Watch Accidental Activists: One Couple's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court
- 2016
- 77 hr
Accidental Activists: One Couple's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court is a powerful and emotional documentary that follows the story of April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, a loving couple from Michigan who found themselves at the center of a legal battle that became a national debate on gay rights and marriage equality. The film begins by introducing us to April and Jayne, who have been together for more than a decade and have three children, whom they adopted. Despite their happy family life, April and Jayne are not legally recognized as a couple and are not able to get married in their home state of Michigan. This leaves them vulnerable to legal and financial repercussions, especially in the event of a medical emergency or death.
Determined to secure their family's future, April and Jayne decide to challenge Michigan's ban on same-sex marriages and adoption by same-sex couples. They file a lawsuit, hoping to gain the right to marry and adopt their children, but little do they know that their case will go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, making them accidental activists for marriage equality.
The film takes us through the legal journey of April and Jayne's case, from the initial filing to the eventual Supreme Court ruling. Along the way, we meet their team of lawyers, including Dana Nessel, who has become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ rights and is now the attorney general of Michigan. We also see the impact that the case has on the couple's personal lives, as they face scrutiny, criticism, and even death threats from anti-gay groups and individuals.
Through powerful interviews with April and Jayne, as well as their supporters and opponents, the film provides an intimate look at the emotional toll of the legal battle and the personal sacrifices that the couple had to make in order to fight for their rights. We also see the bigger picture, as the film explores the broader implications of the case and the impact that the Supreme Court ruling had on the LGBTQ community and the fight for equality.
Accidental Activists is not just a story about a legal battle, it is also a story about love, family, and the human spirit. It reminds us that every person deserves the right to love and be loved, and that the fight for equality is a long and challenging journey that requires courage, perseverance, and solidarity.
Overall, Accidental Activists: One Couple's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court is a must-watch documentary that will educate, inspire, and move you to tears. It is a compelling tribute to April and Jayne's bravery and resilience, and a testament to the power of love and the human rights.