Tying the Knot (2004) - full transcript

( singing & clapping )

( man )
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET
THE HAPPY COUPLE ?

( all )
GAY POWER !

WHAT HAVE WE GOT ?!

GAY POWER !

YOU'RE WELCOME TO ATTEND
IF YOU LIKE, FREE COFFEE.

♪ YEAH, MY BROTHERS
AND MY SISTERS... ♪

YOU CAN'T COME INTO
A PRIVATE OFFICE--

HERMAN KATZ HAS SLANDERED
THE GAY COMMUNITY OF NEW YORK.

THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF
MAKING APPOINTMENTS,

WE ARE HERE DEMANDING
RETRACTION OF THIS SLANDER,



DEMANDING THAT HE REPRESENT
GAY PEOPLE

WHO PAY HIS TAXES,

AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE
NO FOR AN ANSWER FROM ANYBODY.

DO YOU WANT AN INVITATION
TO OUR RECEPTION ?

HERE, YOU'RE INVITED.

♪ ...ALL TOGETHER NOW... ♪

OH, THIS IS DEFINITELY
THE MARRIAGE BUREAU

BUT IT'S BEEN TAKEN OVER
BY THE GAY ACTIVIST ALLIANCE.

YOUR MOTHER AND DAD
WANNA GET MARRIED ?

ARE THEY GAY ?

OH, I'M SORRY,
WE CAN'T HELP YOU.

NO.

( man )
ANY COMMENT ?

( woman )
I JUST HOPE
THEY'RE VERY HAPPY.



RIGHT ON.

( man )
MARRIAGE IS
A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

( man )
MARRIAGE IS VERY SIMPLE:

A UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN
AND ONE WOMAN...

( woman )
IF THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS
FOR MARRIAGE IS REMOVED...

NOT TWO MEN OR THREE MEN
OR FOUR MEN.

...THE NEXT
GENERATION GROWING UP

WILL NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
WHAT MARRIAGE IS.

IT IS AN ISSUE
THAT IS BEING USED

BY THE HOMOSEXUAL EXTREMISTS
TO DIVIDE AMERICA.

THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE
IS ABOUT LOVE, COMMITMENT

AND MUTUAL
RESPONSIBILITY.

AND WHAT IT SHOWS
IS WE'RE ON A SLOPE

THAT LEADS TO
NO STANDARDS--

AS I LISTEN TO
THE DIRE PREDICTIONS--

IT IS PART OF
A DELIBERATE,

COLDLY CALCULATED
POWER MOVE--

I WILL NOT TURN MY BACK
ON ANOTHER AMERICAN !

( scattered talking )

OUR NATION MUST DEFEND
THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE.

( woman )
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
SAME-SEX MARRIAGES ?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "SAME-SEX,"
LIKE MAN AND WOMAN OR--

TWO WOMEN GETTING MARRIED,
OR TWO MEN GETTING MARRIED,

WANTING TO SHARE THEIR
LIFE TOGETHER.

UH, NO PROBLEM.

I REALLY DON'T HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

Y'KNOW, IF THEY LOVE
EACH OTHER,

THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

THAT'S THE MAIN
ISSUE IF--

AND THAT THEY WILL
RESPECT EACH OTHER.

SAME SEX ?

IT'S UP TO
THE PERSON.

( woman )
LIKE IF TWO WOMEN
WANNA GET MARRIED.

TWO WOMEN ?

IT'S UP TO THE PERSON,
I THINK.

OR TWO MEN.

BUT, IT'S LIKE,
NO WAY.

TWO MEN ?

PERSONALLY, I WOULDN'T DO IT
BUT IT'S UP TO THE PERSON.

IF THE PERSON FEELS THAT
THEY COULD FEEL, YOU KNOW,

LIKE THEY REALLY
LOVE THIS PERSON,

THEY WANNA SETTLE DOWN
WITH THIS PERSON,

THEN IT'S UP TO THEM.

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE,
I CAN'T STAND IT.

I HAVE BEEN SO NERVOUS.

HONEY, I LOVE YOU !

IT WON'T BE LONG,
YOU'LL BE SO LUCKY.

LOIS, YOU HAVE GOT TO
TAKE THIS TO HER.

I STARTED AT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN 1985,

AND WHEN I FIRST MET HER I WAS
A "ROOKIE," AS THEY CALL THEM,

AND GOING THROUGH
THE PROGRAM,

AND SHE'D HAD
A COUPLE OF YEARS ON

AND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE BEST FEMALES

THAT WAS EMPLOYED BY
THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE DID A LOT OF
THINGS TOGETHER.

SPORTING EVENTS,
SPRING TRAINING

TAKING TRIPS TO
GO WATCH BASEBALL GAMES.

I MEAN, THERE WAS
JUST SO MUCH EXCITEMENT,

SO MUCH IN COMMON, IT WAS LIKE
WE COMPLEMENTED EACH OTHER.

WHERE'S MY BABY ?

GOOD-BYE, HONEY,
I LOVE YOU.

( woman )
IF YOU GUYS KNEW HOW CLOSE
YOU WERE RIGHT NOW.

( giggling )

LOIS AND I BOTH WENT TO M.C.C.
IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA,

AND THEY SAID "WELL,
YOU NEED TO GO TO CLASSES,

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND

THE COMMITMENT
THAT YOU'RE MAKING."

THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW,
SET THE DATE,

LET US KNOW AND YOU'RE
READY TO GO FORWARD"

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WE WENT OUT,
WE HAD DINNER.

WHEN THAT WAS THROUGH,
THEY DROVE OFF WITH HER.

AND I GO HOME AND I'M
LIKE, "WOW."

I WAS LOST !

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WITH
SOMEBODY 24 HOURS A DAY,

YOU GO TO WORK,
THEY'RE AT WORK,

YOU CAN TALK TO 'EM,

AND I GO HOME
AND SHE'S NOT THERE.

♪ CHERISH THE LOVE... ♪

I WAS NERVOUS,
BUT I WAS SO HAPPY.

I WANTED TO--

I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID
"GOD, I AM SO LUCKY."

IT WAS COMING FROM THE HEART,

IT WAS COMING FROM HER HEART,
THE SMILE ON HER FACE.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU, THAT WAS
THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

( newscaster )
THE FUTURE OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
IN MASSACHUSETTS

IS NOW IN THE HANDS
OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

FOR 32 YEARS, I'VE LOVED GLORIA
AND WANTED TO MARRY HER

AND I THINK THAT AFTER TODAY, I
WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

LINDA DAVIES
AND GLORIA BAILEY

HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT TODAY,
ONE OF SEVEN

GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES

WHO WENT BEFORE
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT

TO ARGUE FOR THE RIGHT TO
MARRY IN MASSACHUSETTS.

BUT THE STATE IS SAYING HILLARY
MAY NOT MARRY JULIE GOODRIDGE...

ATTORNEY, MARY BONAUTO ARGUED

THE RIGHT TO MARRY THE PERSON
OF ONE'S CHOICE

IS PROTECTED UNDER
THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO DON'T HAVE EQUALITY

UNDER THE LAW AND
SHOULD HAVE IT

BECAUSE ALL CITIZENS IN THIS
STATE ARE BORN FREE AND EQUAL.

THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT TO MARRY,

BUT MARRIAGE IS STILL
A UNION OF A MAN AND A WOMAN.

THE STATE WANTS TO ENCOURAGE
THIS MODEL OF MARRIAGE,

WHERE THERE ARE
ONE PARENT OF EACH SEX.

THE PLAINTIFFS, MANY OF THEM
RAISING CHILDREN THEMSELVES,

COMPARED THEIR FIGHT
TO THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

( man )
I HAVE ALWAYS FELT
DISCRIMINATION AS A BLACK MAN,

BUT CERTAINLY NOW AS A GAY MAN
IN A RELATIONSHIP.

NOW, IF THE HIGH COURT AGREES
WITH THE PLAINTIFFS,

MASSACHUSETTS WOULD
BE THE FIRST STATE TO

LEGALIZE MARRIAGE RIGHTS
FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS.

A DECISION IS NOT EXPECTED
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THOUGH.

( man )
COME ON, BABIES !

COME ON, BABIES !

IF IT WASN'T FOR MARRIAGE,

IT WOULD BE A HELL OF A
DIFFERENT SOCIETY OUT HERE.

I JUST THINK...

THE GROUNDS FOR THE SOCIETY
THAT WE'VE GOT NOW

IS MARRIAGE.

IN SOME RESPECTS,
I THINK YOU'RE MATCHED UP

LONG BEFORE YOU EVER MEET.

OH, CERTAINLY,
IT SERVES A FUNCTION.

YOU'RE KIND OF OSTRACIZED
IF YOU'RE NOT MARRIED

WHEN YOU GO TO
PARTIES, DANCES.

IT LETS THE OTHER PEOPLE
KNOW THAT YOU BELONG.

IF YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR
MATE FOR GRANTED

AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
GONNA DO,

YOU MIGHT AS WELL
CALL IT QUITS TO START WITH.

I KNOW A LOT OF WOMEN
WHO SAY,

"OH, I DON'T WANNA--"
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY--

"I DON'T WANNA BE TAKEN FOR
GRANTED, "I DON'T WANNA

GET MARRIED, I DON'T WANNA BE
TAKEN FOR GRANTED."

IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE
TAKEN FOR GRANTED,

YOU DON'T WANNA BE MARRIED.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
BECAUSE THAT'S TRUST.

I WOULDN'T CALL
THAT A MARRIAGE.

MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN
A MAN AND A WIFE,

A MAN AND A WOMAN.

TO ME, THAT'S THE ONLY
MARRIAGE THERE IS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE
ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

I WAS SITTING ON A PIER
ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER,

SITTING THERE WATCHING
THE WATER GO BY ONE DAY,

BEAUTIFUL DAY,

HE WALKED UP
BEHIND ME.

WE SAT AND TALKED 'TIL
TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

IT JUST KIND OF WENT ON
FROM THERE.

THIS FAD THAT IS
SWEEPING THE WORLD RIGHT NOW

IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE
IT UNDERMINES

THE LEGAL BASIS FOR MARRIAGE.

MARRIAGE IS VERY SIMPLE,

A UNION BETWEEN ONE MAN
AND ONE WOMAN.

NOT TWO MEN, OR THREE MEN,
OR FOUR MEN.

IT'S LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL,

PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO
BELIEVE WHAT THEY WANT

BUT THE FACT IS, IS IT
RIGHT WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN ?

THE REALITY IS,
OUR FAMILIES DO EXIST

AND WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW

WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT,

WE NEED THE LAWS TO
CATCH UP WITH THAT REALITY.

A MAN AND A WOMAN,

SOCIAL SCIENCE HAS SHOWN
AGAIN AND AGAIN,

ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF CHILDREN, AND THEREFORE,

IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF SOCIETY.

MARRIAGE IS A CHOICE THAT DOES
NOT TURN ON HAVING CHILDREN.

NOBODY IS REQUIRED
TO HAVE CHILDREN

IN ORDER TO GET MARRIED,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE
WHO DO WANT TO GET MARRIED

WHO ARE RAISING CHILDREN,
OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED TO DO SO.

AND THAT INCLUDES LESBIANS
AND GAY MEN.

THAT WILL DESTROY THE FAMILY,
WHICH WILL DESTROY THE NATION.

ARE WE SO WISE TODAY,

THAT WE
ARE READY TO REJECT

5,000 YEARS OF
RECORDED HISTORY ?

I DON'T THINK SO.

WHAT I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT

IS THE BIG LIE OF
THE FAMILY VALUES DEBATE.

THE IDEA THAT MARRIAGE
HAS EVER BEEN

SOME SOLID,
STATIC, IMMOVABLE THING,

AND THAT IT HAS STAYED THAT
WAY FOR 6,000 YEARS.

IN FACT, MARRIAGE
HAS CONSTANTLY BEEN

A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND

CONSTANTLY SHIFTING TO
SUIT EACH CULTURE AND CLASS,

EACH ERA AND ECONOMY.

FOR THE FIRST 1,000 YEARS
OF CHRISTIANITY,

IT CONSIDERED MARRIAGE
A SECULAR INSTITUTION,

AND NOT UNTIL 1215

DID THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
DECLARE MARRIAGE A SACRAMENT.

