
on your couch for yours.

(Sara)
Daddy, did you
get down on one knee

and hold a ring,
daddy?

(Paul)
No, actually I
asked him over dinner

in a Chinese restaurant.

And he said,
"yes."

And then we didn't
get rings until

like three years
later, Sara.

After we moved to Boston.

And you know where
we exchanged rings?

On a beach
in provincetown.

With all of our
friends around.

And it was in the middle
of the winter.

Oh my gosh.

And it was
freezing cold.

And we stood
on the beach

and we still have
a picture today of that.

Daddy?

Do you want to see--
you saw my ring, right?

Yeah.

Daddy--

did you know, Sara,
that I wear my ring
on my right hand?

Remember you asked
about that?

And I said usually
people wear them

on the left hand
on their ring finger.

But daddy and poppa
wear ours on the right

because we couldn't
get legally married yet.

When can I wear in
your next wedding date?

That's a good question.

That's a part
of the planning.

We have to get you
a nice dress.

Will you help
pick it out?

Yeah.
Okay.

Well, we have to find
a nice dress--

how many, how many
days until you're--

before we get married?

Yeah.

It's like 55 days.

That's not so bad.

No, not so bad.

Jesus Christ is risen today

h-a-l-l-elujah

I didn't think that there was
any hatred on our side,

but I guess people are people,
and everybody is not the same.

And I'm told that
there are,

there is hatred
on my side

and I thought it was all
on their side.

And they think it's all
on our side

that we all hate too.

But it's all by perception.

I had one wonderful thing
happen to me,

one touching thing.

On the second trip.

As I was going by
they had like, they left US

like this much for a corridor
to walk in

and as we were walking down
with our signs

you know, we just kind of
looked straight ahead or so.

But there was one young woman
who looked me in the eye

and she put her hand out.

And I just was so touched
because--so then I just

shook her hand
and it was showed like,

"yeah, we have principles

but we don't have to
have hatred across the line."

(Cameraman)
This was a gay activist,
who did this?

Mm. Yeah.

Singing hallelujah

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Christian?

Hi, how are you?

Good.

Do you want to
head down here?

And we'll do the pond.

Okay.

We'll be here.

Okay, bye.

We always make
her fall asleep

on her own at night.

But now I sort of
like hold her

to fall asleep
for naps.

I guess when I was younger
I used to--

people are always--

I used to always say,
"well, I'm gay,

but it's not about
having gay sex."

Right.

Like to me homosexuality
is a definition.

It wasn't all about
the sex.

It definitely
isn't about the sex.

[Laughing]

You be careful
what you say on TV.

Sorry.

I always thought
it was about being different

and thinking about
things differently,

and being outside of
the conventions
and the traditions.

And then somehow that
we end up getting married.

Getting married,
having two kids

and living
in the suburbs.

Yeah, but we had them
out of wedlock.

Doesn't that help
at all?

(Audrey)
So Phoebe, before mommy and I
could not get married.

Even if we wanted to.

No two moms and two dads
could get married

'cause it was against
the rules.

You weren't allowed
to do it.

If you went
to go get married

they would say, "no,
you can't do that."

Because you're not--
because marriage

is only for one man
and one woman,

not two women
and not two men.

Don't get to do it.

And now that's different.
It changed.

What do you think
about that?

'Cause now you guys
can get married

and you guys
didn't get married yet.

Well that's
a good point.

I keep saying
you should get married.

You do?

And you guys don't.

Well that's a big thing
to plan, honey.

It's a big thing
to plan.

Then plan it
right now.

What do you think
is involved in planning?

What shall we plan?

Phoebe.

How about you plan it?

(David rushford)
Oh, we expect
a brisk business

for at least
the first week.

We're going to
essentially convert

all of our windows
that serve the public

to accept marriage
applications.

"Filing marriage intentions"
is the correct term.

(Cameraman)
Have you had to train
your people differently

for gay marriages?

Oh no, absolutely not.

Change the forms?

No, the s.J.C. Decision
essentially says

that separate is never equal.

So there will be no change
of process.

There doesn't need to be
a change of process.

Doesn't it say
"man and woman"

or "husband and wife"?

That's only two words
on a form.

There's not retraining
needed for that.

Perhaps in phonetics.

(Mr. Rushford)
There are actually
four forms.

