The Freedom to Marry

The title of Eddie Rosenstein’s documentary refers to both the political advocacy nonprofit group Freedom to Marry founded by Evan Wolfson and to its mission to ensure that gay and lesbian couples were able to receive marriage equality under U.S. law. Wolfson began pushing for same-sex marriage back in 1983 in his Harvard Law School thesis, and a 1991 Hawaiian court ruling enabling a lesbian couple to marry seemed to turn the tide in favor of this movement. However, the Hawaiian legislature quickly squashed the court’s ruling and the Defense of Marriage Act—which was unapologetically signed into law by President Bill Clinton—made same-sex marriages seem permanently elusive. Still, Wolfson, dubbed "The Marriage Guy" by his admirers, would not quit, and this film offers tribute to his tireless work in rallying like-minded individuals to fight for marriage equality at every level, gaining legal victories in 37 states before the Supreme Court ruled in 2015’s Obergefell v. Hodges that marriage was a constitutional right—ending the prohibition on same-sex marriages. Presented in a full-length version and a 54-minute abridged edition, The Freedom to Marry captures one man’s indefatigable spirit and skill in using the law to benefit a community that had been disenfranchised for too long. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)