TRADITIONALLY,
THE ENGAGEMENT FEAST

WAS WHEN YOU SIGNED,

WITNESSED AND NOTARIZED
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT,

AND THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY

WAS WHEN YOU ACTUALLY
EXCHANGED PROPERTY, RIGHT.

THIS IS BACK IN AN ERA

WHEN THERE WERE ONLY TWO WAYS
OF MAKING A LIVING:

LAND AND LABOR.

SO EITHER-- IF YOUR FAMILY
HAS PROPERTY,

THEY FIND ANOTHER FAMILY
WITH WHOM TO EXCHANGE IT.

OR IF YOU'RE FROM THE CLASS
OF BUTCHERS AND BAKERS

AND CANDLESTICK MAKERS,
THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE ELSE

WHO WILL BE YOUR BUSINESS
PARTNER, LIFELONG.

SO A FARMER
REQUIRED A FARM WIFE,

COULDN'T BRING IN
THE EGGS OTHERWISE.

FISHERMEN REQUIRED
A FISH WIFE,

YOU COULDN'T GET
THE GOODS TO MARKET.

CERTAIN GERMAN GUILDS WOULD NOT
LET A MAN BECOME A MASTER

UNTIL HE HAD A WIFE
WHO WOULD FEED THE APPRENTICES

AND KEEP THE BOOKS
AND RUN THE SHOP.

FEUDAL MARRIAGE
IS TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE.

AND THE PROVERB WAS:

"HE WHO MARRIES FOR LOVE
HAS GOOD NIGHTS AND BAD DAYS."

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

IF YOU DON'T MARRY
A STABLE PARTNER

WHO KNOWS HOW TO
TAKE CARE OF THE VINEYARDS,

WHICH IS A VERY
SPECIALIZED SKILL,

YOU'RE GOING TO STARVE.

YOU HAVE TO MARRY
YOUR COUSIN AND A HALF

WHO HAS THE VINEYARD OVER,

BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THAT SHE IS A STABLE WORKER

AND HAS BEEN REALLY
WELL-TRAINED

IN EXACTLY THE TECHNIQUES
THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

OR THAT SHE HAS
EXACTLY THE HALF A HOUSE

THAT WILL MATCH TO
YOUR HALF A HOUSE

THAT YOU'RE GOING TO INHERIT

SO THAT YOU AND YOUR
BROTHER-IN-LAW CAN SWAP

AND HAVE A
WHOLE HOUSE.

YOU CAN'T, YOU--

SO PEOPLE-- WHEN PEOPLE
MARRY FOR MONEY

IN TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE,

THEY'RE NOT DOING IT
FOR VENAL REASONS,

THEY'RE NOT
DOING IT TO GET RICH,

THEY'RE DOING IT
TO NOT STARVE.

( dinging bell )

WHEN MEN GET SHOVED
OUT OF THE HOUSE

AND GO OFF
TO WORK IN FACTORIES

OR AS OWNERS OF FACTORIES
OR AS ENTREPRENEURS,

THEN MARRIAGE IS SUDDENLY
SHAKEN FREE OF ITS MEANING.

SUDDENLY ALL THAT'S LEFT IS
AFFECTION AND LOVE AND SEX.

SO THEN YOU START
GETTING THESE HYMNS TO LOVE

AND THESE HYMNS
TO MOTHERHOOD

AND "LOVE AND MARRIAGE,

LOVE AND MARRIAGE GO TOGETHER
LIKE A HORSE AND CARRIAGE."

THAT'S THE NEW
RADICAL MARRIAGE MODEL.

AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO MAKE
A LIVING INDEPENDENTLY,

WITHOUT A WIFE,
WITHOUT A HUSBAND

JUST BASED ON THEIR TALENTS
AND PERSONAL EFFORT,

SO DOES MARRIAGE CHANGE.

ONCE YOU CAN
MAKE YOUR OWN LIVING

YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE
YOUR OWN PARTNER.

NOW WE TALK ABOUT
LOVE FIRST AND MONEY LAST.

( man shouting on
helicopter radio )

( reporter )
THIS IS UNFOLDING AS WE SPEAK.

( woman )
THEY'D ROBBED A BANK
RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE

AND APPARENTLY THEY'D
COME BACK THIS WAY,

CAME INTO THE PARKING LOT.

LOIS GOT THE CALL THAT
THEY WERE HEADED THIS WAY;

SHE WAS RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER.

WHEN SHE CAME OUT,
THEY JUST GUNNED HER DOWN.

THEY SHOT HER IN THE NECK.

( woman on police radio )
500, and it's gonna be for an
officer situation.

SHE LITERALLY
BLED TO DEATH.

( newscaster )
OFFICER LOIS MARRERO,
19 YEARS ON THE FORCE,

DIED AT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL.

LOIS AND MICKIE
HAD JUST CELEBRATED

THEIR 10th WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY.

IT'S JUST A TRAGEDY
THAT OCCURRED.

IF I WOULD HAVE
BEEN IN THAT PLACE,

MY PERSPECTIVE, THE SAME THING
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.

( man )
PROBABLY BEEN ANY OFFICER ?

ANY OFFICER THAT HAD BEEN
IN HER SHOES THAT DAY,

THE SAME ENDING
WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.

( blaring bagpipes )

( woman on police radio )
Do I have officer
Lois M. Marrero on frequency ?

Units be advised that 327
officer Lois M. Marrero

is 10.7 for the remainder.

She will
never be forgotten.

May she rest in peace,
and God bless.

( man )
IN AS MUCH AS MICKIE
ENJOYED A CARING RELATIONSHIP

WITH HER PARTNER,
LOIS MARRERO,

SHE HAS DECIDED TO SEEK
THE SURVIVING SPOUSE BENEFITS,

AS WELL AS LOIS'S CONTRIBUTION
TO THE PENSION FUND.

MOREOVER,
SHE STRONGLY FEELS

THAT THIS IS WHAT LOIS
WOULD HAVE WANTED.

( woman )
DO YOU THINK LOIS'S FAMILY WILL
SUPPORT YOU IN THIS EFFORT ?

YES, MA'AM, I DO.

SHORTLY AFTER LOIS WAS KILLED,
THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILY,

EVERYBODY
RALLIED AROUND MICKIE.

AND MICKIE WAS TREATED

AS ANY OTHER SURVIVING SPOUSE
WOULD BE TREATED.

THE ISSUE OF MONEY
KIND OF GOT RAISED

AND THE FAMILY
SUDDENLY TURNED ON MICKIE

AND BEGAN MAKING ALL KINDS
OF CRAZY ALLEGATIONS

THAT LOIS WAS
ALLEGEDLY HAVING AN AFFAIR

WITH SOME WOMAN IN TEXAS.

( woman )
AND WHEN WE SEE
SOMEONE CLAIMING

THAT SOMETHING EXISTED
WHEN IT DID NOT EXIST,

THEN THE FAMILY IS GONNA
STAND UP FOR THAT.

IT'S JUST A TRUTH ISSUE.

( woman )
IF THEY WERE MARRIED

AND IT WAS A HETEROSEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP, THOUGH,

AND SAY THAT LOIS WAS
IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE ELSE,

THIS REALLY WOULDN'T
EVEN BE SOMETHING

WE'D BE TALKING
ABOUT, WOULD IT ?

YOU'RE CORRECT.

IF THE STATE DID RECOGNIZE
SAME-SEX UNIONS

AND IF THE STATE ALSO
PROVIDED A MEANS BY WHICH

SAME-SEX UNIONS WOULD
BE ABLE TO TERMINATE,

THEN THIS
WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.

SO WE'RE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT

FOR SAME SEX-UNIONS
TO BE RECOGNIZED.

I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

SADLY ENOUGH FROM THE TRAGEDY
THAT HAPPENED A WEEK AGO,

WE MAYBE SHOULD COME
TO SOMETHING THAT'S FAIR

TO ALL OUR CONSTITUENTS
AND ALL OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE SEE IT AS A MORAL ISSUE.

YOU TAKE THIS AWAY,
THE NEXT BLOCK TO FALL

WILL BE AN ARGUMENT WITH
THE STATE LEGISLATURE

THAT WILL ARGUE IN FAVOR
OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGES.

THE MORALITY IS IS TO DO

THE RIGHT THING
FOR THE COMMUNITY

AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR
EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

THE BIBLE CLEARLY
STATES THAT

GOD PUT TOGETHER
ONE MAN AND A WOMAN.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN YOUR GOD,
SO YOUR GOD IS NOT MY GOD.

I HAVE A DIFFERENT GOD.

MANY MEMBERS OF
THE PENSION FUND,

THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE
STANDING TO SAY SOMETHING,

ARE WRITING LETTERS
IN SUPPORT OF MICKIE.

WE'VE GOT TO CONVINCE
FIVE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD

THAT WE'RE RIGHT.

GENORA AND I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE
AND ENGAGED FOR SIX YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A LONG ENGAGEMENT

AND, UM, WHEN WE FIRST APPLIED
FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE,

PEOPLE TOLD US
WE WOULD NEVER WIN.

BUT NOW WE ARE SO CLOSE.

THIS MEANS THAT WE CAN
CARE FOR EACH OTHER

NOT JUST EMOTIONALLY,

BUT LEGALLY AND FINANCIALLY
ONCE WE GET MARRIED.

WHAT THE COURTS IN HAWAII
HAVE DONE IS SAYING,

THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT,

WE'RE ERASING 2,000 YEARS
OF HUMAN HISTORY

AND WE'RE STARTING AFRESH.

AND I THINK THEY'RE STARTING
AFRESH ON A VERY SHAKY,

IMMORAL AND
UNSATISFACTORY BASIS,

AND THAT IS HOMOSEXUAL ACTS.

TODAY, THE COURT IN HAWAII
HAS STRUCK A STRONG BLOW

AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
IN MARRIAGE BASED ON SEX

AND IT IS
ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT

FOR MANY, MANY REAL LIFE
FAMILIES AND COUPLES

WHO NOW STAND ON THE BRINK
OF BEING ABLE TO DO

WHAT EVERY OTHER
AMERICAN TAKES FOR GRANTED,

EXERCISE THE FREEDOM TO MARRY,

THE CHOICE TO MARRY
THE PERSON THEY LOVE.

( Bob Barr )
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY
SIMPLY STANDS UP AND SAYS,

"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

THE COURTS IN HAWAII
ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE

HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGES,

AND THESE GROUPS ARE THEN GOING
TO TAKE THOSE MARRIAGE LICENSES,

SO-CALLED MARRIAGE LICENSES,

PIECES OF PAPER THAT PURPORT
TO BE MARRIAGE LICENSES

AND COME TO THE REST--
TO THE MAINLAND.

SO IN AN EXERCISE
OF RESPONSIBILITY,

IN AN EXERCISE OF PROPER ROLE
OF FEDERALISM,

WE HAVE CRAFTED
THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.

WHY SHOULDN'T MY PARTNER
OF 13 YEARS BE ENTITLED

TO THE SAME HEALTH INSURANCE
AND SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS

THAT INDIVIDUALS AROUND HERE,

MY COLLEAGUES WITH
SECOND AND THIRD WIVES,

ARE ABLE TO GIVE TO THEM ?

MR. CHAIRMAN, I RISE
IN STRONG OPPOSITION

TO THE SO-CALLED
DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
REPRESENT ALL AMERICANS

AS MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

LET US NOT BE GUIDED
BY PREJUDICE,

IGNORANCE AND FEAR.

LET US NOT USE A
SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION

TO EMPLOY A POLITICAL STRATEGY
FOR THIS ELECTION YEAR.

( chanting )
GAY RIGHTS NOW !
GAY RIGHTS NOW...

THE PRESIDENT
HAS A PERSONAL BELIEF

RELATED TO MARRIAGE
AND WHAT IT IS

AND HE HAS TO ACT CONSISTENT
WITH THE PERSONAL BELIEF.

THIS IS THE GREATEST CIVIL
RIGHTS ISSUE OF THE DECADE.

IT'S ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS,
IT'S ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS,

AND CLINTON HAS
TURNED HIS BACK ON US.