There's the marriage intention

and then there's
a supplement.

The actual form is currently
labeled "groom and bride."

Essentially these will become
gender neutral on may 17,

and they will say
"spouse one and spouse two."

(Cameraman)
And what's your position
on same sex marriages?

How do you feel?

Well a local clerk is not--
we're not a legislator,

so we don't essentially
take a stand.

I just mean personally.

Well, we don't answer questions
personally about it.

And that's not
going to happen.

[Blowing raspberries]

How can we determine
what he's going to call US?

I think it's going to be
something where

he sort of figures out
what to call US

and it'll come naturally.

I just don't think--

you know, to say,
"you will call me pappa."

What are you saying
over there?

Oh my god.

Michael just said,
"top and bottom."

You will refer
to me as "top."

Don't think
that's funny.

So I think it's
one of those things

where he'll just
sort of figure out.

And we'll know
if he calls me "dadda"

or "dad" or "pop"
or whatever.

We'll figure that out.

Do you want
to call me dadda?

Dadda.

Thank you.

I can't believe it's only
a few days away now.

(Cameraman)
How are you feeling?

Umm--

(man)
Why did you leave
the back open?

Oh, I forgot.

(Cameraman)
Are you getting nervous
about the wedding?

Or the license?

No, no, I'm just--

I'm just, like everyday
you hear new stuff.

And I don't think
they can do anything

to prevent may 17th
from happening,

but, I mean, I've been
surprised before, so.

--Mr. Taylor.

(Girl)
There's always other
pressure in coming in.

(Driver)
So the unsuspecting
freshman.

(Passenger)
Yeah.

(Reporter)
The legal right
of same sex couples

in the state
to exchange vows

now appears to be
just a weekend away.

This is interesting
what they say about syphilis.

"May a person with
communicable syphilis

obtain a marriage license?"

And the answer is, "no."

Not until you're treated,
that's why they test you.

Just in case,
you might have syphilis.

Just relax your hand for me.

I'm good.

I'm tough.

(Partner)
Yeah, who's holding
a rabbit?

I got the rabbit
by the throat.

(Nurse)
Can you relax
your hand for me please?

Relax your hand from
the throat of the rabbit.

I still haven't talked
to my father either.

Really?

Yeah.

Ever since he called to tell
me it was his birthday.

And that he's got an issue
with the gay marriage,

but he doesn't know
what that issue is

or why he has it.

And that's why
he hasn't called

or commented
on the fact that

we've been all over
the news and everything.

Just for some reason
he's got an issue.

Getting the name
changed.

But he doesn't even
know that.

We haven't spoken
enough to even,

discuss that.

He's just kind of
off in his own world.

He doesn't get heated.

And we don't have any
heated arguments or anything.

Like al's family.

It's just kind of
like you said,

"don't talk about
anything important."

[Laughing]

And you identify
with him.

Yeah.

So I don't know
where he is

on the issue, lately.

I think that you should
feel overwhelmingly in love

when you get married.

That's part of like
the image of a wedding

is feeling that way.

It's not the ritual
or the paper or the anything.

It's the feeling

of "wow", like
it's a wonderful feeling.

And we've had a lot
of struggles.

And it's sort of like

if I'm going to do
a wedding,

if I'm going
to get married,

I'm going to do it
feeling sappy

and like, overflowing
and all of those sort of

gushy kind of words
that go with a wedding to me.

And we've had a lot
of struggles,

and we're still having them,
and they're not worked out.

We're always going
to have struggles.

Well, I'm hoping
that they lessen.

They have lessened.

Not enough.

Oh man, tough crowd.

You bet.

Wooster is seen to be
the city that it is:

A welcoming community,
a diverse community,

and one that is prepared
to receive

large numbers of people.

(Cameraman)
Do you support
same sex marriage?

That is outside the perimeter
of this interview.

[Laughing]

(News reporter)
As Massachusetts prepares for
a flood of same sex couples

requesting marriage licenses,

another drama's unfolding

between town and city clerks
and governor romney

over a 1913 law that romney
says prevents

out-of-state couples
from getting marriage licenses.

(News reporter #2)
--Limit marriage licenses
to residents only.

(Gov. Romney)
We have to follow the law
whether it's

one we appreciate or not.

(News reporter #3)
Many of the town halls
here in Massachusetts

have indicated that they're
willing to defy governor romney

and issue licenses
to out-of-state couples.

