In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Shane Bitney Crone. In the Spring Shane posted a video on YouTube entitled, “It Could Happen to You.” It was about the accidental death of his life partner Tom Bridegroom and what happened in the aftermath because they weren’t married even though marriage was their dream. The video went viral with over 2.7 million visitors and more than 50,000 people posted comments. The video had such an overwhelming positive response that they’re making a film, BRIDEGROOM: AN AMERICAN LOVE STORY. Producers Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (Designing Women, The Man From Hope) and Linda Burstyn (Emmy Winning writer/producer for Nightline with Ted Koppel) have signed on to make a feature length documentary about their story. They need our help to raise funds on the crowd funding site, KICKSTARTER. They’ve reached their $300,000 goal but they still need to raise as much as they possibly can by their July 19th deadline.
When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Shane stated, “I’m completely committed to this. I never really saw this happening for my future. I didn’t see myself being like an activist but after losing Tom it just really opened my eyes and it inspired me to do whatever I can to help the LGBT community. Right now how I can help is by sharing my story. I want to do whatever I can and if by sharing my story is what helps bring equality to everyone sooner then that’s what I’m going to do.”
When Tom Bridegroom died, his homophobic parents brought him back to Indiana for burial and barred Shane from attending his funeral. BRIDEGROOM is more than a tragic love story. This film will represent every single person who has ever been ostracized and condemned for being who they are and loving who they love. Shane and Tom were never able to marry because it was and is illegal in California. This film will provide a rare and powerful opportunity to open people’s hearts and minds on this very important human rights issue. We need your help to spread the word and drive people to their KICKSTARTER page to raise the funds to make this film. Their ambitious goal is to have BRIDEGROOM completed and in theaters by the election. As Shane said, “We can’t change the past, but with your help, we can create a more equal future.”
To Contribute: kickstarter.com/bridegroom
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