Film Critique - Tying the Knot: The Union that's Dividing America - Essay Example

Tying the Knot: The Union thats Dividing America is a film about same-sex marriages. Due to the laws many same sex couples that have been together for years are facing hardships when their partner dies. The legislative fights for and against same sex marriage is examined. This film makes homosexuals more human. It gives a face to the cause. Instead of seeing millions of Rainbow Warriors marching in protest, this movie focuses on individuals. The most memorable moment was when Earl’s relatives came out of the woodwork to fight for Sam’s farm.

This is a travesty. These two men did not expect couple rights. They did expect that the law would be upheld after a will was written. Despite Earl’s will having two signatures leaving Sam the farm, the court ruled in favor of Earl’s cousins. Racism can still be used in the American Court System. Hopefully, like the Jim Crow laws of the past, these laws will be overturned. Mickie Mashburn’s situation was almost as bad as Sam’s. The difference was Lois’ family accepted Mickie. Lois’ sister, Brenda, went to their wedding.

However once money was involved, Brenda fought against Mickie. It seems like money makes people turn on each other. Due to the lack of rights Sam and Mickie lost what they had worked for with their partner. Whether farm or pension, it is not about the money. It is about the rights.This file was helpful in diffusing stereotypes. Both same sex couple had been married for a long time. Many individuals think that same sex couples are promiscuous and do not stay with the same partner for awhile. This was disproven.

The fact that real couples were used to promote the cause helped humanize the issue. Normally issues revolving around homosexuals are a clip of a openly gay man or woman stating facts. The use of real people made the audience feel more sympathetic toward same sex marriage. Using same sex couples that were actually harmed by not being married was also a good tactic. This film did not change any of my views, beliefs, or attitudes toward the homosexual population. I am heterosexual. For me homosexuality is not now, or never has been an issue.

To each their own is my point of view. I do not understand why people are so violently against something that does not directly affect them. Homosexuals are not marching so everyone can be a homosexual. What people do in the privacy of their own house that does not directly affect others should not be regulated. Honestly the same sex marriage debate only affects me in one way. When one American Citizen is discriminated against, than all others are in danger of being treated the same way. Thus same sex marriage should be allowed.

This film was very emotional. The heartbreak of Sam and Lois were intensive. I felt anger that in 21st America bias still exists. That is against homosexuals becomes irrelevant. These same sex couples were humans. Just to be denied the right to a partner or partner’s things after death is incomprehensible. It was repugnant that these partners stood by each other for years, only to have family members come and minimize their roles in their loved one’s life. The unfairness is galling. The information anybody needs when dealing with the homosexual couples is theawareness that they are like heterosexual couples.

They love their partners, are devoted to their children, and just want the same rights that the heterosexual couples have. These people need to be treated like people, not like pariahs. Every American should have the same civil rights. Many argue that marriage is between a man and a woman. This might be constitutionally correct, but when the Constitution was formed slavery was also law. Any law that limits rights for American Citizens should be viewed skeptically.