One Wedding and a Revolution

The revolution will not be televised, but with Debra Chasnoff’s film, One Wedding and a Revolution, you can watch history in the making. Filmmaker Chasnoff was there when Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon became the first same-sex couple to be legally married in the United States. Rarely does one get a front row seat to such a historic event. With her camera handy, Chasnoff gives us access to the start of the gay marriage revolution in the United States.

Gavin Newsom takes a Stand

After attending President Bush’s State of the Union address in January 2004, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was upset about the President’s call for a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. Newsom decided in his new role as mayor of San Francisco he would do what he could to end discrimination in his city. At his urging, the city began performing gay and lesbian marriages beginning February 12, 2004.

Gay Marriage Revolution

We’ve seen lots of footage and film about the historic few weeks in San Francisco when more than 4,000 same-sex couples were married. One Wedding and a Revolution tells the back-story. It focuses on Newsom, City Assessor-Recorder Mabel Cheng and Kate Kendell director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Discrimination hits many Levels

Mayor Newsom’s comments and insight into the deep nature of discrimination are refreshing and insightful. It was moving to hear this straight, white man say, “Discrimination works on so many levels. It’s not just a legal right that’s denied, it’s an emotional right that’s denied…That’s deep.”

Tells a Great Story

One Wedding and a Revolution is a well-made documentary that tells one story of the many from the beginning of the gay marriage revolution.