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Title:

"Richard Adams and Tony Sullivan gay marriage case"

Date:
December 17, 1979

Synopsis

Richard Adams and Tony Sullivan were married in Colorado in 1975. When they applied with the Immigration and Naturalization service for permanent residency for Sullivan, an Australian citizen, their petition was denied, stating a marriage between two males is invalid for immigration purposes. In this footage, reporters interview Richard Adams, Tony Sullivan and their lawyer outside a Federal court house. Their lawyer states that they plan to ask Judge Hill to order the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to recognize the validity of the marriage between Richard Adams and Tony Sullivan, in order to secure a Green Card for Sullivan. According to the lawyer, this is the first case involving whether gay men or women have the right to marry to be heard in Federal court, although there have been some instances in state courts around the country. Adams and Sullivan talk about the difficulties they have endured as their case has progressed through the court system.

Note:  The KTLA newsfilm collection at UCLA consists of cut and unedited stories, outtakes and fill footage, originally shot on 16mm reversal film stock with magnetic soundtrack. Some footage, particularly material not used for broadcast, may be without sound.