Equality Maryland and the ACLU, in partnership with the Megaphone Project, have released a new documentary featuring the personal stories of three of the couples in Maryland's equal marriage rights lawsuit, Deane & Polyak v. Conaway. The 11-minute documentary, "Heart of the Matter: Maryland's Same-Sex Couples Seek Justice for their Families," brings viewers into the personal lives of Lisa Polyak & Gita Deane from Baltimore City, Ryan Killough & Steve Palmer from the Eastern Shore, and Takia Foskey & Jo Rabb from Baltimore City. The documentary will be sent to civic and religious leaders and community organizations across Maryland.

"It's important that the public not lose sight of the fact that the issue of same-sex marriage is about real people, not abstract headlines," said Executive Director Dan Furmansky. "These brave people are fighting to be treated equally, as is guaranteed to all Marylanders by our state constitution. Everyone should applaud them for speaking about their personal lives in order to move forward an important dialogue about how society intends to treat families just like theirs."

The documentary details the harms, indignities and uncertainties experienced by Lisa Polyak & Gita Deane, Baltimoreans who will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year, due to the lack of legal relationship to one another. Events like Gita's potential deportation, and Lisa's expulsion from the delivery room while Gita gave birth to their second daughter, demonstrate the real-life harm suffered by same-sex couples.

"We are involved in this lawsuit for one reason – our children," said Polyak. "We want for our daughters to grow up with the same dignity and self-value as their peers. Denying them security of having legally married parents is the antithesis of family values."

*** To view a copy or discuss screening the film in your town, contact Sara Ryan at sara@EqualityMaryland.org.

Biographical information on all of the plaintiffs in the Deane case, the legal documents, and other background materials, including a set of FAQs about Deane and Polyak v. Conaway, are available at http://equalitymaryland.org/marriageequality.htm