Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Documentary to Screen in Dallas

When director Geoff Callan sat down for lunch with his brother-in-law a few years ago, little did he know he was about to become entrenched in a national debate that's still far from over. Callan's brother-in-law is Gavin Newsom, now in his fourth year as Mayor of San Francisco. The lunch took place just two months after Newsom was elected as San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom told Callan he was about to do something that would really shake things up. "He said that he was about to ruin his political career," Callan recalls. "He couldn't tell me what it was that he was going to do, but that it was the right thing to do." Soon after, Newsom announced his decision allowing San Francisco to perform same-sex marriages, citing authority from the California Constitution's equal protection clause. Around 4,000 same-sex marriage certificates were issued from Feb. 12 to March 12, 2004, when the California Supreme Court halted the marriages. He asked Callan to be there to film the first ceremony, and it turned into something much bigger.

During and after that milestone month in San Francisco, the aptly named "Winter of Love," Callan and his directing partner Mike Shaw were given unprecedented access to Newsom and San Francisco's City Hall. The result is the groundbreaking documentary The Pursuit of Equality, which has had a limited release (and many critical accolades) at film festivals, and will premiere in Dallas on Oct. 29 at the Magnolia Theater as part of a special event benefiting Lamda Legal and the Resource Center of Dallas' Hot Meals Program. Tickets are available online at the Resource Center's official site.

Nearly four years and 400 hours of filming have passed since Newsom made his pioneering decision. Callan took time out of his "screening brigade" to speak with EDGE Dallas about this landmark film and why it's message is important as ever.

EDGE: After Mayor Newsom asked you to film the first same-sex marriage ceremony in San Francisco, what was your motivation to turn this into a documentary?

Geoff Callan: What's interesting is that I'm straight, married and have kids. My directing partner is straight too. People can't say to us that we have an agenda. We have nothing to gain supporting this issue, as far as getting married. In meeting these people's families, their children, their grandchildren, we realized what an important issue this is. Everybody knows someone who's gay. We saw that our friends are in pain, and being discriminated against. As filmmakers you get passionate about a project. This is so much bigger than us, it's not about is. We learned early on that we had an obligation to capture this historic moment and put it on film, so people can watch this in decades to come.

EDGE: What was it like filming in San Francisco during such a momentous time?

Geoff Callan: It's been an amazing journey. We filmed the first wedding. We kept filming for months. It wasn't like a normal documentary where we have a scheduled shoot. We shoot as we go. Four cameras were around at all times capturing as much as possible. Someone in Gavin's office, at the court, on the street, blanketing the first 30 days before there was a stay put on the weddings. We ended up having over 400 hours of footage. When we first screened the film in San Francisco, it was great that we rushed to finish it and show it as a tribute to everyone who was married.

EDGE: What do you hope the audience will take home from seeing this film?

Geoff Callan: Be open-minded. This film is bigger than all of us. Take a minute to understand what's at stake. There are people who are against same-sex marriage for whatever reason. I think that our goal is just to provide everybody with a positive outlook. No harm is being done. There's a generation gap too, when you look back in time. Blacks weren't treated as people, women couldn't vote. This is really a civil rights issue about people being treated not being treated equally. This film puts a face on this. Everybody's affected by this issue.

EDGE: Have you had the chance to speak face-to-face with people who so vehemently oppose same-sex marriage, like the group Repent America?

Geoff Callan: Yes, we actually had the chance to interview them. It was interesting to hear their side. They see homosexuality as a sin because the Bible says so, and their goal is to fix them [homosexuals], to teach them the word of God so that God can set them free. And they're nice guys. They're not evil like the KKK. They just have a whole different perspective on the issue.

EDGE: Were they interested in hearing your perspective on the issue?

Geoff Callan: Not at all.

EDGE: The issue of same-sex marriage is at the Supreme Court level now. Has making this film affected your view of the U.S. courts system?

Geoff Callan: I think the courts work. They're reviewing the briefs, getting ready to rule whether it's constitutional not allowing people of the same sex to be married. They'll come down with a ruling in the next few months. If they rule it's unconstitutional, people can begin getting married immediately. In November 2008 there will probably be a ballot initiative for people in California to vote on. This is the perfect time for us to release the film because now we're able to educate people and show them what this issue is all about. Just know the issue. Know the topic. How does it affect you? The issue has now gone full circle. It's a national issue. Some states will never turn it over, some states will.

WHO: Resource Center of Dallas & Lambda Legal
WHAT: Dallas Premiere of THE PURSUIT OF EQUALITY film
WHEN: Monday, October 29, 2007 6:00pm Reception with Filmmakers, 7:00PM Introduction & Screening
WHERE: The Magnolia Theater - West Village, 3699 McKinney Ave., Dallas 75204
COST: $25 per person
To purchase tickets online, visit www.rcdallas.org