Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
Back in 2013, a surprise federal court ruling actually legalized gay marriage in Utah, which was wild at the time. This documentary dives into how an activist named Mark Lawrence and a lawyer named Peggy Tomsic managed to pull off the impossible and overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage. It’s a really intense look at the clash between LGBTQ+ advocates and the massive influence of the Mormon Church. You get a raw, behind-the-scenes view of the legal drama and the personal toll it took on everyone involved.
For most people who don't live in Utah, the state is basically just synonymous with being Mormon, and they probably have no clue about this specific legal fight. Church and State does a great job of explaining the vibe there so outsiders can understand why this win was such a shock. It shows how deeply the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is woven into everything, including how the government runs. The most interesting part of the doc is how it compares two different styles of activism. You’ve got Mark Lawrence, a guy with zero political experience who just wanted to call out the state for being discriminatory. Then you’ve got Peggy Tomsic and the couples she took to court, who were essentially the "polished" face of the movement. Once those two sides stopped working together, it raised that age-old question the community has been debating for years: what’s the best way to fight for our rights? The film covers the constant setbacks they faced and looks at how this one "doomed" lawsuit actually helped clear the path for the Supreme Court to legalize gay marriage across the whole country.
Technically, the documentary is pretty standard—it uses the usual mix of old news clips and new interviews—but what really hits hard is the footage of LDS leaders and apostles. Seeing them make "jokes" about violence toward gay people or hearing them flat-out condemn the community is honestly disturbing, especially when you realize those views are driving state laws. To the filmmakers' credit, they try to show both sides of the activist split with a lot of respect. Neither group is painted as perfect, and the movie highlights the pros and cons of their different approaches. My only real complaint is that I wish we got more of the "how" regarding the legal side. I wanted to hear Peggy Tomsic really break down the strategy she used to take down Amendment 3 in court. Still, the movie is a fascinating look at the players involved and the struggles activists deal with. Seeing the footage of women finally getting to wed, guys in tears after getting their marriage licenses, and couples adopting their kids was genuinely beautiful.
It's a solid, straightforward look at a landmark legal victory, though it leaves you wishing for a bit more detail on the actual courtroom strategy. (5.5/10)
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