Even in states where
those marriages

may not be recognized.

Where is this other thought
coming from

that we're to become
marriage police

all of a sudden?

And only for same sex couples.

And only on residency.

You can just drive over
the bridge

into Manhattan
and take the f.D.R. Up.

But instead of going there,
which is stupid,

you just keep taking it over
to the major Deegan.

What bridge is that
over there?

(Deborah)
The Manhattan bridge.

I knew that when
I was little, actually,

I had no idea
boys were cute,

and I would have to
ask my best friend

if they were cute.

Periodically I would
ask her,

"do you think you're gay?"

(Partner)
Really?

(Shelly)
And I'd be like,
"oh no, no."

We had to keep
testing,

keep asking the questions.

And she would
always say, "no."

But then one night
she did come out

and say,
"oh by the way.

[Giggling]

"By the way
I'm not a virgin.

(Shelly)
Yeah, yeah,
that's right.

And by the way
I'm gay."

(Partner)
Wait, what?

You started with,
"by the way I'm not a virgin?"

(Shelly)
Well I don't think
I just blurted it out like that.

Yeah you did.

(Partner)
That must have been with
a guy like before you came out.

The first and last
boy that Shelly ever suffered.

(Shelly)
I guess we were washing
the dishes or something,

and i-- I guess
it was just like

a little intimate moment
where I felt like

we hadn't been talking
in a while.

Just thought I'd tell you,
catch you up on my life.

And we had a good cry.

And I assured you
it wasn't your fault.

But I don't think
you believed me.

You know, I just didn't know
exactly what to feel.

Yeah.

But I do remember thinking
that the one thing

that I wouldn't be able
to share with you
is a wedding.

Well there you go!

Here we are!

"If one or both
of the wedding participants

"reside outside Massachusetts,

"they will be asked--
he/she/they will be asked

"if they intend to live
in Massachusetts
after the wedding.

"Intent is a plastic concept.

"You can answer
that question 'yes' honestly

"if you intend to stay
in Massachusetts

"after the wedding.

"Be it for a lifetime--

be it for an hour or
a lifetime."

That's ridiculous.

No. I don't feel good
about that.

But we are going to be here
for the wedding, obviously.

I will seek a stay
of the court's decision

until the constitutional
amendment process

has run its course.

Romney filed a bill

to give him
the extraordinary power

of being able to single-handedly
appoint an attorney,

and he chose a former supreme
judicial court justice

named Joe nolam.

He wants to be able
to appoint him,

send him to the s.J.C. To
represent his opinion,

and try and thwart the release
of the marriage licenses

on may 17th.

I'd say it's been
a roller coaster.

I didn't get home 'til
late last night,

turned on my television,

and I see that our governor
is busy again.

And I'm thinking of
a bumper sticker that says

"when all else fails
try governing," like you know,

like don't you have
anything else to do?

We have 100,000 postcards.

They're addressed to the
Attorney General Thomas Riley,

and it says very nicely,

"dear Attorney General Riley,

"protect our Massachusetts
constitution,

"marriage and society.

"Please seek and obtain

"a stay of the supreme judicial
court's goodridge decision

"so that no marriage licenses
are issued to same sex couples

"until the people can vote on
the constitutional amendment

defining marriage as a union
of one man and one woman."

My heart goes out.

I love-- there are so many
homosexuals that I admire,

that I think
are excellent people.

I can understand the desire
for many people to have

the same kind of legitimacy
that other couples have.

But the fact is, is that
it is plain,

it is wrong morally,
it is wrong spiritually,

it is wrong religiously,
it is destructive

to the foundations
of society.

So my liking them or not,
my admiring them or not

has nothing to do with
the rightness or wrongness

of the issue
that they represent.

The goal is this:

We don't want to have
a hearing on this bill

before may 17th.

(Cameraman)
Do you know anybody
personally

who's planning on
getting married?

Any same sex couples?

A couple.

Yeah a few, sure.

(Cameraman)
I don't understand how
that, how do you--

do they respect your--

no.

[Laughing]

No they don't.

They don't even respect
the disagreement

which has been hard on me
I have to tell you.

Because they've been--

and they remain at least
in my heart,

dear friends
and respected individuals.

