August 1, 2011 — This August, public television stations across the country will begin airing Married But Not Equal, an episode from the award-winning newsmagazine IN THE LIFE examining the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Social security benefits, child tax credits and immigration rights are just three of the 1,138 benefits, rights and protections that married heterosexual couples receive from the Federal Government. But because of DOMA, gays and lesbians are denied every single one of them — even if they are legally married in the state they live in.
IN THE LIFE sits down with five married, same-sex couples for a look at the real-life impact of DOMA, and examines the battle to repeal the law in Congress and in the courts.
"We've been together for almost 14 years. When I retired, Ann could not be the beneficiary or receive my retirement benefits. " — Joanne Pedersen, plaintiff in a case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act brought by the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders.
WATCH it ONLINE NOW:
www.itlmedia.org/clips/entry/married-but-not-equal-full-episode .
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Married But Not Equal begins airing August 1st on public television stations across the country and will be available for free video streaming and embedding from the In The Life Media website. To find out when it will air in your local area, or to stream or download it, go to ITLMedia.org .
ABOUT IN THE LIFE MEDIA:
For twenty years, In The Life Media has been a leading media organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement. One of the nation's most honored and influential LGBT groups, In The Life Media creates social and political change by examining issues critical to LGBT individuals and providing audiences with powerful ways to advance equality within, and beyond, their communities. Produced by In The Life Media, the Emmy-nominated series, IN THE LIFE, was the firstand remains the onlyLGBT issues-oriented show on public television. IN THE LIFE is a two-time Emmy Award nominee, a Lambda Legal Liberty Award honoree, a Seigenthaler Award recipient from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and a Ribbon of Hope Award recipient from The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: www.ITLMedia.org .
ABOUT AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION:
IN THE LIFE is distributed by American Public Television. APT has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America's public television stations since 1961. In 2009, APT distributed 56 of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles. Among its 300 new program titles per year are prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramatic series, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. In 2006, APT launched Create® — the TV channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. APT is also a partner in the WORLD™ channel expansion project including its web presence at WORLDcompass.org . For more information about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org . For more information on Create, visit CreateTV.com .