About
THE FILM
Kristina Lapinski is directing and producing GAY U.S.A. the Movie and has amassed hundreds of hours of footage over a 3 year period reflecting encounters, interviews and events that have impacted the LGBT community in the United States.
The film captures an intimate portrayal of couples and families, using metaphor and symbolic expression, as the quest for full equality unfolds in the context of major U.S. events.
Gay U.S.A. provides a creative and distilled look at how religion, law, politics, family and patriotism collide with the inevitable quest for full equality.
Kristina Lapinski: “Public education and compelling stories will win our movement. Media has the profound effect of exposing new worlds to viewers in a dramatic and impactive way, and this endeavor will truly reach out to every demographic as a pop culture film. Our community needs to deliver a full scope education to America, and GAY U.S.A. will bring the issues to the big screen.”
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THE BLOG
Melanie Nathan is an attorney-mediator who is co-producer and publisher of GAY U.S.A. She is well known for her equality and human rights activism and writing in the U.S.A. and abroad. She advocates for marriage equality, same-sex binational couples, global LGBTI asylum, decriminalization of homosexuality and for reform on the issue of so called ‘corrective’ rape of lesbians in South Africa. Melanie brings years of experience in law, writing, editing, social media to the project.
Melanie Nathan: “I am so excited about the promise of this project and our unique alliance. I believe that our civil rights are attainable to the extent of full and absolute equality; yet the challenge remains in finding a way to inform those who remain uninformed, misinformed or indifferent to this vital American value.”
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POST-PRODUCTION
Bonfire Labs is a San Francisco based post-production company.
www.bonfirelabs.com
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POLITICS
-Barry Lynn-About- Executive Director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Interviewed- Washington, D.C.
Topics- Moral Majority, Separation of Church and State
-Christine Quinn-About- Speaker NYC
Interviewed- New York, New York
Topics- New York Marriage Legalization, Politics
-Dale Carpenter-About- Law Professor @ University of Minnesota, Author
Interviewed- Minneapolis, MN
Topics- LGBT Law & History, Lawrence v Texas, National Politics
-Darlene Nipper-About- Deputy Executive Director- National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Interviewed- Washington D.C.
Topics- Civil Rights, Politics
-Dennis Mangers-About- CA Board of Governors, Senior Advisor to Senate President Pro Tem
Interviewed- Sacramento, CA
Topics- California Laws, Prop 8, National Politics
-Ed Murray-About- State Senator (D-WA), Main Sponsor of Washington Equality Legislation
Interviewed- Olympia, WA
Topics- Washington Equality Laws, Marriage Amendment, DOMA, National Politics
-Eleanor Holmes Norton-About- Congresswoman (D-D.C.)
Interviewed- Washington D.C.
Topics- Civil Rights, Bayard Rustin
-Jackie Speier-About- Congresswoman (D-CA)
Interviewed- San Mateo, CA
Topics- Congress, Federal Equality
-Jared Polis-About- Congressman (D-CO)
Interviewed- Washington D.C.
Topics- Congress, DOMA, Federal Legislation
-Kate Kendell-About- Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Interviewed- San Francisco, CA
Topics- Legal Issues, Family, Religion, Anti-Bullying
-Ken Martin-About- Chair of Minnesota DFL
Interviewed- Minneapolis, MN
Topics- Minnesota Marriage Amendment, DFL, National Politics
-Kris Perry & Sandy Stier-About- Lead Plaintiffs in Prop 8 case
Interviewed- Berkeley, CA
Topics- Prop 8, Marriage Equality
-Laurie McBride-About- Former Co-Chair National Stonewall Democrats
Interviewed- Sacramento, CA
Topics- ENDA, History of California Laws for Equality
-Lynn Woolsey-About- Congresswoman (D-CA)
Interviewed- San Rafael, CA
Topics- DOMA, Battle for Equal Rights in Congress
-Mark Leno-About- State Senator (D-CA)
Interviewed- San Francisco, CA
Topics- Marriage Equality, Family, Religion, D0MA, SB-48
-Michael Keegan-About- Executive Director, People for the American Way
Interviewed- Washington D.C.
