Reviews

Saving Marriage

Dramatic moments of the gay-and-lesbian struggle that escaped our newspapers

By GERALD PEARY | October 15, 2008

3.0 Stars

For a time, this home-town documentary by Mike Roth and John Henning seems as perfunctory as its title, something we already know about and applaud: the fight for gay marriage in Massachusetts. Why isn’t this on TV? But Roth and Henning, dedicated partisans, were everywhere with their cameras in those historic years 2003–2006. They were witnesses to dramatic moments of the gay-and-lesbian struggle that escaped our newspapers and newscasts, such as Dianne Wilkerson’s noblest hour, her speech in the legislature supporting gay matrimony. Saving Marriage branches out to the 2004 Democratic state-legislature primaries, where same-sex marriage was the salient issue and a bevy of Massachusetts local heroes like Barbara L’Italien and Kathy Teahan supported it at the risk of their jobs. The most emotional scene of all? At Cambridge City Hall on May 17, 2004, where crowds cheered each couple as gay marriage became legal for the first time anywhere in America. 90 minutes | Kendall Square

Jubilation!
We can all thank the conservatives who several years ago controlled the state legislature for the fact that Massachusetts citizens have same-sex- marriage rights.
Gay marriage debate comes to Maine
Even as same-sex marriage supporters across the country reel from the Election Day approval of California's Proposition 8 — which changed that state's constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman — they are optimistic about bringing gay marriage to Maine, possibly in the upcoming legislative session.
Legislature will take up gay marriage this session
Maine lawmakers are certain to debate gay marriage in 2009, with competing marriage-related bills slated to be filed with the Legislature this week.
Same-sex marriage
From the podium at EqualityMaine's 25th anniversary dinner last Saturday night, former state senator Ethan Strimling posed a question to the 630 people in attendance: If gay marriage were allowed in Maine, how many of you would tie the knot?
Death by handgun
A couple of weeks ago, David S. Bernstein wrote about the growing "state sovereignty" movement backed by anti-government conspiracy theorists and gun-rights extremists, and touted on the syndicated radio show and Web site of deranged agitator Alex Jones.
Equal rites?
New England has made a pretty good case, in recent years, for America's capital of queer.
Courthouse marriage
While political analysts understandably regard elections and politicians as the key forces of social change, nongovernmental forces are the ones that most often actually influence and transform our culture.
Fighting back
Thanks to a federal law that codifies discrimination against same-sex couples, more than 15,000 legally married couples (and an untold number of children) are being denied basic benefits, such as the right to file their taxes jointly, or Social Security payments and health-insurance subsidies.
California matters
For four years, and 10,000 same-sex nuptials, Massachusetts has had a monopoly on gay marriage in the United States.
The rain in Maine
If you're planning a trip to Vacationland this summer, be sure to bring your galoshes — the "gay storm" that's been satirized all over the Internet rolled into Maine last week.
Marrying into history
remember the day Vermont legalized Civil Unions for same-sex couples. I was in college at the time and I remember thinking out loud that I could move there and get "Civil Union-ed" someday. It didn't sound the same as my previous dreams of getting "Married."
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