OLDEST BOY, THE YOUNGEST
AND THE MIDDLE ONE.

"GRANDPA'S BARN."

GRANDKIDS MADE THAT
AND I KEPT IT.

THAT'S THEIR SCHOOL PICTURES.

AND THIS ONE HERE
THEY HAD TO GET AT WAL-MART.

SO I HAVE TO PUT A FRAME
UP THERE FOR THAT.

AND THAT,
OF COURSE, IS EARL.

YEAH.

WELL, NOT WHEN
I MET HER, I DIDN'T.

OH, AFTER I COME BACK FROM
VIETNAM, I DIDN'T TRY.

WHEN I CAME BACK, WE STAYED
TOGETHER FOR ABOUT A YEAR

AND DECIDED TO CALL IT QUITS.

I GOT CUSTODY OF THE BOYS,

AND SHE DIDN'T MIND IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK'S
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN--

YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED
TO A WOMAN

AND MARRIED TO A MAN...

HMM...

OTHER THAN SEX,
NOT ONE DAMN THING.

ME AND HER WERE MARRIED
FOR 11 YEARS,

ME AND HIM WAS
MARRIED FOR 23 YEARS.

WHEN ME AND HER GOT MARRIED,
HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID,

"DO YOU TAKE THIS WOMAN TO BE
YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE ?"

I SAID, "I WILL."

HE SAID-- HE LOOKED
AT HER AND HE SAID,

"DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN TO BE

YOUR LAWFULLY
WEDDED HUSBAND ?"

SHE SAID, "I WILL."

HE SAID, "I PRONOUNCE YOU
MAN AND WIFE.

NOW GREET
YOUR BRIDE."

THAT WAS IT.

WITH EARL, IT WAS JUST
A PRIVATE LITTLE THING

BETWEEN THE TWO OF US
ABOUT 10:30 AT NIGHT--

10:45 AT NIGHT.

WE SAT THERE
AND DID OUR VOWS.

AND I AGREED JUST, Y'KNOW,
JUST AGREED TO BE ONE.

"'TIL DEATH
DO YOU PART."

WISH HE WAS HERE.

( woman )
YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO FOLLOW THE LAW

AND THE LAW REQUIRES
THAT IN YOUR PENSION PLAN,

YOU DO NOT DISCRIMINATE
BASED ON MARITAL STATUS.

THIS PENSION POLICY

CURRENTLY PROVIDES A CERTAIN
BENEFIT

TO A MARRIED PERSON

WHO IS KILLED
IN THE LINE OF DUTY

AND THEIR SPOUSE RECEIVES A
CERTAIN PENSION BENEFIT,

A SUBSTANTIAL PENSION BENEFIT.

A PERSON IN OFFICER MASHBURN'S
SITUATION,

WHOSE MARRIAGE
IS NOT YET RECOGNIZED

BY THE LAWS IN FLORIDA,

THEY ARE DENIED THAT
SAME BENEFIT

THAT A HETEROSEXUAL
MARRIED COUPLE IS GRANTED.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW
TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION

BY AWARDING HER
THE PENSION BENEFITS

THAT ARE DUE HER AS
A SURVIVING SPOUSE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WEEK--
MATTER OF FACT,

NEXT WEDNESDAY MAKES IT
EIGHT MONTHS

THAT LOIS HAD BEEN DEAD

AND I HONESTLY
BELIEVE IN MY HEART

THAT I HAVE NOT GRIEVED YET.

I BOTH BASICALLY HAVE HAD TO

YOU KNOW,
SIT BACK AND DEFEND MYSELF

FROM EVERY ANGLE.

DEFEND MY RELATIONSHIP,
DEFEND, YOU KNOW,

OUR LIFE TOGETHER
AND THAT'S SO SAD.

THE LEGAL OPINIONS THAT
MR. LOPER HAS RENDERED,

AND WHEN I READ THE POLICY

I BELIEVE THE HEIRS
OF HER PENSION BENEFIT

SHOULD BE THE ESTATE.

AND I'M GONNA
MAKE A MOTION

THAT WE DENY MISS MASHBURN'S
REQUEST FOR PENSION BENEFITS.

ALL IN FAVOR
OF THE MOTION ?

ALL THOSE OPPOSED ?

MOTION CARRIES
UNANIMOUSLY.

WELL, WE WILL,
AS PART OF THE ESTATE,

MAKE OUR OWN FORMAL CLAIM
AND APPLICATION

TO RECEIVE
THE PENSION BENEFITS.

WE'RE RELYING STRICTLY ON
WHAT THE LAW STATES.

AND AGAIN,
WHAT THE LAW STATES IS THAT

IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA,

SAME-SEX MARRIAGES ARE NOT
RECOGNIZED FOR ANY PURPOSE.

AND I'M GLAD THAT THE BOARD

GAVE THE SAME HONOR
AND DIGNITY

TO HONOR THE LAW AND FOLLOW
THE LAW AS OFFICER MARRERO DID

IN DEDICATING HER LIFE
TO ENFORCING THE LAW.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

( woman )
BUT DON'T YOU AGREE--

PARDON ME ?

SHE DEDICATED HER LIFE
TO MICKIE MASHBURN TOO

AND THAT'S BEING
DISHONORED.

WELL, HOW IS THAT
BEING DISHONORED ?

WASN'T SURPRISED BY
WHAT HAPPENED,

I WAS ALREADY
PREPARED FOR THAT.

I AM READY TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH MY ATTORNEYS,

AND ALL I CAN SAY
IS LET'S GO TO THE FUTURE

AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

( woman )
WHAT IS THE FUTURE ?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT--
Y'KNOW, WHAT'S AHEAD NOW ?

THANK YOU,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

( woman )
THE HEART OF A MARRIAGE
IS THE NEED OF TWO PEOPLE

TO SHARE A LIFE,

WARMLY AND CLOSELY
AND FOREVER.

EVEN WITH THIS
VERY STRONG MOTIVATION,

BOTH OF THEM WILL HAVE TO
MAKE THE COMPROMISES

THAT ARE INEVITABLE

BEFORE TWO PEOPLE,
ANY TWO PEOPLE,

CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY.

( man )
SO HOW DID IT COME THAT
YOU DO ALL THE COOKING ?

DO YOU DO ANY OF
THE COOKING, LOUIS ?

HE HAS THIS WONDERFUL
TALENT, AND I DON'T.

YOU KNOW, ON TELEVISION,
PEOPLE SAID, EVERY MAN

HAD TO COOK ONE DAY A WEEK

SO THAT A WIFE CAN STAY ONE DAY

NO COOKING,
CAN SIT DOWN, HAVE A DRINK.

AND SO I SAID TO HIM HE MUST

COOK ONE DAY IN THE WEEK.

BUT HE DOESN'T DO IT.

( laughter )

WHAT CAN YOU DO ?

THIS IS MY ROOM,
HE HAS HIS ROOM OVER THERE.

SO YOU DO NOT SLEEP
IN THE SAME BED ?

NO, HE CANNOT
SLEEP WITH ME.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

THEN HE GET HOT
AND WARM AND...

( Louis )
HE'S SNORING ALL THE TIME.

MARRIAGE IS
THE MOST INTIMATE BOND

TWO PEOPLE CAN EVER
GET INTO.

AND IF YOU
REALLY LOVE EACH OTHER,

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT,
DON'T YOU ?

WE ARE TOGETHER
FOR 36 YEARS,

SO I THINK WE HAVE
THE RIGHT TO MARRY.

( chatter )

( applause )

( applause )

( Louis )
IT WAS... A HAZE.

I MEAN, I FELT LIKE THIS
ISN'T REALLY HAPPENING.

( speaking Dutch )

( applause )

( woman )
IT'S VERY HAPPY,
EVERYBODY'S WAVING AT YOU,

AND EVERYBODY'S HAPPY,
AND IT'S JUST NICE !

IT'S A BIG PARTY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY,
THE SUN IS SHINING.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

( cheering )

( man )
I GUESS IT'S HARD TO BE MARRIED
WHEN YOU'RE GAY, YOU KNOW ?

( man )
WELL, I GUESS.

BUT NOT IN HOLLAND.

NO, BUT I MEAN JUST BEING
MARRIED AND BE GAY IS HARD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE DIFFERENCE IS ?

IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN
A STRAIGHT RELATIONSHIP.

CAN YOU EXPAND
ON THAT ?

OH, YOU KNOW...

PUT YOU
ON THE SPOT ?

I DON'T KNOW...

WELL, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE NOT ALL GAY HERE

SO YOU CAN ASK ME.

( laughing )

( man )
WHY IT'S EASY
FOR YOU, TELL US ?

WHY IS IT EASY FOR ME,
DARLING ?

WHY IS IT
MORE EASY FOR ME ?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING NOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT'S HARDER TO
KEEP A STRAIGHT--

LIKE, A GAY RELATIONSHIP

MORE STEADY THAN A STRAIGHT
RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW ?

YOU HAVE TO
PROVE YOURSELF.

YES, AS WELL.

WHAT ABOUT GUYS
WHO GET MARRIED, THEN ?

DO YOU THINK THEY'LL
HAVE LONGER,

MORE COMMITTED
RELATIONSHIPS ?

NO, I THINK THAT'S BULLSHIT,
IT'S JUST A PIECE OF PAPER.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT.

WE SAW TWO FRIENDS
OF OURS,

THEY GOT
MARRIED FOR A YEAR AGO.

NOW THEY GOT DIVORCED.

IT'S HAPPENING TO
STRAIGHT PEOPLE, AS WELL.

BUT, I MEAN, IT'S NOT
THAT NORMAL--

I MEAN, IT'S SO NORMAL,

SO YOU'RE ONLY, YOU KNOW,
WATCHING

"THE GAY PEOPLE,"
ACTUALLY, I THINK.

BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE STRAIGHT
PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS, AS WELL.

NICE.

WELL, THERE WOULD BE SEVERAL
POSITIVE ARGUMENTS WHY

IT IS GOOD FOR MARRIAGE

IF SAME-SEX COUPLES
CAN MARRY.

ONE OF THEM IS THAT
MARRIAGE THEN BY DEFINITION

BECOMES GENDER-NEUTRAL.

THAT IN A MARRIAGE WHICH IS
OPEN TO SAME-SEX COUPLES

YOU CANNOT HAVE A DIVIDED
POSITION FOR THE HUSBAND

AND FOR THE WIFE.

SO IN THE WAY OF
EQUALIZING THE POSITION

OF MEN AND WOMEN
INSIDE MARRIAGE.

OPENING UP MARRIAGE
TO WOMEN OR TO MEN MAY HELP.

THAT MAY BE,
FROM A WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE,

A GOOD THING.

FROM A MORE GENERAL, TRADITIONAL
PERSPECTIVE OF MARRIAGE,

THERE HAS BEEN A TREND THAT
LESS PEOPLE WANTED TO MARRY;

THEY JUST WANTED TO COHABIT.

AND MARRIAGE THEREFORE
BECAME LESS IMPORTANT.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE
IN SUPPORT OF MARRIAGE

WOULD BE HAPPY,
THAT NOW OTHER COUPLES

WANT TO JOIN THE INSTITUTION
OF MARRIAGE.

AND TAKE THIS FULL
RESPONSIBILITY

FOR EACH OTHER AND
TOWARDS SOCIETY

IN THE SHAPE OF MARRIAGE.

SO IN THAT WAY,

IF MORE PEOPLE
JOINED MARRIAGE,

MARRIAGE WOULD BE STRONGER
AND PROBABLY LAST LONGER

AND BE A MORE IMPORTANT
SOCIAL PHENOMENON.

( singing in Hebrew )

WHEN WE DROVE WITH
THE MARRIAGE CAR TO THE CITY,

THERE WAS THIS BUNCH OF
OLD LADIES FROM THE SOUTH,

FROM THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE
OF LINDBERGH

AND THEY WERE DOING A
BICYCLE TOUR THROUGH AMSTERDAM

AND THEY STOPPED WHEN
THEY SAW US,

"A MARRIAGE,
A GAY MARRIAGE !"

AND THEY ALL STARTED-- AND THEY
WAVED AND THEY WANTED THE CAKE.