Their conduct here is just
not something I embrace,

but I still value
their intellect,

their friendship,

but this has been
an emotional issue,

and it's kind of
torn US away,

and I probably
won't get invited.

So it is hard, it is hard.

(Carron)
My district predominantly
Democratic

in its party registration.

But still, you know,
kind of blue collar,

traditional background.

Traditional values.

And I felt it was my obligation
to bring that message forward.

(Cameraman)
What was the message
you were getting

from your constituents?

It was overwhelming.

This is the way the senators
will be coming

into the senate
president's office

and then into the senate.

(Carron)
I know there's
the civil rights issue

from the other side
of the argument, too.

And what I've tried
to articulate

as best I can to people
is that--

that argument's never
come through to me

from the proponent side
of same sex marriage.

That is a civil rights
violation

not allowing it to happen.

It hasn't come through?

It hasn't come through
to me.

I mean, I've asked,
and I've challenged people,

"tell me the single individual
civil liberties

"that is being thwarted
or denied anybody

"because they're not allowed
to fit under

the definition of marriage
as we've come to define it."

And they're hard pressed.

(Interviewer)
What you going to do
on may 17th

when everybody goes--

god that's a good question.

Do you have a plan?

I'm thinking of being
out of state

'cause I don't know
if I could--

really?

I definitely will move
if that happens.

I mean, I definitely,
definitely will move.

I'm thinking of it anyway.

But I definitely
will be moved.

I probably can't get moved
by may 17th,

but I definitely
would not live in this state.

Oh my god, even if--
I've lived here all my life.

I will move to Virginia
because I've been doing my--

well, my son is down there.

But I will move 'cause
I can see that.

I mean, I thought of Maryland.

The senate killed the domestic
the doma law.

The defense of marriage law
in Maryland

so I'm not moving to Maryland.

Forget it, I don't want
to ever go through this again.

Oh I wouldn't stay in a state
that has such--

really?

It's bad enough I have to
live with supporting abortion.

I would not--
no, I don't want to stay.

Tom, here's Bob.

(Traditional marriage
supporters)
I pledge allegiance to the flag.

(Man)
Join in pledging allegiance
to the flag

of the United States
of america.

(Senators)
I pledge allegiance
to the flag

of the United States
of america.

And to the republic
for which it stands

one nation, under god

indivisible with
Liberty and justice for all.

If you can find out.

I will.

Darling, what are
they going to do?

(Interviewer)
How you feeling about Monday?

Well, how can anybody
feel about it?

It's like the decline
and fall of the Roman empire.

Legalized perversion.

Sorry to interrupt you

before you go in
the chambers.

No.

We'll talk more.

Okay, thank you.

It seems to me,
unless I'm misunderstanding,

there are very few hopes
left before Monday.

But not to mention
the religious

not to mention god--

(Ron gray)
This trend is runaway judges.
We must make them accountable.

[Applause]

Yes, say it.

Say it.

When those powers are drawn
you do not have a rule of law.

You have the tyranny
of the judges.

The tyranny of the judges,
the tyranny of the judges.

(Interviewer)
What happened?

You got it?

It's done.

[Cheering, applause]

(News reporter)
Tonight gay marriage
in Massachusetts is a go.

A federal judge rejected
the last minute effort

to block same sex ceremonies
starting Monday.

(Cory atkins)
I want to thank you.

I want to thank your parents
who wrote to me

and said, "finally my children
can get married."

I want to thank
those of you

who sent me pictures
of your families.

They're on my desk.

And I want to thank you
for making

the Massachusetts constitution
a living, breathing document

for all of US here today.

This is truly a moment
in history.

Thank you.

[Applause]

(News reporter)
A little over five hours
from now

Massachusetts will become
the first state

to issue legal same sex
marriage licenses.

And gay couples are already
lining up at city hall.

Looking at two gentlemen
here with lovely suits on.

Then there's a woman here
with a lovely--

how would you describe
your outfit?

What is--

-a Chinese jacket.
-A Chinese jacket.

I don't know if it's
really hit me yet.

When I walk out with
that little piece of paper

I'm going to be like,
"whoa," you know what I mean?

It's still-- I feel like
I've been holding my breath

and something's going
to happen

and it's not
going to happen.

(Paul)
Took my ring off
to get my finger ready

and it feels very strange.

And all morning
I've been doing this

and so we got our rings
ready to go.

