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A Union in Wait

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A Union in Wait
Directed byRyan Butler
Produced byRyan Butler
Narrated byLisa Howes Yewdall
CinematographyRichard Clabaugh
Brian Nisbett
Edited byThomas Berndt
Music byJason Schuler
Distributed byFrameline, Sundance Channel
Release date
  • April 12, 2001 (2001-04-12) (Turin)
Running time
45 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15,000
Susan Parker (right) and Wendy Scott (left) stand in front of Wake Forest University's Wait Chapel in this production still from A Union In Wait.

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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Best "Same Sex Union" Titles Archived December 31, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Drusch, Andrea (March 17, 2014). Fred Phelps: 10 things to know Politico
  3. ^ Allen, Bob (March 22, 2019). North Carolina Baptist church ordaining trans woman to gospel ministry Baptist News Global
  4. ^ Burger, Mark (February 23, 2001). Film tackles controversy around same-sex ceremony Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Winston-Salem Journal
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ Bland, Elizabeth (February 22, 2001). Film revisits same-sex union controversy Archived November 17, 2003, at the Wayback Machine, Old Gold & Black
  7. ^ "Wake Forest says no to same sex weddings". Herald Journal. September 12, 1999. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  8. ^ (September 26, 2000).Couple 'united' at Wake Forest's Wait Chapel Archived June 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, The Chronicle (Duke University)
  9. ^ (October 21, 2001). Documentary on conflict over gay union being aired Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Winston-Salem Journal
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ (February 9, 2001). Same-sex ceremony at WFU subject of documentary film Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Winston-Salem Journal
  12. ^ 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.")
  13. ^ "Gay/Lesbian film fest has lots of variety". The Spokesman-Review. November 9, 2001. Archived from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  14. ^ (May 3, 2001). [1], The Baltimore Sun (confirming presentation of film at Maryland Film Festival in 2001)
  15. ^ "2002". Great Lakes International Fill Festival. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  16. ^ Jenkins, Mark (October 2001). A Union In Wait (brief review) Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Washington City Paper
  17. ^ "Amazon.com:A Union In Wait". Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  18. ^ 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
  19. ^ "Forest Baptist Church, Pastors". Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  20. ^ "North Carolina General Assembly - Senate Members & Respective Legislative Assistants (2011-2012 Session)". Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
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