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Same-sex marriage is one of the more controversial issues of our time. States Of Marriage: The Debate Over Gay Rights provides meaning and context not only to Vermont's history with this issue, but tells the national story as well.
Ten years ago in December, the Vermont Supreme Court changed the landscape of legal rights for same-sex couples when it handed down its ruling in the case Baker v. State of Vermont. The three same-sex couples who were the Baker plaintiffs had argued that they deserve the rights of marriage, just as heterosexual couples do.
In the decade since, the country has debated the deeply personal and very public questions of what marriage means and how to legally recognize gay and lesbian couples, and how ideas of family and civil rights are challenged by these questions.
States of Marriage examines how several states have approached legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples. We examine the divisive civil unions precedent in Vermont and how it set the stage for a marriage law in Massachusetts. Advocates on both sides of the issue explain their political and legal strategies to convince voters and courts of their cause, and we see the results of that debate in California, Iowa and Maine.
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Piece Description
Same-sex marriage is one of the more controversial issues of our time. States Of Marriage: The Debate Over Gay Rights provides meaning and context not only to Vermont's history with this issue, but tells the national story as well.
Ten years ago in December, the Vermont Supreme Court changed the landscape of legal rights for same-sex couples when it handed down its ruling in the case Baker v. State of Vermont. The three same-sex couples who were the Baker plaintiffs had argued that they deserve the rights of marriage, just as heterosexual couples do.
In the decade since, the country has debated the deeply personal and very public questions of what marriage means and how to legally recognize gay and lesbian couples, and how ideas of family and civil rights are challenged by these questions.
States of Marriage examines how several states have approached legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples. We examine the divisive civil unions precedent in Vermont and how it set the stage for a marriage law in Massachusetts. Advocates on both sides of the issue explain their political and legal strategies to convince voters and courts of their cause, and we see the results of that debate in California, Iowa and Maine.
Broadcast History
This piece was updated on May 27, 2010.
Transcript
Transcript – “States Of Marriage: The Debate Over Gay Rights”
Gay Marriage. Those words are emotional, personal and very public.
(Joseph Watson) “We exchanged vows and rings in ‘93 and that was really when I think of when our marriage began.”
(Frank Schubert) “The people of this nation don’t want marriage to change.”
(Marc Solomon) “In 20 years people will wonder what the heck we were all so excited about.”
I’m Jane Lindholm, and this is “States of Marriage.”
In the next hour, we’ll examine why this issue has some raising the pride flag and others raising picket signs. From the groundbreaking legal claims in New England; to the surprising decision in Iowa; and the pitched battle over Proposition 8 in California -- we’ll listen to the stories of people on both sides and learn why this has become one of the most controversial debates of our time.
We begin in Vermont, a state th...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
0:00:00 – 0:00:59 0:59 MARRIAGE-BB billboard
In cue: “The debate over...”
Out cue: “...after this news.”
0:01:00 – 0:06:00 5:00 NPR News, credit (SD2-2)
0:06:00 – 0:23:17 17:17 MARRIAGE-1 part 1 of 3
In cue: “Gay marriage. The words...”
Out cue: “I’m Jane Lindholm, and this is ‘States of Marriage.’” (Ambi of protesters fades out.)
0:23:17 – 24:17 0:59 [Station break]
0:24:17 – 0:43:58 19:41 MARRIAGE-2 part 2 of 3
In cue: “By the power vested in me by....”
Out cue: “I’m Jane Lindholm, and you’re listening to ‘States of Marriage.’” (No ambi)
0:43:58 – 0:44:58 1:00 [Station break]
0:44:58 – 0:59:00 14:02 MARRIAGE-3 part 3 of 3
In cue: “Why is gay marriage....”
Out cue: “...listeners of Vermont Public Radio.”
0:59:00 – 1:00:00 0:59 [Station Break]
Additional Credits
Audio Engineer - Chris Albertine
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