Yeah.

Itsy bitsy spider.

We're ready to go.

We asked each other
hundreds of times,

"do you want to get married?
Want to get married?"

Because it's just
so exciting.

It's not until--

you get so used
to being--

officially married.

To fighting and being shot down
and everything all the time,

that when
it really happens

it's kind of hard
to internalize it.

It's surreal.
Yeah.

Look, they're making
the grounds all nice
for our wedding.

Do you realize that
this is the last time

we will be walking
out of this house

without the ability
to get married?

(Audrey)
Well I already said

when I tested
the video camera

when I fixed it,
and I said, "testing."

I said, "it's may 16th,
it's six something.

"In five hours
and something minutes

the special rights of
heterosexuals will be over."

Yeah!

Oh my godlook at this.

(News reporter)
The crowd here has grown
over the past several hours

from several hundred
to several thousand,

and most of them cheering
supporters of gay marriage

filing into Cambridge city hall
to apply for marriage licenses.

You're getting married?

Someday.

US too,
but not tonight.

Yeah, we're going
to wait.

We're young.

Yeah.

It's good, it's good.

It's good to wait.

It's smart to wait
and do it right.

It's like legal,
legal marriage.

Like exactly the same.

(Man)
It is.

Exactly the same.

Isn't it incredible?

Not civil disobedience.

Real marriage.

[Airhorn blows]

[Crowd cheering]

Like I'm proud
of this moment

like right now,
right here.

That doesn't mean
I want to sing

god bless america
and pledge allegiance.

This is more
than a moment.

This is a civil rights
moment.

It's not just
for queer people.

It's a civil rights
moment.

Right.

And that's something
to be proud of.

Oh wo whoa!

[Cheering, clapping]

Oh, it's incredible.

It's incredible.

This is it,
like, it's out now.

You can't
put it back in.

And that part
is so exciting.

[Crowd cheering]

We finally come
to the realization

that after 49 years,
we're going to make it legal.

(Audrey)
No, it doesn't touch me,
it just pisses me off

that they have been
together for 49 years

they have had to put up
with this shit.

(Robin)
They're all getting
out now.

That means it's
getting close.

It must be real close.

(Woman #1)
I'm waiting 'til midnight.
I'm not leaving.

(Woman #2)
I am too, I'm waiting
'til people come out.

(Woman)
Are they not letting
more people get married?

(Robin)
No that's it.

They're full.

They filled up
the whole place.

[Cheering, whistling]

(News reporter)
It's now the law
in Massachusetts.

It's the first state
in the nation

to legalize same sex
marriage.

(News reporter #2)
The city clerk's office
in Cambridge

handed out the first

marriage license applications
to gay couples.

That's the first couple
over there.

[Chanting]

We are equal.

We are equal.

We are equal.

[Chanting continues]

(News reporter)
It's now may 17th,

the day same sex marriage
becomes a reality.

I'm a little nervous.

I wish I'd put
deodorant on.

I don't know.His, do you think--

yeah, city clerk.
That's where you go.

The thing was unlocked.

It's locked David.
How are you?

(Paul)
Oh look who it is.

(Jon)
It's Michael, I've seen
him already today.

Now he's going to be
taking my last name.

So where on here
if there's any name change?

(Woman)
Surname to be used
afterwards.

(Woman #2)
You're keeping your names
your last names?

No, I'm changing
my last name.

I'm going to be
cronin-swalvosky.

(Woman)
First question
Massachusetts residents?

We're not
Massachusetts residents.

Intending to reside--

we don't know where we're
intending to reside yet.

(News reporter)
Governor mitt romney
has said that he doesn't want

Massachusetts to become
the Las Vegas of gay marriage.

We want to live in
a state that gives US

the benefits of being
a legally married couple.

This is where I resent
how they've left it to US.

It's because
they've left it to US.

Right.

And the way I was
going it handle it

was I'm not asking
for proof.

Okay.

We're hoping, since
we love New York

and we're from there,
that New York will...

Will get it together
and be fine with it.

If we're not getting
those rights

then we will move
to Massachusetts.

So under that circumstance
if she wants US to write

we intend to live
in Massachusetts

then we can write that.

Oh, so this would actually
be my second marriage.

Yeah.

What's the date
of marriage?

June.

12th.