THEY WANTED TO
KNOW EVERYTHING.

YES, "WHERE IS
THE MARRIAGE ?

CAN WE COME BY
TO HAVE A DRINK ?"

AND IT WAS FANTASTIC !

THESE OLD LADIES,
IN THEIR 60s

IN THEIR FLOWER SKIRTS
FROM THE SOUTH.

VERY CATHOLIC,
STAUNCH CATHOLICS,

AND THEY JUST LOVED IT.

MAZEL TOV. I WANT TO SEE YOUR
BABIES. I WANT TO BE--

I'M A BIT UPSET YOU DIDN'T
INVITE ME TO BE MATRON OF HONOR,

BUT YOU ASKED THIS GUY
TO SIGN YOUR WITNESS THING.

I THINK WE'RE MADE
FOR EACH OTHER.

ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS
WE WANTED TO MARRY

IS THAT YOU ARRANGE ALL SORTS
OF LEGAL AFFAIRS IN ONE STROKE.

AND THAT IS EASY
FOR INHERITANCE

BUT ALSO FOR VISITING RIGHTS
IN HOSPITALS, UM--

TRAVELING TOGETHER...

TRAVELING, TAX--

BUSINESS TRIPS--
TAX, YEAH.

SOCIAL SECURITY,
EVERYTHING.

AND IN HOLLAND,
WE HAVE A SAYING

THAT A COUNTRY,
A CIVILIZATION,

A GREAT CIVILIZATION

YOU CAN JUDGE ON THE WAY
IT TREATS ITS MINORITIES.

AND IF IT TREATS ITS
MINORITIES WELL,

THEN IT'S
A CIVILIZED COUNTRY.

ACTUALLY THERE'S
EARL'S HOUSE SHOES.

I STILL GOT THEM.
THAT'S ONE OF THEM.

( Sam )
YES.

I WAS LOOKING
FOR HIS LIVING WILL

BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL
WANTED IT.

A COPY OF IT.

I FOUND IT THE DAY
AFTER HE PASSED AWAY.

BUT I HAD FOUND
HIS WILL.

I HADN'T BROUGHT IT,

BUT I THOUGHT THEY WAS BOTH
TOGETHER BUT THEY WEREN'T.

AND THE LADY-- THE NURSE
AT THE HOSPITAL SAID

THEY WOULDN'T HAVE
NEEDED IT ANYWAY

BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T SAVE HIM.

HERE'S THE FEED.

THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU TRUSTED

AND THOUGHT WERE YOUR
REALLY GOOD FRIENDS...

THEN YOU GET A LETTER
LIKE THAT FROM THEM.

AND BASICALLY
THEY'RE ATTEMPTING

TO STEAL THE ESTATE FROM SAM.

( man )
THIS IS DAD'S HOME,
THEY BUILT THIS HOUSE.

WHEN DAD AND EARL
GOT TOGETHER,

THERE WAS NOTHING
STANDING HERE-- NOTHING.

NO BARNS, NO HOUSE,
NO NOTHING.

DAD AND EARL
DESIGNED THIS HOUSE,

THEY DESIGNED THOSE BARNS,
THEY HAD THEM BUILT.

DAD PUT HIS BLOOD, SWEAT
AND TEARS INTO THIS PLACE

JUST LIKE EARL DID.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT

THAT THE COUSINS CAN COME IN
HERE AND SAY,

"JUST BECAUSE WE'RE RELATED
WE GOT BLOOD KIN TO IT,

WE CAN JUST COME IN
HERE AND TAKE THIS PLACE."

BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE
TWO SIGNATURES BESIDES HIS,

IT ONLY HAD ONE NOTARY PUBLIC,

THEY'RE CLAIMING
IT'S NOT A LEGAL WILL.

ALTHOUGH, EVERYBODY AGREED
IT WAS HIS SIGNATURE.

NOBODY CONTESTED THAT ONE BIT.

IT WAS HIS SIGNATURE
ON THE WILL.

( man )
BECAUSE IT'S TWO MEN,

THERE WAS NO WAY TO HAVE
A MARITAL RELATIONSHIP THERE

THAT THE LAW WOULD RECOGNIZE.

AND SO THESE COUSINS,
WHO DONATED NOTHING,

HAD NO CONTACT BASICALLY
WITH EARL, UH,

Y'KNOW, FOR
THE LAST 20 YEARS

ARE GONNA BE UNJUSTLY
ENRICHED.

( rooster crowing )

HEY, DAD...

YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT
TIME WE WEAN THESE THINGS ?

YOU THINK IT'S GETTIN' CLOSE
TO TIME TO WEAN THESE ?

YEAH, THOSE ARE READY.

( man )
SO HOW DO FEEL
ABOUT THIS ?

I MEAN, REALLY...

IF EARL AND SAM COULD HAVE
GOTTEN MARRIED,

THEN YOU'D BE--

HEY, THEY WERE MARRIED.

THE WAY I CONSIDER IT,
THEY WERE MARRIED.

THEY LIVED
TOGETHER FOR 22 YEARS,

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MARRIED.

YOU RARELY SEE VERY
MANY STRAIGHT MARRIAGES

GO PAST 15 YEARS.

USUALLY THEY JUST--
ONE ANOTHER.

START KILLING EACH OTHER.

OCCASIONALLY,
YOU SEE THE OLD COUPLES

WHO'VE BEEN MARRIED 35,
40 YEARS.

THAT'S THE WAY I FELT.

THEY WERE MARRIED,
NOTHING TO IT.

JUST PARENTS TO ME.

HE WAS COOL.

BUSINESSLIKE,
BUT HE WAS COOL.

SILLY GUINEA...
THERE WE GO.

BIRTH OF A GUINEA !

THERE'S ( bleep ),
DALE, KENNETH, DORIS,

THE BOYS' MOTHER,
EARL AND ME.

AND IT DOES
RESEMBLE ALL OF US

EXCEPT THIS PART HERE,
AND THIS.

I'VE NEVER WORN A SCARF
AROUND MY NECK IN MY LIFE.

I WOULD CONSIDER THAT

A LITTLE BIT
ON THE NELLY SIDE.

( man )
SO THIS IS WHERE
YOU MIGHT MOVE

IF EVERYTHING GOES SOUR, HUH ?

YEAH, IF EVERYTHING GOES SOUR,
THIS WILL BE MY HOME.

I'LL COME AND REDO
THIS AND MOVE HERE.

NOT MUCH ELSE I CAN DO.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUALS
REALLY WANT TO MARRY.

I THINK THEY
WANT TO DESTROY MARRIAGE

AND THEN RECREATE IT
IN THEIR OWN--

ACCORDING TO
THEIR OWN INTERPRETATION

WITH ALL OF THE BENEFITS

BUT WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT
THAT DEPENDS--

THAT MEANS
SO MUCH TO CHILDREN--

WHY WOULD THEY WANNA
DESTROY MARRIAGE ?

IF THEY WANT TO DESTROY IT,
WHY DO THEY WANNA BE MARRIED ?

I DON'T THINK THEY WANNA
BE MARRIED, MOST OF THEM.

TODAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY
IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

AND AROUND THE NATION AS WELL AS
OUR FRIENDS IN CANADA.

WE'RE GOING ALL OUT TO OUR
COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICES

TO GET MARRIED.

HE AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER
FOR 18 YEARS.

THE ONE THING I WANNA DO BEFORE
WE DIE IS TO MARRY LEGALLY.

WE JUST CELEBRATED
OUR 24th ANNIVERSARY.

WE JUST FEEL WE SHOULD BE GIVEN
THE RIGHT TO LEGALLY MARRY.

WHAT'S THE LETTER SAY,
IS IT A REJECTION LETTER ?

IT SAYS "THE CLERK ONLY
ISSUES MARRIAGE LICENSE

ONLY TO AN UNMARRIED MALE
AND AN UNMARRIED FEMALE."

OKAY, BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH
UNMARRIED MALES.

DO YOU THINK GAY PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE MARRIED ?

I MEAN, YOU MARRY PEOPLE
EVERYDAY, RIGHT ?

WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR
ON VALENTINE'S DAY AGAIN.

AND WE'LL ENCOURAGE
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO COME

UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO MARRY
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

WE KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

WE HAVE A SON WHO IS GAY
WHO IS IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER MAN

AND HE CAN'T GET MARRIED
ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE WANNA KNOW WHY OUR SON IS
BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

IT WOULD BE GREAT
IF WE GOT A LICENSE TODAY.

IT REALLY WOULD BE.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CITY'S
READY BUT WE'VE BEEN READY.

YES, I'D LIKE A MARRIAGE
LICENSE APPLICATION.

WHERE ARE THE BRIDE
AND THE GROOM ?

THE BRIDE AND THE GROOM
HAVE TO BE TOGETHER.

COME ON, DEAR,
HONEY, COME OVER HERE.

THAT'S US.

FILL THIS FORM OUT

AND GET IN LINE ALL THE WAY
AGAINST THE WALL TO MY RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, AN APPLICATION
FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE, PLEASE.

NOW YOU'RE REALLY
CONFUSING ME.

NO, NOT AT ALL.

BRIDE AND GROOM
CAN GET AN APPLICATION

FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE,
BUT GROOM AND GROOM...

WHY NOT ?

MY OTHER
TWO SISTERS--

THE OTHER TWO, THAT'S WHY
I'M GETTING CONFUSED HERE.

THEY'RE COMING UP
BRIDE AND BRIDE,

BRIDE AND BRIDE
AND THEN GROOM AND GROOM.

WE NEED TO GET YOU
A DOMESTIC.

NO, WE WANNA
GET MARRIED.

YOU CAN HAVE A
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP.

YEAH, WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT,
WE WANNA DO THIS.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW,
AT THIS POINT...

( woman )
IT TOOK BRAVERY

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDOW
50 YEARS AGO

TO STOP SEPARATE AND EQUAL,

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL LAWS
IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE'RE NOT EVEN
SEPARATE AND EQUAL,

WE'RE NOT EVEN SEPARATE
AND EQUAL,

WE'RE SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL.

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP IS VERY
UNEQUAL TO LEGAL MARRIAGE.

AND HE SAID, "THIS IS
THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE,

"YOU HAVE TO WORK ABOVE--

Y'KNOW, HAVE TO
WORK ON THE TOP."

SO AS I LEFT, I'M LIKE,
"WELL, SEGREGATED COFFEE SHOPS

WERE THE BOTTOM OF
THE TOTEM POLE."

IT WOULD HELP ME
TO HEAR FROM YOU

WHAT YOU THINK IT WOULD
COST YOU, FOR EXAMPLE,

TO RUN ONE APPLICATION
THROUGH AS A--

WE WON'T DO IT.

I KNOW YOU WON'T BUT I
WANNA HEAR FROM YOU WHY,

LIKE WHAT IT WOULD COST YOU.

LET ME BE CLEAR,

NOT WHAT IT COSTS ME,
THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE.

I AM BANNED FROM
ISSUING A LICENSE.

NOW, IF I GET AN ORDER
FROM A COURT

ORDERING ME TO
GIVE YOU A LICENSE,

I HAVE NO IF'S OR BUT'S
ABOUT IT, I WILL DO IT.

CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, I CANNOT
DO THAT UNDER THE LAW.

YOU CAN KIND OF TELL THAT
THE PEOPLE ARE SYMPATHETIC

LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL
IN THEIR LIVES

BUT IT'S AN INSTITUTIONAL THING
THAT'S BEEN CARRIED FOR YEARS

AND IT'S LARGE.

AND ALSO, THE KIND OF LAZINESS
THAT COMES WITH BUREAUCRACY

WHERE IT'S JUST LIKE, "WELL,
I DON'T FEEL LIKE CHANGING IT,

"YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE
CHANGING IT.

GO SEE THE GUY DOWN THE HALL."

AND I GUESS THIS IS JUST
THE WAY TO DO IT,

ONE LITTLE
CHIP AT A TIME.

SO...

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP
IN THE SOUTH

DURING THE '40s AND THE '50s,

THE GREAT MAJORITY OF
THE PEOPLE IN THAT REGION

BELIEVED THAT BLACK PEOPLE

SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ENTER
PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.

