A Union In Wait
Encyclopedia
A Union in Wait is the name of a 2001
documentary
film
about same-sex marriage
, directed by Ryan Butler
. A Union In Wait was the first documentary about same-sex marriage to air on national television in the United States.
, on the campus of Wake Forest University
; but portions of the film were shot in Washington, D.C.
, at the Millennium March on Washington, Family Research Council
headquarters, and Andrew Sullivan
's house.
Susan Parker and Wendy Scott are members of Wake Forest Baptist Church. In 1997 the couple decided they wanted to have a union ceremony in Wake Forest University's Wait Chapel, but the traditionally Baptist university told them no. Susan Parker, Wendy Scott, their church, and many others joined together to fight the school's decision in what would become a controversy that divided a community in North Carolina
and made national headlines.
, Barney Frank
, Robert Knight, Jimmy Creech
, Fred Phelps
, Candace Gingrich
, Wake Forest University students, and local ministers.
Ryan Butler
worked as a television editor in Washington, DC after the release of A Union In Wait for WJLA-TV
, National Geographic Channel
and CNN
. During his time living there he was also elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission
in Washington, DC. In 2009 he moved back to North Carolina where he is now working for the North Carolina General Assembly.
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
about same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
, directed by Ryan Butler
Ryan Butler
Ryan Butler is an American politician and filmmaker. He is an elected member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in the District of Columbia and represents Single Member District 2B04.-Political career:...
. A Union In Wait was the first documentary about same-sex marriage to air on national television in the United States.
Location
The film was shot primarily in Winston-Salem, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, on the campus of Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
; but portions of the film were shot in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, at the Millennium March on Washington, Family Research Council
Family Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative or right-wing Christian group and lobbying organization formed in the United States in 1981 by James Dobson. It was fully incorporated in 1983...
headquarters, and Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Michael Sullivan is an English author, editor, political commentator and blogger. He describes himself as a political conservative. He has focused on American political life....
's house.
Summary
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and made national headlines.
Interviews
A Union In Wait includes interviews with Andrew SullivanAndrew Sullivan
Andrew Michael Sullivan is an English author, editor, political commentator and blogger. He describes himself as a political conservative. He has focused on American political life....
, Barney Frank
Barney Frank
Barney Frank is the U.S. Representative for . A member of the Democratic Party, he is the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States.Born and raised in New Jersey, Frank graduated from Harvard College and...
, Robert Knight, Jimmy Creech
Jimmy Creech
Jimmy Creech is a lifelong pioneer in LGBT equality issues. Creech is a former United Methodist minister who was defrocked for marrying same-sex couples....
, Fred Phelps
Fred Phelps
Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. is an American pastor heading the Westboro Baptist Church , an independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kansas...
, Candace Gingrich
Candace Gingrich
Candace Gingrich-Jones is an American LGBT rights activist at the Human Rights Campaign. She is the half-sister of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who is more than 20 years her senior...
, Wake Forest University students, and local ministers.
Distribution
In 2001 Sundance Channel licensed the film for television in the United States. A Union In Wait has also shown at numerous festivals around the world and is being distributed on video by Frameline.Further information
The Reverend Susan Parker (M.Div.) now serves as the Associate Pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church.Ryan Butler
Ryan Butler
Ryan Butler is an American politician and filmmaker. He is an elected member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in the District of Columbia and represents Single Member District 2B04.-Political career:...
worked as a television editor in Washington, DC after the release of A Union In Wait for WJLA-TV
WJLA-TV
WJLA-TV, channel 7, is the ABC affiliated television station in Washington, D.C.. It is the flagship station of the Allbritton Communications Company, which also operates local cable station NewsChannel 8. The two stations share broadcast facilities in the Rosslyn section of Arlington, Virginia...
, National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. During his time living there he was also elected to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission
Advisory Neighborhood Commission
thumb|right|upright|The District of Columbia is divided into 8 wards, each of which is further divided into local ANCs.Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are bodies of local government in Washington, D.C...
in Washington, DC. In 2009 he moved back to North Carolina where he is now working for the North Carolina General Assembly.