(Together)
I have reviewed a list
of impediments

to marriage from
my place of residence

and I hereby state
that there is--

here comes the bride

all dressed in white

where is the groom

he's in the ladies room

why is he there

he forgot his underwear

Best wishes to you.

Thank you so much.

We'll see you
on Thursday.

I just changed
my name.

(Girl)
"Mrs. Tony."

It's awesome.

It's cool.

Congratulations.
Oh, thank you.

This little piece
of paper

is the cause of so much

consternation
in this country.

I know.

This is going to cause
society to crumble.

Right here
in my little hands.

The destruction
of society.

And while it was a day
for celebration,

the fight is not over yet.

One place these marriages
definitely won't be recognized

is at the federal level.

President bush is trying to pass
a constitutional amendment

outlawing same sex
marriages altogether.

(George w. Bush)
If we're to prevent
the meaning of marriage

from being changed forever.

Our nation must enact
a constitutional amendment

to protect marriage
in america.

Sometimes you pray
like right now.

Even though you're feeling
kind of dead inside.

Do you know
what I mean?

Have you ever
been in that?

You pray and you--

then I look
at the trees.

I see them blooming.

I see another day.

And I think I'm going
to see my son tomorrow.

And I think
he's getting married.

And life is going
to go on.

It's going to be harder
than it was,

but it will go on.

Never give up hope.

Where there's life
there's hope.

Oh, hi ma.

[Laughing]

Oh your hands
are always tight.

(Wolf blitzer)
The voting is now underway

on the floor
of the United States senate.

At issue--
a constitutional amendment

(female reporter)
Can the constitution forbid

gay or lesbian couples
from marrying?

President bush supports
such a change.

(Cheney)
He sets policy
for this administration

and I support
the president.

She handles herself
very well with other people.

She either--

comes right out
and says stuff,

or she turns around
and walks away, right?

I believe in the sanctity
of marriage.

I believe that marriage
is a--

(woman)
You can't judge.

You don't know.

This person was
born this way.

You don't know a lot of
this stuff that goes on.

And I don't know.

I think the vice president
and his wife

love their daughter.

I think they love
her very much.

This is new to me.

But no matter what,
Lea is my daughter.

And she'll always
be my daughter.

And you can't have
anything but respect

for the fact
that they're willing

to talk about the fact
that they have a gay daughter.

The fact that
they embrace her,

is a wonderful thing.

You've come
a long way, momma.

(Dick Cheney)
Well, Gwen, let me simply

thank the senator
for the kind words

he said about my family
and our daughter.

I appreciate that
very much.

(Female reporter)
That's it?

That's it.

(Audrey)
This is not the thing
that can never get reversed.

But if it does
get reversed,

it will become
true somewhere else.

It is not about US.

It is not
about US.

In a way
it's not about

whether your marriage
gets revoked.

(Woman)
That's right.
It's a bigger thing.

Okay, so maybe your marriage
gets revoked.

Which it won't.

But what if your marriage
does get revoked? Right?

(Woman)
Are you going to go back
and you take it?

Yes. Are you going
to say, "okay?"

But it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

Because if your marriage
gets revoked,

it has happened in history

that queer people
could get married.

And in another 20 years,

it will be all
over the place.

And people will think
nothing of it.

The way that people
could accept this as reality

when 20 years ago,

nobody was even
out of the closet.

By endorsing
the shameful proposal,

president bush
will go down in history

as the first president
to try to write bias

back into the constitution.

But the reality is--

that we are here
for a moment in time

that is a foreshadowing.

And the foreshadowing is

what is life
gong to be like for her?

What's going to be normal
when she's 40?

Right? And the reality
is that this moment

that happened on may 17th,

speaks to what it's
going to be like when she's 40.

And that's
what's exciting.

It's going
to be a different world.

And this
is the first sign--

that it might
be a better world.

That it might
be a better world.

That's what
is so exciting.

That's what makes--

you know when I was crying
that night?

That's what
makes me cry.

It's not that we
can get married--

it's that the world
is going to change.

It's going to change.

And maybe it's
going to get better.

(Man)
Matt, we're going
to get married.

What do you think
about that?

Good.

Yeah?

Now the only thing
we'd have to do

is have Anne sign it.

And then,
we're officially married.

Legally married.

But what if she doesn't?

Well then
we're not married.

