HOW IT ALL BEGAN

November 5, 2008. Santa Monica, California. Broadway Diner:

A group of us discuss the historic election of Illinois Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. We also discuss the historic passage of Proposition 8, which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.

At the time, I was working at a law firm in downtown Los Angeles. Discussion swirled furiously around the Prop 8, a fascinating issue for many attorneys because it encapsulates the spectrum of constitutional law theories that mesmerized us while law school students.

In the days immediately following the election, everyone was asking questions… how, why? Of all the terms I could use to describe the energy around Los Angeles during that time, the most relevant is confused. People were confused about the ability of voters to overturn a California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage earlier the same year, confused about the constitutionality of the proposition, confused about the terminology on the ballot, confused about the campaign tactics and strategies. Many wanted answers. So did I. We started digging.

The original idea was simple: a short documentary-style informational piece on Prop 8 from a legal perspective to reveal the substantive and procedural legal issues involved. As our team began to connect with people, we realized that the issues demanded so much more than a legal inspection. Other implications – religious, political, scientific – were integral to people’s perceptions and opinions about same-sex marriage. We soon understood that a comprehensive depiction of Proposition 8 and marriage equality demanded a lot more. So we regrouped…and decided to tell the whole story of the most controversial and divisive issue of our time.

I should also mention here that we were very fortunate: Bucks Boys Productions - a remarkable production company versed in the music, entertainment and advertising industries - agreed to work with us and stand behind this project, no matter how crazy our ideas.

As the historic federal trial on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 continues, our team is soldiering on with one mission: to educate, enlighten and motivate people to achieve a deeper understanding of same-sex marriage so individuals throughout this country and the world have the tools to engage in well-informed discussion.

We are not special. We simply decided to use the resources we had to do what we could to stand up for our neighbors. We are You.