October is National Queer History Month, and in recognition the Women’s Resource Center has planned a special viewing of the documentary “Freedom To Marry: The Journey To Justice.”

It will show today at noon in Library 1010.

The documentary, which is approximately an hour long, follows the lives of several same sex couples who seek legal acknowledgment of their marriage in San Francisco. It has attained rave reviews from critics across the country and has received the Audience Award at the 2004 Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and Best Documentary Juror’s Award at the 2005 Outflux Film Festival.

Showing this film on campus gives students an opportunity not only to possibly gain extra credit for some courses but also increases consciousness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and ally issues. “It’s a good idea [to show this film] because we should have the opportunity to be exposed to current issues. If you are not aware than you have no way to express your opinion about the issue,” said Terrhonda Lewis, a criminal justice sophomore.

Pride Program Coordinator Bonnie Sugiyama feels strongly about showing this documentary as a way of demonstrating the real stories behind these marriages. “People take for granite their right to marry whom ever they want to,” Sugiyama said. This documentary “shows the real emotion of being able to marry” and the couples profiled in the film show a deeper sense of commitment after receiving their marriage certificates.

Jessica R. Heskin, an advocate and educator for Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services in the Women’s Resource Center, takes part in selecting the noon monthly movies and feels that this film is a great way to bring people into the center. Heskin also explained that this film is not just for gay community, but all allies and supporters of equal rights for all. “It’s important for college students to understand that the issue of being able to marry or not to marry is a civil right, not a religious one,” Heskin said.Additionally, the Women’s Resource Center is also supporting The 2nd Annual International Dialogue on Violence Against Women, which will be held Friday and Saturday, in the Redwood Room of the University Union. For more information, please contact the Women’s Resource Center at 916-278-7388.

Lisa Warren can be reached at [email protected]