The word on Seventh Avenue is that one of the two filmmakers (Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth — I’m not sure which), who made the short subject documentary about domestic partners in New Jersey
struggling to win the right to share survivor’s benefits, is a Brooklyn
resident and a mother of a Berkeley-Carroll student. Here are the filmmaker’s acceptance speeches:
Cynthia Wade:
Thank you. It was Lieutenant Laurel Hester’s dying wish that her fight
for, against discrimination would make a difference for all the same
sex couples across the country that face discrimination every day.
Discrimination that I don’t face
as a married woman.
Sheila Nevins and HBO for
making this film have a broadcast and a home on Cinemax later this
year.
To my husband Matthew Syrett, who took
care of our children and held
down a full-time job so that we could make
this film.
And to our incredible team in
New York, thank you so much.
for, against discrimination would make a difference for all the same
sex couples across the country that face discrimination every day.
Discrimination that I don’t face
as a married woman.
Sheila Nevins and HBO for
making this film have a broadcast and a home on Cinemax later this
year.
To my husband Matthew Syrett, who took
care of our children and held
down a full-time job so that we could make
this film.
And to our incredible team in
New York, thank you so much.
Vanessa Roth:
And to all our supporters and
families who believe that even a 38-minute
movie could change minds and lives
and our children who remind us
about what’s really important. And to Stacie, who’s here tonight, who’s really auto mechanic by day
but hero in life who always did what was
right.
And she’s here tonight.
So thank you so much.
Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth both live with their respective families in Park Slope. Wade runs her production company in the Slope. They both have 2 children each.