The Right to Marry (1996)

This 1996 video was the worlds first documentary about the struggle for legal marriage. While a large number now support the right to legal marriage, at that time, too few understood the magnitude of what was at stake. Except for radical, right-wing organizations. Same-sex marriage -- and domestic partner recognition of any sort -- was lambasted, and continues to be targeted, in their TV and radio programs, anti-gay videos, as well as in hundreds of anti-gay legislative bills regarding recognition, health care, and education. The video contains interviews with: Rev. Mel White, well known from his "60 Minutes" appearance and his book "Stranger at the Gate: To be gay and Christian in America;" Phyllis Burke, author of "Family Values: A lesbian mother's fight for her son;" Richard Mohr, author of "A More Perfect Union;" Kevin Cathcart, executive director of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. The video also highlighted some of the same-sex couples who have sued for legal marriage, with personal recollections from: Faygele ben Miriam, who, along with Paul Barwick, sued Washington state in 1971; Benjamin Cable-McCarthy, who, along with partner Marcial Cable-McCarthy, sued California in 1993.