Topics- Right Wing anti-gay activity
-Naomi Fine & Kathy Levinson-About- LGBT for Obama, Democratic Party
Interviewed- Palo Alto, CA
Topics- President Obama, DNC Convention
-Newt Gingrich-About- 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate, Former Speaker of the House
Interviewed- Hampton, New Hampshire
Topics- Anti-Marriage Equality, Family, Religion, DADT
-Raymond Buckley-About- Chair of New Hampshire Democratic Party, President of ASDC, Vice Chair of Democratic National Committee
Interviewed- Concord, New Hampshire
Topics- DOMA, Anti-Bullying Legislation, Democrat & Republican Politics
-R. Clarke Cooper-About- Executive Director- Log Cabin Republicans, Republican Party
Interviewed- Las Vegas, NV
Topics- Repeal of DADT, Equality issues in the Republican Party
-Richard Socarides-About- Former Clinton LGBT Liaison
Interviewed- New York, New York
Topics- Marriage Equality, Politics
-Rick Santorum-About- 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate, Former Pennsylvania State Senator
Interviewed- Hampton, New Hampshire
Topics- Anti-Marriage Equality, Family, Religion
-Sally Miller Gearhart-About- First Openly Lesbian Professor to gain tenure in U.S., Lesbian Feminist Activist
Interviewed- Willits, CA
Topics- Harvey Milk, Briggs Initiative/Prop 6, Anita Bryant, gay liberation in the 70′s
-Scott Dibble-About- Minnesota State Senator
Interviewed- Minneapolis, MN
Topics- Minnesota Marriage Amendment
-Ted Lieu-About- CA State Senator
Interviewed- Sacramento, CA
Topics- Reparative Therapy Legislation
-Therese Stewart-About- Chief Deputy City Attorney S.F.
Interviewed- San Francisco, CA
Topics- Prop 8, Politics
LGBT Issues & Legislation
-Aderson Francois-About- Howard Law School
Interviewed- Washington D.C.
Topics-Supreme Court, Loving v. Virginia
-Alastair Gamble-About- Discharged under DADT, The Palm Center
Interviewed- Los Angeles, CA
Topics- DADT
-Anthony Loverde-About- Discharged under DADT
Interviewed- Las Vegas, NV
Topics- DADT
-Brittany Geldert-About- Plaintiff in Anoka-Hennepin School District Lawsuit
Interviewed- San Francisco, CA
Topics- Teen Bullying, Anoka-Hennepin School District
-Cathy Renna-About- GLAAD, Activist
Interviewed- Las Vegas, NV
Topics- LGBT Portrayal in Media, National Politics
-Christine Sun-About- Lawyer @ Southern Poverty Law Center
Interviewed- San Francisco, CA
Topics- Anoka-Hennepin, Hate Groups, SPLC
-Deb Needham-About-Paramedic Field
Interviewed- Renton, WA
Topics- Employment, Health Care Discrimination
-Evelyn Thomas-About- Executive Director- The Sanctuary Project Veterans
Interviewed- Las Vegas, NV
Topics- DADT
-Jake Hite-About- Patient at Bachmann & Associates
Interviewed- Rosemount, MN
Topics- Reparative Therpay
-Jefferson Fietek-About- Gay School Teacher in Anoka-Hennepin
Interviewed- Anoka, MN
Topics- Gay Bullying
-Jonathan Hopkins-About- West Point, Outserve
Interviewed- Las Vegas, NV
Topics- DADT
-Marvin Burrows-About- Married in California, Benefits Discrimination
Interviewed- Hayward, CA
Topics- Retirement Issues, Marriage Equality
-Melissa Thompson-About- Parent in Anoka-Hennepin School District
Interviewed- Coon Rapids, MN
Topics- Religion, Bullying, Anoka-Hennepin Lawsuit
-Randi & Phil Reitan-About- Loving parents of gay son Jake, equality activists
Interviewed- Eden Prairie, MN
Topics- Equality, National Politics
-Tammy Aaberg-About- Loving mother of Justin Aeberg, teen suicide in Anoka-Hennepin
Interviewed- Champlin, MN
Topics- Gay Bullying, Anoka-Hennepin school district
RELIGION
-Rev. Canon Albert Ogle-About- Diocese of Los Angeles, one of the first openly gay clergy, St. Paul’s Foundation
Interviewed- Berkeley, CA
Topics- Family, Religion, Uganda, Homosexuality in Africa
-Bishop Christopher Senyonjo-About- Ugandan Gay Rights Activist, St. Paul’s Foundation
Interviewed- Berkeley, CA
Topics- Family, Religion, Uganda, Homosexuality in Africa
