Director's Statement
Photo by Robert Fischer
Two things drew me to this project. First, as a long-time advocate for LGBT rights, I believed that Citizen Change could document an important event in LGBT history that might be overlooked. But also, I thought that the story of how a small group of dedicated activists could succeed in bringing about real change could inspire others working toward social justice, in whatever realm.
Citizen Change is a tribute to all those who endeavor to make the world a better place, not for personal ambition, but for the greater good.
As noted anthropologist – and lesbian – Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- James Chambers
Citizen Change is a tribute to all those who endeavor to make the world a better place, not for personal ambition, but for the greater good.
As noted anthropologist – and lesbian – Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- James Chambers
Synopsis
In 1979, Tom Brougham went to work for the city of Berkeley, CA. When filling out the paperwork, he was immediately struck that he was not allowed to sign up his life partner, Barry Warren, for medical and other benefits provided to spouses of city employees. This was wrong, and Tom couldn’t – and didn’t – let it go.
This began the journey of a small group of dedicated LGBT activists who took on the task of forwarding the then-radical notion that gay and lesbian employees were of equal value to employers as their heterosexual counterparts – and should be compensated equally.
Tom and Barry invented the term “domestic partnership”. Citizen Change tells the story of how they and their fellow LGBT grassroots activists made it a reality by the achievement of the first Domestic Partners policy in the world, in the city of Berkeley, in 1984.
In their own words, these activists recall the times: the deep oppression of lesbian and gay people in the sixties and seventies; the emergence of a nascent gay liberation movement; the Briggs Initiative, which would have outlawed gay people from teaching in California’s public schools; and the assassination of Harvey Milk.
Telling the stories of their own lives, the twelve subjects interviewed in Citizen Change provide the backdrop for how a small group of dedicated individuals could take the far-fetched notion of “domestic partnerships” and make it a reality for the first time, paving the way for adoption of similar policies by governments and employers all over the world.
They tell of the obstacles they overcame in pursing their goal, establishing a legacy of how a thoughtful, committed group could not only fight city hall, but could change the world.
Today, the term “partner” is widely accepted as the way to describe the unmarried equivalent of a spouse. Through the establishment of domestic partner and civil union policies, gay and lesbian relationships have secured legal and societal recognition unimaginable just a few decades ago.
The work of Tom, Barry, and their fellow activists was an essential step necessary for today’s push for marriage equality. Citizen Change tells their story, and in so doing, reveals an inspirational history that deserves to be remembered.
This began the journey of a small group of dedicated LGBT activists who took on the task of forwarding the then-radical notion that gay and lesbian employees were of equal value to employers as their heterosexual counterparts – and should be compensated equally.
Tom and Barry invented the term “domestic partnership”. Citizen Change tells the story of how they and their fellow LGBT grassroots activists made it a reality by the achievement of the first Domestic Partners policy in the world, in the city of Berkeley, in 1984.
In their own words, these activists recall the times: the deep oppression of lesbian and gay people in the sixties and seventies; the emergence of a nascent gay liberation movement; the Briggs Initiative, which would have outlawed gay people from teaching in California’s public schools; and the assassination of Harvey Milk.
Telling the stories of their own lives, the twelve subjects interviewed in Citizen Change provide the backdrop for how a small group of dedicated individuals could take the far-fetched notion of “domestic partnerships” and make it a reality for the first time, paving the way for adoption of similar policies by governments and employers all over the world.
They tell of the obstacles they overcame in pursing their goal, establishing a legacy of how a thoughtful, committed group could not only fight city hall, but could change the world.
Today, the term “partner” is widely accepted as the way to describe the unmarried equivalent of a spouse. Through the establishment of domestic partner and civil union policies, gay and lesbian relationships have secured legal and societal recognition unimaginable just a few decades ago.
The work of Tom, Barry, and their fellow activists was an essential step necessary for today’s push for marriage equality. Citizen Change tells their story, and in so doing, reveals an inspirational history that deserves to be remembered.