AND THEY FELT THAT
BLACK PEOPLE

SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

AND MANY PEOPLE FELT THAT WAS
RIGHT, BUT THAT WAS WRONG.

I THINK AS POLITICIANS,
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS,

WE SHOULD NOT ONLY FOLLOW

BUT WE MUST LEAD,
LEAD OUR DISTRICTS.

YOU CANNOT TELL PEOPLE
THEY CANNOT FALL IN LOVE.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
USED TO SAY

WHEN PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT
INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES,

AND I QUOTE, "RACES DO NOT
FALL IN LOVE AND GET MARRIED.

INDIVIDUALS FALL IN LOVE
AND GET MARRIED."

WHY DON'T YOU WANT
YOUR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN,

YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS,
TO BE HAPPY ?

WHY DO YOU ATTACK THEM ?

WHY DO YOU WANT TO DESTROY
THE LOVE THEY HOLD

IN THEIR HEARTS ?

WHY DO YOU WANT TO CRUSH THEIR
HOPES, THEIR DREAMS,

THEIR LONGINGS,
THEIR ASPIRATIONS ?

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HUMAN BEINGS.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET MARRIED,
BUY A HOUSE

AND SPEND THEIR LIVES
WITH THE ONE THEY LOVE.

THEY HAVE DONE NO WRONG.

( thud )

WHAT ?

WHO'S THE WOMAN YOU'RE
SLEEPING WITH, SON ?

I'M HIS WIFE.

WHAT ?

NOT HERE YOU AIN'T.

IN THE EARLY '60s,
RICHARD LOVING, A WHITE MAN,

AND MILDRED JETER,
A BLACK WOMAN,

FELL IN LOVE
AND WANTED TO GET MARRIED.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WEREN'T
ALLOWED TO DO SO

BECAUSE THE LAW IN
THEIR STATE DEFINED MARRIAGE

AS ONLY BETWEEN PEOPLE OF
THE "RIGHT" RACES.

AND SO RICHARD AND MILDRED

LEFT VIRGINIA
AND WENT AND GOT MARRIED.

SOMETIME LATER, THEY'RE AWAKENED
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

BY A KNOCK ON THE DOOR

AND WERE ACTUALLY ARRESTED
BY SHERIFFS AND POLICE OFFICIALS

OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA,

WHO CHARGED THEM WITH
THE "CRIME"

OF WRONGFUL MARRIAGE,

OF MARRYING THE WRONG
KIND OF PERSON.

ON THE COUNT OF MISCEGENATION,

I FIND DEFENDANT
RICHARD PERRY LOVING

AND DEFENDANT
MILDRED DELORES JETER

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

AND THE JUDGE TOLD THEM
THAT THEY COULD EITHER

SPEND THE NEXT YEAR IN JAIL

OR COULD GO INTO
EXILE FOR 25 YEARS,

LEAVING THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

THE COUPLE CHOSE TO
REMAIN MARRIED

AND LEAVE THE STATE OF VIRGINIA,

AND THEY WENT TO THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA AND GOT A LAWYER.

COURT AFTER COURT UPHELD
THIS HORRIBLE LAW

AND SAID THAT THIS
WAS THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.

ONE JUDGE WROTE, FOR EXAMPLE,
"ALMIGHTY GOD..."

ALMIGHTY GOD

CREATED THE RACES--

WHITE, BLACK, YELLOW,

MALAY, AND RED.

AND HE PLACED THEM
ON SEPARATE CONTINENTS.

AND BUT FOR THE INTERFERENCE
WITH HIS ARRANGEMENT,

THERE WOULD BE NO
CAUSE FOR SUCH MARRIAGES.

THE FACT THAT HE SEPARATED
THE RACES SHOWS

THAT HE DID NOT
INTEND FOR THE RACES TO MIX.

AND GOD'S DEFINITION
OF MARRIAGE--

GOD'S DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE--

THE SEPARATION OF THE RACES
WOULD REMAIN INTACT,

AND HE UPHELD THIS RESTRICTION.

SO DID THE VIRGINIA
SUPREME COURT.

WELL, WHEN THAT CASE CAME
FROM THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT

BEFORE THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT,

THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS
WERE STILL ARGUING THAT

THE DEFINITION OF
MARRIAGE ITSELF

MEANT THAT THIS COUPLE
COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE MARRIED.

MARRIAGE DOES NOT MEAN TWO MEN
OR TWO WOMEN GETTING MARRIED;

IT JUST DOESN'T MEAN THAT.

THEY ARGUED THAT, IF WE ALLOWED
INTERRACIAL COUPLES TO MARRY,

SOCIETY WOULD FALL APART.

IF MARRIAGE GOES,
THEN THE FAMILY GOES.

AND IF THE FAMILY GOES, WE HAVE
NONE OF THE DECENCY

OR ORDERED LIBERTY WHICH
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP

TO ENJOY AND TO APPRECIATE.

THEY ARGUED THAT IT
WOULD BE BAD FOR THE CHILDREN.

SHOULD WE TELL THE CHILDREN
OF AMERICA THAT,

IN THE EYES OF THE LAW,

THE PARTIES TO A HOMOSEXUAL
UNION ARE ENTITLED

TO ALL THE RIGHTS
AND PRIVILEGES AND BENEFITS

THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RESERVED
FOR A MAN AND A WOMAN

UNITED IN MARRIAGE ?

THEY ARGUED THAT IT WOULD BE
UNFAIR TO DIFFERENT STATES

THAT DIDN'T WANT TO ALLOW

THESE "KINDS OF COUPLES"
TO MARRY.

NO ONE STATE OF THE UNION
CAN HAVE ITS DECISION

OF ITS PEOPLE OVERRIDDEN,

RUN ROUGHSHOD,
BY PEOPLE FROM-- JUDGES FROM--

ANOTHER STATE.

THEY MADE VERY MUCH THE SAME
KINDS OF ARGUMENTS THAT WE

HEAR TODAY MADE TO DEFEND
SEX DISCRIMINATION IN MARRIAGE.

BUT FORTUNATELY, IN 1967,

UNLIKE IN PREVIOUS CASES,

THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT HAD HAD ENOUGH.

AND THE COURT RULED
THAT ALL AMERICANS

HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT TO MARRY,

THAT IT IS A BASIC
HUMAN RIGHT, A BASIC FREEDOM,

AND THE COURT STRUCK
THAT BAN DOWN.

( man )
WHEN YOUR CHILDREN GROW UP,

HOW WOULD YOU WANT
THEM TO MARRY ?

WELL, I THINK I'LL
LEAVE THAT UP TO THEM.

THEY'LL DECIDE THAT
FOR THEMSELVES.

Tampa police officer's
pension benefits isn't over.

Officer Lois Marrero

died in a bank robber's
ambush last July.

( Mickie Mashburn )
I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM
AND WHO I WAS WITH.

SO I'M VERY DRIVEN
AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE DRIVEN.

AND I THINK I HAVE
A LOT OF THAT

FROM LOIS'S ALSO DOING THAT,

BECAUSE LOIS WAS SO DRIVEN
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

IF YOU TOLD HER, "WELL,
YOU REALLY CAN'T DO THAT,"

SHE'D GO, "OH, IT'S GONNA
BE DONE.

I WILL GET IT DONE.

I WILL ACHIEVE IT
SOMEHOW."

AND SHE ALWAYS DID.

SO I GUESS THAT'S WHERE
I'M AT RIGHT NOW.

IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO MARRY LEGALLY,

THAT, OBVIOUSLY,
IS ONE OF THE...

PENSION-- ONE OF THE...

I THINK
JUST THE TWO--

YOU HAVE TO EITHER BE
LEGALLY MARRIED

OR HAVE LEGAL DEPENDENTS

THAT YOU CAN
LEAVE YOUR PENSION TO.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO CASES
PRIOR TO JULY THIRD.

( man )
SO WHAT WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED ?

WOULD THERE HAVE BEEN
THIS BOARD HEARING ?

NO, THERE WOULD BE NO
BOARD HEARING WHATSOEVER.

IT WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC.

AND THERE WOULD BE
NO QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER

AS TO THE STATUS OF
THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

IT WOULDN'T MATTER.

( woman )
DO YOU SWEAR THAT THE TESTIMONY
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE

IN THE CAUSE
NOW PENDING SHALL

BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH ?

I DO.

I DO.

LOIS MARRERO WAS KILLED
ON JULY 6, 2001

BEFORE SHE EVER HAD A
CHANCE TO DESIGNATE MICKIE

AS HER BENEFICIARY.

AND MICKIE'S CLAIM IS BASED ON
THIS VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 185.

SHE'S HERE TODAY
ASKING THE BOARD

TO CORRECT THAT VIOLATION

IN THE ONLY WAY THAT'S
POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME,

AND THAT IS BY YOU ALL AS
A FACT-FINDING BODY

MAKING A DETERMINATION
AS TO WHO LOIS WOULD HAVE NAMED

AS HER BENEFICIARY IF SHE
HAD BEEN GIVEN

HER LEGAL RIGHT TO DO THAT.

( woman )
MS. MORGAN, HOW DO YOU
KNOW MICKIE AND LOIS ?

THEY'RE MY BEST FRIENDS
AND MY NEIGHBORS.

( Shannon Minter )
SO THEY WERE BOTH
YOUR NEIGHBORS

AND YOUR
PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES ?

THAT'S CORRECT.

WERE YOU AWARE
THAT LOIS AND MICKIE

HAD BEEN MARRIED,
WERE MARRIED ?

YEAH, I REMEMBER WHEN
THEY STARTED DATING.

BY THE TIME LOIS WAS KILLED,

WERE MOST PEOPLE ON THE FORCE
THAT LOIS WORKED WITH--

MICKIE AND LOIS
WORKED WITH AWARE

THAT THEY WERE IN
A RELATIONSHIP ?

EVERYBODY WAS.

AND DID MOST PEOPLE ACCEPT
THAT AND RESPECT THAT ?

OF COURSE.

I HAD NO IDEA.

ONE DAY I SEEN--
I WAS TALKING TO LOIS,

AND I NOTICED SHE HAD A RING.

AND THEN IT WAS A COUPLE
DAYS LATER, MAYBE A WEEK,

I SAW MICKIE HAD ONE,
AND I JUST THOUGHT,

"OH WOW,
THEY HAVE THE SAME RING."

AND I WAS TALKING TO
A NEIGHBOR WHO SAID,

"WELL, DON'T YOU KNOW ?"

AND I SAID, "NO."

AND NEXT THING I KNOW,
I'M GOING,

"THAT IS SO COOL."

I JUST, I WAS JUST,
I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

I JUST THOUGHT
IT WAS REALLY COOL.

NOW, CAN YOU TELL US
WHAT IS A HOLY UNION ?

A HOLY UNION IS ASKING
GOD'S BLESSING UPON A COUPLE,

ENCOURAGING AND AFFIRMING
THEM IN A PUBLIC WAY,

TO ENCOURAGE
A RELATIONSHIP,

NOT UNLIKE A HOLY MATRIMONY.

IN THE RELIGIOUS SENSE,
IT'S THE SAME THING.

AND DOES THIS MEAN THAT
THE PARTICIPANTS ARE MAKING

A LIFETIME COMMITMENT
TO ONE ANOTHER ?

OH, YES.

NOW, IF A SAME-SEX COUPLE
WHO HAVE UNDERGONE

A HOLY UNION CEREMONY WANT TO
TERMINATE THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

DOES THE CHURCH HAVE ANY
KIND OF PROVISION FOR THAT ?

YES, IF YOU'VE HAD
A HOLY UNION

IN THE METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES,

YOU HAVE TO FIND THE PASTOR
WHO PERFORMED THAT CEREMONY,

AND A RITE OF
DISSOLUTIONMENT--

A DOCUMENT OF DISSOLUTIONMENT
IS WRITTEN,

AND ALL PARTIES WHO
WERE INVOLVED IN THAT CEREMONY

HAVE TO SIGN THAT DOCUMENT.

AND PRIOR TO LOIS'S DEATH,

DID EITHER MICKIE OR LOIS
CONTACT THE M.C.C. CHURCH

TO FILE FOR A
DISSOLUTION ?