[Laughing]

Why would she not?

Well, that's
just it.

She said she would,

so she'll sign
the marriage license.

What if she breaks
her promises?

Well then we find
someone else.

And nothing
can stop--

make you unmarried
anymore?

Right.

Nothing?

Nothing.

But what if somebody
ripped it up?

You're still married?

Yes.

The only thing
that can undo it

is if you get
a divorce.

Why would you
get a divorce?

We won't.

You don't
know that.

Huh?
You're not
a 100 percent--

oh, I'm 100 percent sure.

Why would we get
a divorce, Matthew?

We love each other.

You can get mad at each other
and you'll be divorced.

Yeah, but we'd work
it out.

It's okay to get
mad at each other.

I mean like really, really
you start hating each other.

No, we'd never
do that.

But it could.

Yeah, it could happen.

But I don't think
it's going to.

I know it's
not going to.

You don't know that.

I could never
hate daddy.

I might be mad
at him sometimes,

but I could
never hate him.

(Man)
I think I kind
of have an idea.

And I'm glad poppy's
not here,

'cause I get to pick.

You and I
get to pick.

So I'm sorry, you said
this was which one?

(Woman)
That's the golden raspberry.

Golden raspberry?

Okay.

I like that.

Take this one.

Okay, let's switch.

[Violin plays the alphabet song
in background]

And we'll come
over the hill,

and down the aisle.

Very dramatic.

(Woman)
And the peeps
will come.

Well, that will
be first.

We've got you guys
in the center--

center but
to one end.

Center like back
so we don't have

our backs
to anybody.

But it could be like

a group, a group,
a group, a group.

Well why do I have
to do that?

Because you need
a manicure.

Let me see
your hands.

You're getting
the big diamond, not me.

Tomorrow at 7:15
on Charles street.

All of US are getting
a manicure?

Yes.

[Laughing]

Yes,
you want to come?

No, I don't.

See, y'all can talk
about your manicures

and your big
fat rings.

I don't have
my ring.

Well you're getting ready
for your big fat ring.

I know,
but I want you to go.

So then you should.

All right, I'm going
to be a little late

and I'll pick you up,
how's that?

I'm not nervous
about marrying

because I've been
with her for 14 years.

But it's just like--

I feel like I'm doing
a Broadway play or something

in front
of all these people.

But they're all
my really good friends

and I'm telling
myself that.

But at the same time,
I don't want to faint

or fall because
it's an outside wedding.

(Woman)
I thought you might
have some good ideas

about songs that
people should have

at their weddings.

Annie.
Annie?

You think?

(Girl)
That one.

(Woman)
What would make that a good
song for a wedding?

Oh, I'll help you.

I'll be in it
and I'll sing it.

You'll sing it
if we got married?

At our wedding?

You would?

In front of
lots of people?

You would?

For US?

Oh my gosh, that would
make me so happy.

We can all sing it.

We could?

Okay, Sarah.

Come show poppa.

Oh wow.

You're beautiful.

Are you going to have
Rose petals to hand out?

Thought you wanted to have
the little bouquet.

You don't know yet?

We'll work that out.
You look beautiful.

(Poppa)
Okay, now do what
you're going to do in church.

Could I have
the rings, please?

So then you will--

okay, so what
will you do

when she says it?

Okay, yeah you'd
open the box.

She'll say, "can I have
the rings please?"

And you'll take
it out for her.

And then give
it to her.

And she'll probably
bless it.

And then give it
to me or daddy.

(Woman)
Look Mary, our fingers,
they're empty.

(Mary)
Our bare fingers--

our bare fingers.

We're going to have
another ring

to add
to my collection.

Too many, huh?

Oh, I can't
believe this is here.

What a long
fight, huh?

I should really
wear a belt.

It would suck
to have my pants

fall down in the middle
of the ceremony.

So, how do I look?

Do you want
to marry me?

(Man)
You know
by the way--

yeah--

stop.
Hold on.

Happy anniversary.

Oh, happy anniversary.

(Man)
That's the clerk
for the town of wooster.

City of wooster.

Don't you dare demean
US as being a town

just because
we have trees.

What is your
personal view

on same sex
marriages?

I think it's
a great thing.

[Laughing]

Especially if people are having
a good party afterwards.

Finally.

Finally, Henry.

Now you got it
for the record, okay?

