In this heated election year and with the recent turn of events across the country, the debate over same-sex marriage is as prevalent as ever. In Tying the Knot, director Jim de Seve exposes the social, financial, and legal ramifications of marriage inequality that gays and lesbians face by not being protected under the civil right of marriage. If a police officer is killed in the line of duty, the surviving spouse of the legal union, is entitled to the deceased's pension -- and the state of Florida does not recognize gay unions. Mickie, whose partner Lois was gunned down while on duty in Tampa, was denied Lois' pension, even though she was recognized during the funeral as the surviving spouse. Mickie must now fight for the right to the pension which went to Lois' family. When Earl died, Sam, his partner of 23 years, was left with nothing, and now faces eviction, with his sons, from the ranch that they built together. These are some of the cases depicted in this groundbreaking film which travels worldwide from Holland and to Canada, a nation that recently established federal recognition of gay marriage. de Seve eschews formulaic trappings of chronological documentation and instead explores the meaning behind the debate over an important political and social issue that should be resolved. Tying the Knot effectively interweaves discussion of the issues involved with deep human stories, allowing the film to send its message with a solid emotional foundation.
