HBO’s “The Case Against 8” deals with David Boies (“I’ve fought for civil rights and against all discrimination, including sexual orientation, since the ’60s.”) and Ted Olson. These champion lawyers fought the marriage equality bout all the way to the US Supreme Court mat.
David Boies told me how it came about: “In 2004, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom granted same-sex marriage licenses. Couples from all over stood in line to get married. California’s Supreme Court then reversed it. Unlike today’s children, who can’t conceive of that narrow frame of mind or understand why the fuss, those judges were a generation that never discussed gays and lesbians.
“The ’67 Loving v. Virginia case jailed a black wife and white husband for intermarrying. Later came Lawrence v. Texas, fighting that state’s rulings against homosexuality. I thought: ‘Depriving gays helps no one. Marriage is a fundamental right. A constitutional right to be in love with a person of your choice. Why’s anyone stopping people from being happy?’
“Then Ted Olson asked me to join in defeating Proposition 8. It was the right time. Stakes were high. We were the Odd Couple. Me, liberal; him, conservative.
“We hired psychoanalysists,
sociologists, economists. Borrowed global ad to learn everything about those against us. We needed documents, histories, backgrounds,
finances.
“A dozen lawyers sat alongside us in court. Another 30 worked in back. We were up all night. Sometimes it’s luck. But if you think it’s the Super Bowl, you’re paralyzed. You just must complete each pass. Litigation is a team sport.
“We knew this was important for our lives. Tension was high. Decision Day, we got there 9 a.m. It was after noon when we finally heard.”
And who funded the operation? “My firm worked pro bono, Olson’s did it for discount.”
The doc, five years in the making, hits select theaters Friday; on HBO, June 23.
Odds & Ends
Protection from ultra right-wingers, tough; protection from ultraviolet rays, easy. Hillary walking solo in Chappaqua. Sunglasses and Eric Javits boater to protect from the sun . . .
Comment: Press secretary Jay Carney is out? Can’t believe it. Can’t believe anything he’s said since he began working for ventriloquist Obama . . .
More comment: Juliette Binoche/Clive Owen’s film “Words and Pictures” good but loooooong. Nobody over 16 should see it because they’ll get Social Security before it ends.
Hamburg’s radio silence
Starting last Thursday, Broadcasting Hall of Fame’s Joan Hamburg, on WOR 35 years, is no longer on that radio’s rodeo. Faster than Superman’s speeding bullet, she’ll announce her new home quickly . . . For “Fiddler on the Roof’s” 50th anniversary possible remake, they wanted Sacha Baron Cohen. Lyricist Sheldon Harnick nixed it. Why? Because of the icky sticky stuff he does in his movies.
Dueling Dem parties
Last week. Same hour. Same building. Politicians of every stripe and donation cluttered one high-class building. Betsy and Victor Gotbaum hosted types like State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, mayoral wannabe Bill Thompson, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for a State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli rah-rah.
A staffer in the lobby directed another face to Operation Gotbaum. Mumbled the guy: “But I’m not going there. I’m going to the Carolyn Maloney event.”
If Dems spent as much time lobbying in DC as they do fund-raising in NYC, it would be God Bless America.
Howard Beach. Lady named Josephine deep into John Jakes’ “The Bastard,” a story about the illegitimate son of a British nobleman. A passerby comments: “I see you’re reading about my husband.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.