No, this is
a great day.

Anytime someone
that's in public office

can make
people happy,

and is invited
to participate,

it's a great thing.

I vote yes.

'Cause you--

you bitches know we all
would have gotten over there

and someone would have said,
"where are the rings?"

"Where are the rings?
Cory, did you bring the ring?"

Wait, when am I doing
my speech thing?

(Al)
Here's the order.

Oh, I don't
want to go first.

No, Kayla, you're
second to last.

Okay.

Okay, come
stand in the middle.

Here, we'll stand
right here.

And you stand
in between US,

and you sing
for our wedding.

We got you something
for being in the wedding.

So I want you
to open it up

and you're
going to wear it.

(Woman)
Oh Kayla,
it's gorgeous.

Oh my god.

Absolutely gorgeous.

Thank you.

You take
care of it.

It cost a lot
of money.

I'm going to cry.

Don't run
your makeup.

Tomorrow, tomorrow

I love you

tomorrow

I'm working my way
over to my dad.

How are you?
Very good.

Hey.

Hey, dad.

Congratulations.

[Laughing]

You're not drunk
yet, are you?

No, god.

I'll fall over.

I got your card
in the car.

Okay.

I didn't want to leave
it laying around.

[Sighs]

[Rhythmic applause]

Before god, your family,
and your friends,

I ask you to affirm
your willingness

to enter this covenant
of marriage

and to share
all the joys and sorrows

of this new
relationship,

whatever the future
may hold.

Because of you

Kayla and I

are much better
because of knowing you.

You have
given US faith,

you have
given US strength,

you have
given US hope,

you have inspired me
to follow my dreams,

and I really, really,
really love you.

And I am so happy
to be here today

in front of all
of my friends and family

to have them witness
our legal marriage

which we fought
so hard for

which many people
do not have to.

(Reverend)
This ring that
I give to you

this ring
that I give to you

is a token
and pledge

is a token
and pledge

of my
constant faith

of my
constant faith

and firm commitment.

Our connection is now
as complete

our connection is now
as complete

as the perfect circle
of this ring.

As the perfect circle
of this ring.

(Reverend)
Mary, accept this ring

as a symbol of our marriage
to one another.

Mary, accept this ring

as a symbol of our marriage
to one another.

Today I make
these promises to you

with the same heart that
has loved you for 14 years

and will continue
to love you

for as long as god
gives me.

(Woman)
One of the easiest
things I could promise

is to continue to
tell you I love you

because I'll hardly
be able to help myself.

I, Cory j. Clifford

(man)
Choose freely and joyfully

choose freely
and joyfully

to join with you Jonathan

to join with you
Jonathan

as your life-long partner.

As your life-
long partner.

I now say that you're not
just partners in life,

but partners
for life.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

[Applause, cheering]

By the authority
vested in me--

[laughing]

By the commonwealth
of Massachusetts

that I declare that
your marriage is legal.

[Applause, cheering]

We are married,
Robin!

[Laughing]

[Cheering, applause]

[Glass breaking]

(Everyone)
Mazel tov!

[Applause]

[Glass breaking]

(Everyone)
Mazel tov!

[Applause, cheering]

[Laughing]

I love you.

Nice going, Kay.

Thanks dad.

Glad you're happy.

Glad you came.

[Sniffs, sighs]

First of all I would like to
thank you all for being here,

and sharing this very
special moment with US.

Where do I start?

Dad, you've been there
for me when

I couldn't count
on anyone else

to be there for me.

Especially when
my mom wasn't.

That means a lot.

I Cherish every moment
that I have with you.

I'm just so happy
for you guys.

I'm so overwhelmed
I don't know what to say.

And I'd like to welcome
Keith to the family.

I'm so happy
you're with US.

[Cheering, applause]

[Modern pop version]
Amazing grace
how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me

I once was lost
but now I'm found

I was blind but now I see

'twas grace that taught

my heart to fear

and grace my fears relieved

how precious how precious

did that grace appear

the hour I first believed

(woman)
Through many dangers
toils and snares

I have already come.

'Twas grace that taught me
safely thus far

and grace will lead US home.

[Modern pop version]
Through many dangers
toils and snares

I have already come

and it is grace that brought
it on me safely thus far

and it is grace
that will lead me home

(woman)
Grace will lead

grace will lead me home.