Prop. 8 Trial Finds Its Way to YouTube

Two Los Angeles filmmakers reenact the legal battle over gay marriage

The Supreme Court didn't want it shown, but two Los Angeles filmmakers produced a reenactment of the legal showdown over gay marriage and uploaded it to YouTube for the entire world to see.

John Ireland and John Ainsworth came up with the plan to reenact the just-concluded Proposition 8 federal trial, in response to the last-minute decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to block U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that would have allowed delayed broadcast of the trial on YouTube.

[Visit MarriageTrial.com for the first episode.]

The duo agreed to employ YouTube (Marriage Trial Channel) for the reenactment to remain true to Judge Walker's original idea. They are also convinced that YouTube is the new public square where everyone has access and a voice.

"It angered me, confused me and irritated me that access was being denied to the public for what we should all be able to see," said Ainsworth. "When we began discussing the idea of reenacting the trial on YouTube we thought this was the perfect way to circumvent the US Supreme Court's decision to not show it."

Ireland said the project, which launched Jan. 29, was both an act of civil disobedience and a not-so-subtle message to the courts.

"I would like our action to send a message to any court that it is not worth trying to 'hide' anything in a system that is designed around transparency," explained Ireland.

[Visit NeonTommy.com for the full article.]

Ireland concluded, "We are a group of people are committed to a purpose. It is not to make fun of anybody on any side of the issue or to force any beliefs on anybody. It is simple to portray this landmark case in our nation's history, and it is an honor for me and for every person involved in the project."


The original article was posted on NeonTommy.com.  The reenactment can be viewed at the Marriage Trial YouTube Channel or at marriagetrial.com.

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