-Rev. James Lawson Jr.-About- Leading American Civil Rights Activist- Associated with Martin Luther King Jr. & Little Rock 9
Interviewed- Los Angeles, CA
Topics- Marriage, Family, Religion, Civil Rights Movement, National Politics
-Jay Bakker-About- Son of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, Author, Christian Pastor
Interviewed- Brooklyn, NY
Topics- Family, Religion, Christian Politics
-Mel White-About- Biblical Scholar, Gay Reverend, Ghostwriter for Billy Graham & Jerry Falwell
Interviewed- Long Beach, CA
Topics- Religion, Fundamentalism in Republican Party
-Rick Warren-About- Pastor of Saddleback Church, 8th largest Megachurch in the U.S.A, invocation @ Obama Presidential Inuaguration
Interviewed- Lake Forest, CA
Topics- Baptism
-Stacey Friedman-About- Rabbi @ Congregation Rodef Shalom
Interviewed- San Rafael, CA
Topics- Leviticus, Old Testament, Judaism
-Westboro Baptist Church-About- Most Anti-gay Church in America, national protests
Interviewed- New York City, NY; Sacramento, CA
Topics- Religion, Politics, Marriage, the Apocalypse
SCIENCE
-Benjamin Kaufman-About- Co-founder of NARTH- The National Association for the Research & Treatment of Homosexuals
Interviewed- Sacramento, CA
Topics- Psychiatry, Psychology
-Dr. Robert Cabaj MD-About- Executive Director- Community Behavioral Health S.F., S.F. Department of Public Health
Interviewed- San Francisco, CA
Topics-Psychiatry, Psychology, the American Psychiatric Association
FEATURED FAMILIES
-Carol Barnett & Nannette Gonnella-About- Couple married on the historic day for Marriage Equality in NY, together 38 years
Interviewed- New York City, NY; Neptune City, NJ
Topics- Marriage Equality, 9/11
-Janet Souza-About- PFLAG Mom, Christian, loving mother of her gay son Joey
Interviewed- Sacramento, CA
Topics- Reconciling faith & family
-Jacob Stroman & Michael Zeininger-About- Young couple married in New York, hurricane survivors in New Orleans, LA
Interviewed- New Orleans, LA
Topics- Marriage Equality, Hurricane Katrina
-Jeff & Lori Wilfahrt-About- Loving parents of Corporal Andrew C. Wilfahrt, who died while stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Interviewed- Minneapolis, MN
Topics- DADT, Equality, National Politics
EVENTS
-Prop 8-About- Prop 8 is found unconstitutional, celebration in downtown S.F.
Location- San Francisco, CA
Speakers- Molly McKay, Stuart Gaffney, Roland Stringfellow
-AFER Press Conferences-About- Gay U.S.A. attends AFER S.F. conferences following progress of Prop 8 court case
Location- San Francisco, CA
Speakers- Ted Olson, Dennis Herrera, Therese Stewart, Prop 8 Plaintiffs
-Frank Kameny Memorial-About- Leaders of the gay rights movement honor the life of Frank Kameny
Location- Washington D.C.
Speakers- Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, Eleanor Holmes Norton, John Berry
-Minnesota Lobby Day-About- Minnesota United for All Families and Outfront Minnesota lobby against the marriage amendment
Location- St. Paul, MN
Speakers- Governor Dayton, Senator Scott Dibble, Monica Meyer
-NY Legalizes Marriage Equality-About- July 2011, New York Legalizes Marriage Equality
Location- New York City, NY
Speakers- Christine Quinn, first 5 couples to marry
-Santorum Anti-Gay Rally-About- Rick Santorum holds a rally on the same day Governor Gregoire signs the marriage bill
Location- Tacoma, WA
Speakers- Rick Santorum, Occupy Wall Street Protestors
-Prop 8 & D.O.M.A. in the Supreme Court-About- Prop 8 & D.O.M.A. on trial, rally on the steps of the Supreme Court
Location- Washington D.C.
Speakers- United for Marriage Coalition
-Washington Legalizes Marriage Equality-About- February 2012, Washington Legalizes Marriage Equality
Location- Olympia, WA
Speakers- Senator Ed Murray, Governor Christine Gregoire
-Washington First Applications & Marriages-About- First marriage applications and marriages in WA
Location- Seattle, WA
Speakers- First 10 Couples