NO, THEY DID NOT.

DURING YOUR
WEDDING CEREMONY,

DID YOU AND LOIS
EXCHANGE RINGS ?

AH, WE DID EXCHANGE RINGS.

MATTER OF FACT,

HER SISTER
AND HER BROTHER-IN-LAW

HAD THE RINGS
AND THEY WERE GIVEN TO US,

AND LOIS PLACED THE RING
ON MY FINGER

AND I PLACED
THE RING ON HER FINGER.

AND DID YOU AND LOIS CONTINUE
WEARING THOSE WEDDING BANDS ?

UP UNTIL THE DAY
THAT SHE WAS KILLED.

AND YOU WERE ACTUALLY PRESENT

WHEN MICKIE LEARNED THAT
LOIS HAD BEEN KILLED,

HAD BEEN SHOT ?

YES.

AND YOU WERE ACTUALLY
THE ONE THAT INFORMED HER ?

YES.

WHAT WERE SOME OF MICKIE'S
CONCERNS AS YOU TOLD HER ?

CAN YOU JUST
TELL US BRIEFLY ?

UM...

UH, ONE OF
THE FIRST THINGS WAS

THAT SHE WANTED TO
GO TO LOIS.

AND MYSELF AND ANOTHER
OF THE OFFICERS IN THERE,

WE BASICALLY PICKED HER UP
BY THE ELBOWS

AND MOVED HER INTO
THE SERGEANT'S OFFICE

WHERE IT WAS A LITTLE ROOMIER

AND GOT HER INTO
A DIFFERENT CHAIR.

I WAS CONCERNED THAT SHE
MIGHT BE WEAK OR UPSET

AND THAT SHE
COULD FALL OR SOMETHING,

AND I DIDN'T WANT HER
TO HURT HERSELF.

AND BY THE TIME
WE GOT HER SEATED,

MY HUSBAND CALLED
COMMUNICATIONS

TO TRY TO GET
MORE INFORMATION

BECAUSE MICKIE KEPT ASKING
IF SHE WAS GONE.

AND MY HUSBAND SAID
THAT HE TALKED TO RADIO

AND THAT LOIS COULD
STILL BE ALIVE,

THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON HER.

AND THEN ABOUT
A MINUTE OR TWO PASSED,

AND MICKIE SAID,
"SHE'S GONE."

AND I SAID, "MICKIE,
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YET,

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT."

SHE SAID,
"YEAH, SHE'S GONE.

I CAN FEEL IT IN MY HEART
THAT SHE'S GONE."

AND THEN SHE SAID,
"PLEASE TAKE ME TO HER,

PLEASE TAKE ME TO HER."

AND MICKIE INSISTED
THAT I GO TO FIND BRENDA--

MICKIE WAS CONCERNED
THAT LOIS'S MOTHER

WOULD TURN ON THE TV
BECAUSE IT WAS LUNCHTIME

AND SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT
THE NEWS,

SO SHE SAID,
"PLEASE GET TO BRENDA

SO SHE CAN GET TO LOIS'S MOM
SO THAT LOIS'S MOM

WON'T JUST FLIP THE TV ON
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON."

DID MICKIE INVITE YOU
TO BE A PALLBEARER

AT LOIS'S FUNERAL ?

YES, SHE DID.

AND DO YOU RECALL
WHERE MICKIE WAS SITTING

AT THE FUNERAL ?

SHE WAS SITTING UP FRONT,

ONE OF THE FIRST PEWS
IN THE CHURCH.

AND DO YOU RECALL WHAT
THE CHIEF DID WITH THE FLAG

ON LOIS'S COFFIN ?

WHEN-- AT THE CEREMONY,
AT THE CEMETERY,

HE HANDED OFF
THE FLAG TO HER,

WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH A

SPOUSE OR A LIFE PARTNER.

( Karen Doering )
IF LOIS HAD BEEN
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY

TO DESIGNATE A BENEFICIARY,

WHO WOULD SHE HAVE
DESIGNATED ?

WITHOUT A DOUBT,
MICKIE MASHBURN.

BASED ON YOUR
FRIENDSHIP WITH LOIS,

IF SHE'D BEEN GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY

TO DESIGNATE A BENEFICIARY
TO RECEIVE HER

PENSION DEATH BENEFITS,

WHO DO YOU THINK THAT
PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN ?

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MICKIE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY
DOUBT ABOUT THAT ?

NO DOUBT AT ALL.

THERE ISN'T A DOUBT IN MY MIND
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MICKIE.

NOT AT THIS TIME.

NO, SIR.

NOT AT THIS TIME.

( man )
I GOT IT, RIGHT HERE.

I REALLY HAVE TO GET
MYSELF TOGETHER

'CAUSE I'M TIRED,

AND HOPEFULLY
BE ABLE TO COME BACK

AND TALK TO EVERYBODY
A LITTLE BIT LATER.

YOU WOULD HOPE THAT
EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE

AN OPEN HEART AND AN OPEN MIND.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT
THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE TODAY

SPOKE FROM THEIR HEARTS
AND SPOKE THE TRUTH.

THE LAW HAS TO CHANGE,

NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF,
FOR OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S LIKE WAS STATED IN
THE HEARING TODAY,

THIS IS NOT A GAY ISSUE,
THIS IS EVERYONE'S ISSUE,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING
AND STRIVING TOWARDS.

SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THAT
OPENING UP OF MARRIAGE

TO SAME-SEX COUPLES WOULD RUIN
THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE.

I WOULD SAY TO THAT
THAT THE CHANGE

INVOLVED WITH
OPENING UP MARRIAGE

IS FAR LESS THAN

THE MORE IMPORTANT
CHANGES THAT--

WELL, IF PEOPLE REALLY CANNOT
GET ON WITH EACH OTHER

THEY CAN DIVORCE.

DIVORCE IS PROBABLY
A MUCH BIGGER CHANGE

TO TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

THAN THE ENTRY OF
SAME-SEX COUPLES.

AND PROBABLY, ALSO,

A BIG CHANGE IN MARRIAGE LAW
WAS THAT THE WOMAN USED TO BE

SUBJECT TO THE COMMANDS AND
WISHES OF THE HUSBAND.

MOST MARRIAGE LAWS
HAVE CHANGED THAT

AND THEREBY,
MARRIAGE HAS BECOME

AN INSTITUTION
OF TWO EQUALS.

( woman )
BY 1920 AND 1930 EVERY THIRD
MAGAZINE ARTICLE IS SAYING

THIS IS THE END OF MARRIAGE
AS WE KNOW IT.

THIS IS THE DEATH OF THE FAMILY.

THIS IS THE PERIOD OF
THE COLLAPSE

OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

BECAUSE SUDDENLY YOUNGSTERS
ARE BEHAVING BIZARRELY.

THEY'RE DATING, NOT ON
THE FRONT PORCH BUT OUT,

OUTSIDE OF THEIR PARENTS' VIEW,

AND THEY'RE
MARRYING FOR LOVE,

AND THEY'RE HAVING SEX
WITH CONTRACEPTION

RATHER THAN JUST
SETTLING DOWN RIGHT AWAY

TO WORK HARD AND RAISE BABIES.

FOR 50, 75 YEARS, EVEN
DISCUSSING CONTRACEPTION

WAS CONSIDERED DISGUSTING,
FILTHY AND PRURIENT

IN SOME TERRIBLE WAY.

THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN HAVE
SEX, NOT JUST FOR MAKING BABIES

BUT FOR MAKING INTIMACY,
FOR MAKING LOVE,

IS THE IDEA THAT'S
ENDORSED BY LEGAL CONTRACEPTION.

THAT WAS ALREADY ENDORSED IN
GRISWOLD VERSUS CONNECTICUT,

WHEN THE SUPREME COURT KNOCKED
DOWN THE LAST REMAINING LAW

BANNING THE USE
OF CONTRACEPTION.

AS A SOCIETY, WE HAVE DECIDED
THAT MAKING LOVE

IS A LEGITIMATE
REASON FOR HAVING SEX

AND FOR BEING MARRIED.

THIS IS THE PHILOSOPHY
SAME-SEX COUPLES FIT UNDER.

SOMETIMES, MARRIED PEOPLE
DON'T STAY IN LOVE.

WHAT MOTHER?

A HUSBAND AND THE WIFE
FALL OUT OF LOVE.

WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

THE SECOND BIG BATTLE OVER
PUBLIC MARRIAGE PHILOSOPHY

THAT LEADS TO
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

IS THE BATTLE OVER DIVORCE.

THEY GET UNMARRIED,
YOU SEE.

NO.

WELL, THEY DO,
THAT'S ALL.

THEY GET-- THEY GET WHAT IS
CALLED A DIVORCE.

AGAIN, NEARLY SPLIT
THE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS.

CATHOLICS, THEY HAD DECIDED
THAT ALREADY-- NEVER.

BUT THE PROTESTANT
DENOMINATIONS WERE

TURNED INSIDE OUT OVER
THE DEBATE OF WHETHER

DIVORCE MIGHT
BE LEGAL FOR CAUSES OTHER THAN

THE TRADITIONAL PROTESTANT
CAUSES OF ATTEMPTED MURDER

OR ADULTERY.

AGAIN, THE PUBLIC MARRIAGE
PHILOSOPHY DECIDED THAT

WHEN YOU LOVE YOU MARRY,

AND WHEN LOVE IS GONE, YOU ARE
NO LONGER REALLY MARRIED.

IT IS NO LONGER
REALLY A FULLY MORAL MARRIAGE.

AND IF MARRIAGE IS
MADE BY LOVE,

SAME-SEX COUPLES BELONG.

( Sam )
A LOT OF

DIFFERENT KIND
OF BUGS,

GRASSHOPPERS.

( Sam )
THIS IS COUNTRY.

DIFFERENT KIND OF GRASSES.

GUESS EVERYTHING
HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE.

I JUST WISH SOME PEOPLE
WOULD LEAVE US ALONE...

THE WORMS WOULD
LEAVE US ALONE...

WORMS AND SCUMBAGS.

HURTS A LOT, BUT...

DAD AND EARL, Y'KNOW,
DAD WOULD SELL STUFF,

HE TOOK CARE OF THE TAXES,

TOOK CARE OF ALL
THE RECEIPTS ON THE PROPERTY.

DAD WOULD GO UP AND PAY
THE TAXES.

OF COURSE IT WAS
ALL IN EARL'S NAME,

BUT HE WENT UP AND PAID IT.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY
SCREWED UP BECAUSE,

WHEN EARL PASSED AWAY,

Y'KNOW, ALL DAD HAD WAS
ABOUT $2,000 TO HIS NAME.

AND WITHIN TWO DAYS AFTER
WE BURIED EARL,

IT WAS ALL TIED UP IN COURT.

( Sam )
AND I'VE GOTTA CALL
THAT ELECTRIC COMPANY

'CAUSE THEY'RE GONNA
TURN MY ELECTRIC OFF

IF I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY,

AND I DON'T HAVE
THE MONEY TO PAY IT.

I NEED 900 AND SOME DOLLARS.

I CAN TAKE THAT
STUFF UP HERE

AND SELL IT BETTER
THAN THEY CAN OVER THERE.

WELL, I DON'T HAVE
THE $95, DO YOU ?

I WAS GOING TO GO SEE
IF I COULDN'T GET IT.

WHERE ARE
YOU GONNA GET IT ?

I'M NOT TELLING YOU.

( Sam )
$95 WOULD GIVE HIM
A BOOST FOR A MONTH

IN THE FLEA MARKET.

HOW MUCH MONEY
COULD YOU COME UP WITH ?

NOT THAT MUCH.

HOW MUCH ?

WELL, SCRAP !

I'M GONNA HAVE TO
TAKE THESE HORSES

TO THAT SALE TOO,
AND JUST SELL 'EM

FOR WHAT I CAN GET
OUT OF THEM.

I HATE DOIN' THAT 'CAUSE I
THINK THE WORLD OF MY HORSES.

LIKE SELLING A PART OF YOU,
BUT...

SEE, SOMEBODY CUT MY FENCE
RIGHT OVER THERE IN THE CORNER.

