A documentary detailing the importance of marriage rights and wills in the absence of them recently broke a fundraising record. BRIDEGROOM:
An American Love Story will chronicle Shane Bitney Crone and Tom Bridegroom’s six-year relationship and Bridegroom’s sudden death.
Crone was left to mourn without a will, no access to medical records and was unable to attend his partner’s funeral after Bridegroom’s family threatened violence if he attended. On the one-year anniversary of his death in May, Crone posted a YouTube video, It Could Happen to You, encouraging couples to take legal action to protect themselves.
Donations began on Kickstarter.com to create the documentary. In four weeks, $384,375 was raised to make the film, a record for the website, which has funded 7,400 films, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The film was expected to cost a minimum of $300,000, but the extra funds will go toward better music and wider release, GLAAD released on its website.
The film is scheduled to be complete in the fall. For more, visit TinyURL.com/7vojuzx.
— Anna Waugh
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 27, 2012.