Queer Public

"Binational Same Sex Couples and The Defense of Marriage Act"

The stories of binational couples facing barriers to immigration under the Defense of Marriage Act and the activists who strategized political and legal campaigns to make tangible changes for LGBT families in the years leading up to the June 2013 Supreme Court ruling.

ACT I

Host Erin McGregor explains the detrimental affects of the Defense of Marriage Act to a very specific and very large group of people.  Under DOMA, 40,000 same sex binational couples are refused some 1100 federal rights and benefits including a marriage based path to immigration.  We talk to writer and filmmaker Brynn Gelbard about her DeVote Campaign and we hear from three binational couples, each facing the challenges of having no no legal status under DOMA.  

ACT II

Erin McGregor interviews Lavi Soloway, an immigration and gay rights attorney and founder of The DOMA Project, an organization that helps same sex binational couples find a marriage based path to immigration by sharing the stories of their clients and a surprising legal campaign.  We also learn about 83 year old widow Edie Windsor, and the Supreme Court that argued that the denial of Federal benefits on the basis of sexual orientation is discriminatory.   

ACT III

DOMA is overturned and we hear from Lavi Soloway, Becky and Sanne, Daniel, and Brynn Gelbard about their reactions and the aftermath of of the ruling.  We also provide updates from the couples since the ruling. 

CREDITS: 

Erin McGregor // Host // Producer // 

Andy Alseri // Producer // Editor // Mix

Allison Grey // Creative Director, BRAVEKIND

Arturo Brisindi // Engineering

HardScience.ca // Music 

Incomptech.com // Music 

Carly Clayton // Social Media 

Stacey Taylor  // Special Thanks

Watch footage from the SCOTUS Ruling on June 23, 2013: 

Democracy Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrbrkmALhEE

NBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5t7dNz_Mrk

ABC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpU-01zcBdc

LINKS

Masliah & Soloway: http://masliah-soloway.com/

The DOMA Project: http://www.domaproject.org/

The DeVote Campaign Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/DeVOTEcampaign

Becky & Sanne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp0afeIoxdM

Daniel & Yohandel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lecPpq1ArFg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Bmgudelcs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4lqA7PQ6k

Edie Windsor: http://ediewindsor.com/

Watch documentary “Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement” on Netflix!