SEE WHAT THEY DID
TO THE DOOR ?

YEAH, MAN.

THE FIRE WENT
RIGHT DOWN THIS WAY.

WENT RIGHT OUT, AND IT BURNT
THE DOOR FACINGS AS IT WENT.

ALL THE DOOR FACINGS,
CLEAR OUT THE FRONT DOOR.

BURNT THE FRONT DOOR OUT.

DIDN'T BOTHER-- DIDN'T HURT
THE BED IN THERE THAT MUCH,

JUST SMOKED IT A LITTLE BIT.

WHICH IS FUNNY,
BECAUSE WHY WOULD IT CATCH

ALL THESE DOOR FACINGS
ON FIRE ?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

UNLESS SOMEBODY POURED
SOMETHING ON IT

AND POURED SOMETHING HERE.

THE FLOWERS STILL BLOOM.

SO, IT'S JUST...

ONE BIG MESS OF
GREEDY GRAVE ROBBERS.

EARL'S DAD, PAPA.

THIS WAS GRANNY, EARL'S MOTHER,
WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.

BETTY LOU WOULD GIVE HER
LEFT NUT TO HAVE ONE OF THEM,

AND SHE AIN'T GOT ONE,

BUT SHE'D GIVE HER OLE
BOYFRIEND'S ONE, LEFT NUT.

SOMEBODY BEEN IN THIS ONE.

BOY, THEY HAD FLAT COME IN
AND STOLE STUFF.

MY GOD, THEY STOLE
AND THEY STOLE.

HI, SQUIRT-SQUIRT.

( banging )

ANGEL, WALK UP THE GATE,
COME UP BEHIND HIM...

( hooting )

( banging )

GET IN THERE...
GET IN THERE, LOAD UP.

HI, IRENE, THIS IS SAM.

I'VE GOTTA COME UP WITH 400

BY TOMORROW ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK
AND I--

WELL, ACTUALLY 500,
BUT I GOT 100 OF IT--

AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

IF THERE'S SOME WAY
I CAN GET IT,

BORROW IT FROM SOMEBODY
UNTIL TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK

AND GIVE IT BACK TO 'EM.

OKAY, AND I'LL SEE YOU
IN A LITTLE WHILE.

AND I DO
APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS A LOT, IRENE.

THANKS, BYE.

THAT'S EARL'S GRAVE.

THAT'S HIS MOTHER,
AND THAT'S HIS DAD,

AND THAT'S MINE OVER THERE.

I WISH THEY'D START PUTTING
FLOWERS ON MINE.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE MY
FLOWERS BEFORE I GO.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY PUT
ON THERE AFTER I'M DEAD.

THAT'S FINE.

THIS IS WHERE I WAS
GONNA GET MY-- HAVE MY GRAVE.

BUT SOME WOMAN
BOUGHT IT.

THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME WHO.

SAID SHE BOUGHT IT
THE DAY BEFORE.

I ALWAYS FIGURED
IT WAS BETTY LOU,

BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

( man )
SO DOES IT UPSET YOU,

YOU WON'T BE RIGHT NEXT
TO EARL ?

IT BOTHERS ME.

I WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO LIVE WITH MYSELF,

IF SOMEBODY HANDED ME
A WILL AND SAID,

"THIS IS WHAT
I WANT IN IT,"

AND THEN I SAY, "I DON'T LIKE
WHAT YOU GOT IN YOUR WILL,

I'M GONNA FIGHT IT."

THIS HAS BEEN UNCLE SAM'S
HOME FOR THE LAST 24, 25 YEARS,

AND HERE THEY ARE WANTIN'
TO TAKE IT AWAY.

HOW WOULD THEY FEEL IF
THIS WAS TO HAPPEN TO THEM ?

SAY, HER HUSBAND'S KIDS
COME IN AND SAID,

"UH, I WANT YOU OUT."

( applauding )

OUR AIM IS A
DEMOCRATIC PEACE,

A PEACE FOUNDED UPON
THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

OF EVERY MAN
AND WOMAN.

( applauding )

WHEN I CAME TO THIS ROSTRUM
ON SEPTEMBER THE 20th, 2001,

I BROUGHT THE POLICE SHIELD
OF A FALLEN OFFICER,

MY REMINDER OF
LIVES THAT ENDED

IN A TASK THAT DOES NOT END.

I AM A NEW YORK CITY
POLICE OFFICER.

I WAS THE TYPE OF GUY
THAT WAS GAY AND HAPPY

AND LIVING IN HIDING.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MY HEART,

'CAUSE I HAD
THE WORLD,

I HAD A LIFE PARTNER

WHO WAS THE BEST THING IN
THE WORLD TO ME, Y'KNOW ?

17 MONTHS AGO,
ON SEPTEMBER 11th,

I LOST THAT MAN,

THE ONE MAN THAT I THOUGHT
I WOULD SPEND

THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH.

I RAN INTO THAT BUILDING
WHEN IT WAS COMING DOWN,

AND I'M SAYING,
"THIS ISN'T HAPPENING.

MY EDDY'S IN THERE, MY
FRIENDS ARE IN THERE."

I DIDN'T SAY, "LET ME
JUST SAVE THE GAY PEOPLE."

LET'S SAVE EVERYBODY.

( woman )
SHE WAS FINALLY IDENTIFIED
ON THE 12th OF OCTOBER.

THEY HAD DONE THE CREMATION,
AND THEY DELIVERED THE BOX DOWN.

SHE GAVE HER LIFE FOR
THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S WHAT
THIS WAS ALL ABOUT.

( woman )
WE'RE THE CRIMINAL INJURIES
COMPENSATION FUND.

AND WE'RE DESIGNED
TO HELP VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME

WITH COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE CRIME.

THE SECRETARY
CAME TO ME AND SAID,

"YEAH, THIS PERSON IS INELIGIBLE
UNDER THE LAW,"

AND WE STRUGGLED
WITH WHAT TO SAY.

WE UNDERSTAND OUR
SPECIAL CALLING.

THIS GREAT REPUBLIC
WILL LEAD THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM.

WHERE IS THE DEMOCRACY
AND FREEDOM

FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WHEN
OUR RIGHTS ARE NOT RESPECTED ?

CURRENTLY OUR GOVERNMENT
IS SAYING,

YOU KNOW, DON'T FALL
IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE

FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY

BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO BE SENT BACK

TO THEIR COUNTRY.

I'M FROM ARGENTINA.

I CAME TO NEW YORK AND I MET
JESSE THREE YEARS AGO,

AND I FELL IN LOVE.

AND I MOVE HERE BECAUSE
I WANT TO BE WITH MY LOVE.

EVEN IF MARRIAGE BECOMES
LEGAL IN MASSACHUSETTS,

THE DISCRIMINATORY LAW OF
THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT

STILL NEEDS TO BE REPEALED
AND STRUCK DOWN

SO THAT OUR MARRIAGE WILL BE
RECOGNIZED ON A FEDERAL LEVEL,

AND MAX WILL RECEIVE
A GREEN CARD.

WHERE'S THE COMPASSION

WHEN THIS COUNTRY IS
FORCING US TO LEAVE ?

( Major Jane E. Castor )
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR
PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW.

I THINK A LOT OF
PEOPLE ON THE PENSION BOARD

PROBABLY WANTED TO VOTE TO
GIVE MICKIE THAT PENSION.

AND, YOU KNOW,
THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE

JUST BOUND BY THE LAW.

THE LAW STATES THAT YOU
HAVE TO BE LEGALLY MARRIED

IN ORDER TO GIVE IT.

WELL, WE'RE FIXING
TO GO INTO EIGHT MONTHS,

AND IT'S WEIRD,

IT'S HARD.

BUT I HAVE THE MEMORIES.

YOU KNOW, YOU TRY TO SIT BACK
AND THINK THAT LAST YEAR

AT THIS TIME
SHE WAS STILL ALIVE,

YOU KNOW, AND, FOR, YOU KNOW,
VALENTINE'S, SHE...

WHERE YOU SEND OUT,
SEND OFF FOR CARE BEARS--

I'M NOT SURE WHAT
THEY'RE CALLED,

BUT YOU SEND THEM OFF
AND THEY MAKE THE BEARS

AND THEY SEND THEM
BACK TO YOU.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT SHE GOT
ME LAST YEAR FOR FEBRUARY 14th.

SHE BOUGHT ME ROSES

AND SHE HAD ONE OF THOSE
BEARS SENT TO ME.

SO YOU KIND OF, YOU SIT
BACK AND YOU THINK OF THAT.

AND YOU THINK, YOU KNOW,
WHAT A YEAR CHANGES.

AND IT'S HARD.

( woman )
WE'VE HAD OUR CEREMONY
WITH OUR FAMILY

AND EVERYTHING LIKE THIS,

AND NOW THIS IS
THE LEGAL THING.

I MEAN IT'S NOT--

YOU KNOW, THE BEST
IT COULD BE WOULD BE

IN THE UNITED STATES
BEING MARRIED,

BUT HERE THIS IS
A LITTLE BIT OF ICING

THAT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF,
JUST LIKE, THIS FEELS GOOD.

LIVING IN A CONSERVATIVE AREA
OF THE UNITED STATES,

ESPECIALLY,
THERE IS SOME ANXIETY AROUND

WHAT COULD HAPPEN

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS

THAT JUST COME
WITH BEING MARRIED.

OH, WOW.

( man )
I, PAM...

I, PAM...

TAKE THEE JENNY...

TAKE THEE JENNY...

TO BE MY WEDDED SPOUSE...

TO BE MY WEDDED SPOUSE...

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE...

FOR RICH OR FOR POOR...

FOR RICH OR FOR POOR...

IN SICKNESS
AND IN HEALTH...

IN SICKNESS AND IN
HEALTH...

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU TO
BE LEGALLY MARRIED SPOUSES.

GOTTA DO
THE OFFICIAL KISS.

YEAH, YEAH,
FOR SURE.

( honking )

HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE
ON THIS ROUTE IS AMAZING.

EVERY CORNER YOU JUST SEE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

IT'S GREAT.

THE ONTARIO COURT OF APPEALS
RULED UNANIMOUSLY

THAT SAME-SEX COUPLES
HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT TO MARRY.

OUR CABINET AND
PRIME MINISTER HAVE AFFIRMED

THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT
EQUAL MARRIAGE,

SO AS OF RIGHT NOW,

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
IS LEGAL IN CANADA.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
COUPLES HERE

WHO ARE GETTING MARRIED,

SO IT'S A GREAT DAY
TO CELEBRATE

HERE AT TORONTO PRIDE.

WE LOVE IT,
WE'RE GONNA GET MARRIED.

ARE YOU?

NO, I WILL, I'M ENGAGED.

I THINK IT'S GREAT
THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE

THE CHOICE TO MARRY
IF THEY WANT TO.
IT'S ABOUT TIME.

YOU SORT OF FEEL LIKE
YOU BELONG IN THE WORLD

INSTEAD OF SOME
OUTSIDE STRANGER.

I MEAN,
WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

IF HUMAN BEINGS CAN'T
COMMIT TO EACH OTHER,

I MEAN, WHAT IS THERE?

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

THAT'S WHY WE
CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE.

NOT IN MY WHOLE LIFETIME,

SO IT FEELS GOOD.

DON'T MAKE ME CRY,
I'M GONNA CRY.

DON'T MAKE ME CRY.

HAPPY PRIDE !

IF YOU DON'T LIKE SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE, DON'T HAVE ONE.

( cheering )

YEAH, IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

LONG OVERDUE.
IT'S A GREAT THING.

WE GOT MARRIED,
PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HIM.

IT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
THAT EVER HAPPENED IN CANADA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S EQUAL,
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

THIS IS A DIVERSE COUNTRY,

YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE
A DIVERSE WORLD.

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT,
YOU KNOW ?

LET THEM, LET THEM,
THEY DON'T HURT US.

I THINK IT'S
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.

NO, I'M NOT.

BUT THAT
DOESN'T MATTER.

THIS IS MY WIFE.

SURE.

( woman )
THE SUPPORT OF THE STRAIGHT
COMMUNITY, I THINK,

IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL

THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT
IS AN ISSUE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

IT'S NOT A LIFESTYLE ISSUE,
IT'S A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT
IN AMERICA YET,

BUT I'LL BE THERE.

