At 1pm on Saturday, join New Conservatory Theater for a celebration of love and marriage with a screening of HBO's feature length documentary on the lawsuit which took down Proposition 8, California's now tossed ban on same sex marriage.
That lawsuit attracted an enormous amount of media attention when Ted Olson, a conservative attorney who was part of the Reagan and Bush administrations, and David Boise, a staunchly liberal attorney, joined forces in order to challenge Prop 8. Olson and Boise had previously argued the infamous Florida recount case before the US Supreme Court, resulting in the George W. Bush presidency that many people still feel was a stolen election.
Olson and Boise took their case all the way to the US Supreme Court.
In June 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the rulings of California Judge Vaughn Walker and the California State Supreme Court which had rendered Prop 8 unconstitutional. People danced in the streets of the Castro as marriage equality returned to California.
Shot while the Prop 8 case was working its way through the courts, The Case Against 8 documents the day-by-struggles of the attorneys and the two couples who filed the lawsuit.
New Conservatory Theater's Ben Randle explained why Valentine's Day was chosen for the film's screening. "We chose the 14th because it's the most romantic day of the year and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate this victory," Randle told Hoodline. "We chose the daytime as a great way for people to kick off their Valentine's Day plans."
The event commences at 1pm, and will be more than just a film screening.
There will be a panel discussion that will include Judge Vaughn Walker, along with Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, the now happily married gay couple who were among the plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case. The panel will be moderated by District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener. "Preceding the screening is a champagne reception with light fare," Randle reports.
Len Handeland and his husband Byron have been together for 32 years. Former Castro residents that are now married, they represent just one example of people who saw their dreams come true as a result of the Prop 8 case. Handeland describes their first meeting as lust as first sight, which led to a lifelong love.
"We've come a long way, baby," Handeland said. "It's such a different world we live in today compared to when Byron and I first met in 1983. I didn't think we would see the day when two people of the same sex could get legally married."
Handeland said that he and Byron have seen The Case Against 8. "It deeply touched and moved us to tears," he said. "We are living in extraordinary times and Byron and I are thankful to be around to see the LGBT movement continuing to make great strides which will benefit everyone in the end."
Handeland spoke of his wedding to Byron. "Our wedding day was a very emotionally charged and love filled day," he said. "You could feel the energy in the air, it was surreal, almost ethereal." Handeland said that over 160 people from the East Coast, West Coast and Europe attended their nuptials. "It was a Hollywood wedding," he said.
Still, Ben Randle reminds us that the battle is far from over. "There are many hearts and minds to be changed," he said. "Our work remains as important as ever."
If you'd prefer to cuddle up at home, the documentary was released on DVD last month, and is also available via online streaming.
