A Union in Wait
| A Union in Wait | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ryan Butler |
| Produced by | Ryan Butler |
| Narrated by | Lisa Howes Yewdall |
| Cinematography | Richard Clabaugh Brian Nisbett |
| Edited by | Thomas Berndt |
| Music by | Jason Schuler |
| Distributed by | Frameline, Sundance Channel |
Release date |
|
Running time | 45 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000 |
A Union in Wait is a 2001 American documentary film about same-sex marriage directed by Ryan Butler. It was the first documentary about same-sex marriage to air on national television in the United States.[1][2][3]
Summary
[edit | edit source]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 to fight the school's decision in what would become a controversy that divided a community in North Carolina and made national headlines. Eventually (in 2000) Parker and Scott did have the ceremony at the chapel.[4][5][6][7][8]
The film includes interviews with Andrew Sullivan, Barney Frank, Robert Knight, Jimmy Creech, Fred Phelps, Candace Gingrich, Wake Forest University students, and local ministers. The film was shot primarily in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 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.
Distribution
[edit | edit source]In 2001, the Sundance Channel licensed the film for television in the United States. A Union In Wait was also shown at numerous festivals around the world and distributed on video by Frameline.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In 2015 Amazon Video made the film available online.[17]
Subsequent developments
[edit | edit source]Susan Parker later served as the associate pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church.[18][19] Ryan Butler worked as a television editor in Washington, D.C., after the release of A Union In Wait for WJLA-TV, National Geographic Channel, and CNN. He was also elected to Washington's Advisory Neighborhood Commission. In 2009 he moved back to North Carolina where he worked for the North Carolina General Assembly.[20]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Best "Same Sex Union" Titles Archived December 31, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Drusch, Andrea (March 17, 2014). Fred Phelps: 10 things to know Politico
- ^ Allen, Bob (March 22, 2019). North Carolina Baptist church ordaining trans woman to gospel ministry Baptist News Global
- ^ Burger, Mark (February 23, 2001). Film tackles controversy around same-sex ceremony Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Winston-Salem Journal
- ^ Cridlin, Jay (February 8, 2001). Film on same-sex union controversy to debut in Pugh Archived December 14, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, Old Gold & Black
- ^ Bland, Elizabeth (February 22, 2001). Film revisits same-sex union controversy Archived November 17, 2003, at the Wayback Machine, Old Gold & Black
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ (September 26, 2000).Couple 'united' at Wake Forest's Wait Chapel Archived June 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, The Chronicle (Duke University)
- ^ (October 21, 2001). Documentary on conflict over gay union being aired Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Winston-Salem Journal
- ^ Covington,Lewis. National Coming Out Day on Sundance Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, etcetera (Retrieved February 20, 2012, notes film playing on Sundance channel)
- ^ (February 9, 2001). Same-sex ceremony at WFU subject of documentary film Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Winston-Salem Journal
- ^ August 9, 2002. RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - What's showing, The Providence Journal (confirming that film was presented at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2002; "A Union in Wait, documentary about a lesbian couple whose attempt to have a union ceremony in a college chapel divided a North Carolina town.")
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ (May 3, 2001). [1], The Baltimore Sun (confirming presentation of film at Maryland Film Festival in 2001)
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (October 2001). A Union In Wait (brief review) Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Washington City Paper
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Parker, Susan & Yarber, Angela (February 3, 2012). Opinion: Joining Baptists in defeating NC Amendment One Archived August 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Baptist Press
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- Official website
- A Union in Wait at IMDbLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- 2001 films
- Documentary films about same-sex marriage in the United States
- Documentary films about lesbians
- 2001 LGBTQ-related films
- 2001 documentary films
- 2000s English-language films
- 2000s American films
- English-language documentary films
- American LGBTQ-related documentary films
- Documentary films about LGBTQ and Christianity