For many people outside of Utah, there is nothing know about the state beyond it being Mormon, let alone the subject matter of the documentary itself. Church and State, however, does an excellent job contextualizing the circumstances that surround the case itself for unaware audience members. From depicting the pervasiveness of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) to how the state government operates, viewers from outside Utah are able to understand how unexpected this win for marriage was. What is most unique about the documentary is the attention paid to various forms of gay activism. On one side there is Mark Lawrence, a man who is not experienced in politics, wanting to hold the state accountable for discrimination. On the other, there is Peggy Tomsic and the couples she represents in court, who are the ‘image’ for marriage equality in the state. Once the two parties dissolve their relations with one another, we as the audience are faced with the fundamental question that has seemed to plague the community for decades – how do we best advocate for LGBTQ+ rights? The film examines the numerous setbacks on the way to toppling the gay marriage ban and also looks at a little known lawsuit that should have failed yet instead paved the way for a U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex unions nationwide.
While in most ways Church & State is a rather straightforward doc that is structured around both archival footage and present-day interviews, it's the doc's ability to include actual footage from a variety of LDS Apostles and church leaders that really gives the film its remarkable emotional power. From cheekily "humorous" comments advocating violence against homosexuals and those who support their rights to the fervent condemnation of homosexuals, the footage presented in Church & State is disturbing in its matter-of-factness and frightening when one realizes that these same beliefs are influencing politics throughout the state. To the credit to the filmmakers, this film represents both sides with compassion and respect. Neither group is seen as entirely in the right or wrong, and the storyline notes the positive and negative aspects of both groups. The only thing sincerely missed in the film is seeing how the court cases operated. It would have been useful to see Peggy Tomsic describe how she toppled Amendment 3. Overall, Church and State is a fascinating glimpse on the court case toppling the gay marriage ban in Utah, the players in the case, and the multifaceted difficulties facing gay activists today. The heartfelt embraces of women being able to marry, men coming out of the room in tears after getting their marriage licenses, and couples finally being able to adopt their children are such beautiful images. (5.5/10)
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