( reporter )
WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED
RIGHT AWAY THIS HOUR WITH

BREAKING NEWS
OUT OF MASSACHUSETTS.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT
JUDICIAL COURT HAS RULED TODAY

THAT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES

TO BE DENIED THE
BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE.

IT'S A VERY BIG DAY.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY BIG DAY.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HISTORIC DAY,
NOVEMBER 18, 2003.

AND IT'S A HISTORIC DAY
BECAUSE FINALLY

ALL FAMILIES IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
EQUAL FAMILIES UNDER THE LAW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

MOSTLY, THANK YOU TO THE
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OF

THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS FOR
SEEING WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE,

WHICH IS THAT WE ARE A COUPLE
THAT IS WORTHY

OF THE PROTECTIONS OF MARRIAGE.

AND THAT AFTER 16 AND A HALF
YEARS, HILLARY AND I

ARE FINALLY GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GET MARRIED

AND PROTECT OUR FAMILY.

(crowd chanting)
LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

REPENT, REPENT,
GOD LOVES YOU.

WHAT THE COURT IS ABOUT TO DO

IS UNLEASH CHAOS

ON OUR SOCIETY.

AS YOU NOTICE,
ROB IS ON CRUTCHES.

HE'S JUST HAD
A HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

AND WE NEVER HAVE
TO WORRY AGAIN

ABOUT GOING TO THE HOSPITAL

NEGOTIATING OUR WAY
THROUGH ADMINISTRATION,

HOSPITAL TEAMS, AND FINALLY,
RECOVERY, BECAUSE NOW

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PROTECT EACH OTHER

THROUGH MARRIAGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

( crowd singing )
GOD BLESS AMERICA,

MY HOME SWEET HOME.

CIVIL RIGHTS.

WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.

CIVIL RIGHTS...

OUR OPPONENTS HAVE
BUSSED PEOPLE IN.

FROM GEORGIA,
FROM VIRGINIA,

MOST OF THEM ARE
OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW

SAYING VERY NASTY, VICIOUS,
HATEFUL THINGS ABOUT US.

( man )
WICKED SODOMITES,

READS ROMAN'S CHAPTER 1.

IT'S AN ABOMINATION
UNDER GOD.

CREATED YOU MALE
AND FEMALE, THE BIBLE SAYS.

MALE AND FEMALE.

NOT HOMOSEXUAL,
NOT BISEXUAL,

NOT ANYTHING
BUT HETEROSEXUAL.

BUT YOU HETEROPHOBES
DON'T LIKE THAT,

'CAUSE YOU DON'T
WANT TO LISTEN.

I'M STRAIGHT,
WE'RE BOTH STRAIGHT !

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD IN THIS WORLD

IF WE DON'T GET OVER
STUPID STUFF LIKE THIS.

YOU MAY NOT BE SODOMITES,
BUT YOU'RE HOMOPHILES.

( child )
HOMO'S GO TO GO!

ARE THESE CHRISTIAN VALUES

YOU'RE TEACHING
YOUR CHILDREN ?

HOMOS GOTTA GO !

YES, THEY
ARE TEACHING ME,

BECAUSE I KNOW
THEY'RE RIGHT.

HEY, HEY, HO, HO,
HOMOS GOTTA GO !

I AGREE WITH 3,000 YEARS
OF RECORDED HISTORY.

I DISAGREE WITH
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT

OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MARRIAGE IS AN INSTITUTION
BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN.

I WILL SUPPORT
AN AMENDMENT TO

THE MASSACHUSETTS
CONSTITUTION

TO MAKE THAT
EXPRESSLY CLEAR.

EQUAL RIGHTS !

WHEN DO WE WANT IT ?

NOW !

WHAT DO WE WANT ?

EQUAL RIGHTS !

GOD LOVES A SINNER,
HE HATES SIN !

HE'S GOING TO TAKE THESE ANUS
FUDGE-PACKING SODOMITES,

HE'S GOING TO CAST THEM
INTO HELL

WHEN THEIR ANUSES ARE
RIDDEN WITH BLOOD

AND THEY GOT TO WEAR DIAPERS.

HI, I'M GLORIA BAILEY

AND THIS IS MY PARTNER
OF 32 YEARS,

LINDA DAVIES,

AND, WITHOUT A DOUBT,

THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY
IN OUR LIVES.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
FOR US

IS KNOWING WHATEVER COMES AHEAD

IN THE REST OF OUR LIVES,

WE NOW KNOW WE CAN BE AT
EACH OTHERS' SIDE.

IF JUDGES INSIST ON FORCING
THEIR ARBITRARY WILL

UPON THE PEOPLE,

THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE LEFT
TO THE PEOPLE

WOULD BE
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS.

( man )
THE TRUTH IS THE REPUBLICANS
ARE AGAINST GAY PEOPLE

WHEN THEY COMMIT
TO RELATIONSHIPS

AND THEY'RE AGAINST GAY PEOPLE
WHEN THEY HAVE LOTS OF SEX

WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE.

WHAT DO THEY WANT US TO DO?

BASICALLY, THEY WANT US
TO CEASE TO EXIST.

AND THEY ARE PREPARED TO
RE-WRITE THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE UNITED STATES
TO TELL US

WE CAN'T AND SHOULD HAVE
SUPPORT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

SENATOR KERRY
IN WASHINGTON D.C.,

IT IS IN YOUR
STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE
A DECISION ABOUT

WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO
ABOUT GAY MARRIAGES.

SENATOR KERRY'S BEEN
ALL OVER THE MAP

ON THE ISSUE OF GAY MARRIAGE.

HE OPPOSES THE FEDERAL
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT,

BUT HE SUPPORTS A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT IN MASSACHUSETTS,

BUT A VERY LIMITED ONE.

ONE THAT WOULD DEFINE MARRIAGE
BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN,

BUT WOULD AT THE SAME TIME
SECURE CIVIL UNIONS.

I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE LEGISLATURE

TO MAKE CLEAR

WHERE WE STAND WITH
RESPECT TO

EQUAL PROTECTION
UNDER THE LAW TO MAKE CERTAIN

THAT THERE IS NOT
DISCRIMINATION.

TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE
PROTECT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

EVEN AS I AND OTHERS ARE OPPOSED
TO GAY MARRIAGE ITSELF.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE
THEIR OPPOSITION TO GAY MARRIAGE

WITH THEIR FUNDAMENTAL
COMMITMENT TO EQUAL RIGHTS.

AND ONCE PEOPLE COME
AND THEY ARE CRITICAL ABOUT IT,

THEY'D RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IT

BECAUSE THERE AREN'T
RATIONAL ARGUMENTS

IN OPPOSITION TO GAY MARRIAGE.

THOUSANDS OF GAY WEDDINGS HERE
IN SAN FRANCISCO

HAVE SENT SHOCKWAVES
ACROSS THE NATION

I THINK WE'RE IN THE MIDST
OF SOME SORT OF A REVOLUTION,

SOME SORT OF FLOOD
THAT IS JUST HAPPENING,

AND IT'S HAPPENING
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AWESOME.

EXCELLENT.

( singing )

WE PAY TAXES LIKE
EVERY BODY ELSE.

YOU KNOW, WHY NOT ?

WE JUST GOT A MARRIAGE LICENSE.

YES, WE DID,
AND WE'RE SO EXCITED.

WE DECIDED FOR THE 29TH
ANNIVERSARY

WE'D ACTUALLY GET MARRIED.

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED !

MY MOM'S HERE.

HER MOM'S HERE.

MOM'S HERE.

( cheering )

( reporter )
IN GEORGIA TODAY,
A SENATE COMMITTEE

OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED
A PLAN FOR AMENDING

THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN
MARRIAGE FOR GAY COUPLES.

IN NEW MEXICO, ABOUT 20 GAY
COUPLES WERE MARRIED TODAY.

IN MICHIGAN, SENATOR
ALAN CROPSEY SAYS STATES

MUST AMEND THEIR CONSTITUTIONS
TO PREVENT THEIR JUDGES

FROM DOING WHAT HAPPENED
IN MASSACHUSETTS.

LEGISLATURES IN NEARLY
20 STATES BESIDES MASSACHUSETTS

ARE NOW CONSIDERING
AMENDMENTS TO BAN MARRIAGE

FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES.

OPPONENTS OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

TOOK TO THE STREETS
OF BOSTON TODAY.

( crowd chanting )
LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

( woman )
THE MAYOR OF NEW PALTZ,

WHO PERFORMED MORE THAN
TWO DOZEN MARRIAGES LAST WEEK,

WILL BE IN COURT TONIGHT
FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THIS CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE IS
REALLY SWEEPING ACROSS AMERICA

ALL THE WAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO
TO NEW PALTZ, NEW YORK

AND NOW MAKING ITS WAY
RIGHT HERE TO NEW YORK CITY.

( crowd chanting )
WHAT DO WE WANT?
CIVIL RIGHTS.

WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
NOW.

WHAT DO WE WANT?
CIVIL RIGHTS.

WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
NOW.

WE GOT TURNED DOWN TODAY.

( man )
YOU GOT TURNED DOWN?

YES, WE DID.

( man )
ARE YOU GOING TO COME BACK?

WE'LL BE BACK.
DEFINITELY.

HEY, WE'RE GOING
TO THE END, REGARDLESS.

WE'RE GOING UNTIL WE GET THE
RESULTS THAT WE NEED FOR CHANGE.

EVERYTHING WILL BE BETTER THEN,
SO...

WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

IT'S JUST A SLOW PROCESS,

BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

OVER THIS WAY PLEASE,
THANK YOU.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE BEEN HERE
IN HIS IMAGE,

WALKING HIS CREATION,

THERE HAVE BEEN MEN
AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SHARED

THEIR EXPRESSION OF LOVE

WITH ANOTHER
OF THE SAME GENDER.

IT IS HIGH TIME WE PUT
AN END TO THE QUEER NOTION

THAT IT IS SINFUL TO BE GAY

OR FOR GAYS TO
COME TOGETHER TO BE MARRIED.

"MAY THE LORD BLESS US
IN WISDOM

"THAT WE MAY GROW TOGETHER

EVER IN LOVE
AND UNDERSTANDING."

WITH THIS RING...

WITH THIS RING...

I THEE WED...

I THEE WED...

MY BELOVED...

MY BELOVED...

MY BEST FRIEND.

MY BEST FRIEND.

( woman )
MY SON BEING GAY,
IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.

I LOOKED AT HIM AS A PERSON.

I STILL LOOK AT HIM
AS A PERSON,

NOT A GAY PERSON,
NOT A STRAIGHT PERSON.

I JUST LOOK AT HIM
AS A PERSON.

WE BOTH WERE CRYING,
BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE IT,

THE TEARS WERE FREEZING UP
HALFWAY DOWN.

I'VE HEARD SO MANY
PEOPLE SAY,

THEY FEEL DIFFERENT,
THEY FEEL CLOSER AFTERWARD,

AND IT'S WONDERFUL,
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

♪ WE WAITED TOO DAMN LONG
FOR OUR RIGHTS ♪

♪ WE WAITED TOO
DAMN LONG FOR OUR RIGHTS ♪

♪ WE WAITED TOO DAMN LONG
FOR OUR RIGHTS ♪

♪ ALL TOGETHER NOW ♪

♪ WE'RE GONNA LOVE THE WAY
WE WANT TO ♪

♪ RIGHT ON ♪

♪ WE'RE GONNA LOVE THE WAY
WE WANT TO ♪

♪ RIGHT ON ♪

♪ WE'RE GONNA LOVE THE WAY
WE WANT TO ♪

♪ RIGHT ON ♪

♪ ALL TOGETHER NOW ♪

♪ AND MY BROTHERS
AND MY SISTERS ♪

♪ TOO DAMN LONG ♪

♪ AND MY BROTHERS
AND MY SISTERS ♪

♪ TOO DAMN LONG ♪

♪ AND MY BROTHERS
AND MY SISTERS ♪

♪ TOO DAMN LONG ♪

♪ ALL TOGETHER NOW ♪