For those unfamiliar with Proposition Eight (or, as it’s usually referred to, “Prop 8”), how is life underneath that giant rock? Sorry I haven’t dropped by for a visit yet, I’ve just been so busy lately and, well, you know how things can get.
Now, all joking aside…. For those unfamiliar with Prop 8, the nitty gritty of the situation is that during the 2008 California state elections, same-sex marriage opponents placed a ballot proposition on the voting tickets, asking voters to check “yes” or “no” on allowing same-sex marriages to take place in their state. Following lawsuits and a long, winding road of legal battles and red tape, Prop 8 was officially declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of The United States (SCOTUS) on June 26, 2013. This is the most basic summation of events; for more detailed information, readers should look here and here.
The rulings against Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) were cause for celebration amoung many LBTQAI+ individuals and their allies, with big names including Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, and even Brad Pitt voicing both their disapproval of the law and their joy at it’s unconstitutional ruling. With June being Pride month, parades and celebrations became even more joyful and festive in light of the tremendous victory for human rights.
Many hope that the rulings against Prop 8 and DOMA will lead to marriage equality across the country, and the writer definitely shares in their sentiments.
The long, historical battle over Prop 8 is now set to become an HBO documentary. The Hollywood Reporter says that directors Ben Cotner and Ryan White have had “exclusive” access over the past five years with many of the major parties involved in the case, including the four plaintiffs and the legal team headed by conservative Ted Olson and liberal David Boies.
Director Ryan White says, “We are excited to share that experience with the world.”
The writer is sure that many are just as eager to partake in said experience, though there is no word yet on when the documentary will debut.