Not My Flag Short Film

Los Angeles, CA, August 20, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​Monday, January 8, 2018 (Los Angeles, CA) - Inspired by a true story, “Not My Flag” tells the heartbreaking tale of a Florida family who were thrust into the battle of their lives against the state of Florida for their children.  All names have been changed for privacy of all parties.

Renee Parker-Mason and Monica Mason, a lesbian couple, had been raising their two children together for years when one of the children made a false allegation of abuse. On November 1, 2001 Renee arrived to pick her daughter up from school only to find out she had been taken into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.  After questioning the child at school and finding out she had two moms, DCF went across the street and picked up her little brother from daycare as well.  Renee was informed of all of this only by a teacher at the school once she arrived to pick up her daughter.  DCF never called her or informed her of anything earlier.

Monica Mason was arrested on abuse charges that we later dismissed by the state, who also issued an apology letter.  But even though those charges were dismissed, the State of Florida in conjunction with DCF refused to return the children to their parents, saying “We don’t believe in gay relationships in the State of Florida”.

Eventually, DCF and the local Judge in the case, Lynda McCollum (real name), worked together to drag on the case for two years, eventually allowing DCF to petition the court to remove the parental rights of Renee Parker-Mason, the birth mother.

The couple and their lawyer, requested the help of then Governor Jeb Bush and his wife, only to be turned away and told there was nothing they could do.  

They fought their case all the way up to the Florida Supreme court where the court ruled in favor of the State and the case went no further.  

In light 2013, Supreme Court ruling validating the marriages and families of Gays and Lesbians, we want to produce the entire film, to tell the world about the damage that can happen to families, when the law doesn’t protect the rights of ordinary, everyday citizens. We want to tell the entire story!

A little about the writer:

Sheila M. Robinson is an Actor and Writer working on her Master’s in Film at New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, CA.  She did her undergraduate work at University of Missouri -  Columbia,  Journalism program.  She is also an out and proud member of the gay community.  She is married to Nina Robinson and they have been together for 21 years.  The are raising a 5-year old son together named Cameron.

Sheila is an aspiring actor, producer and writer.  She loves acting and writing and it has been her passion since she was a little girl.

Because Sheila is part of the gay and lesbian community, this story resonates with her.  She feels it is her duty to tell what happened to this family at the hands of the bigoted system and institutions in the State of Florida.

Interested parties can contact Sheila by emailing her at [email protected] or calling her directly at 310-748-7794.  They can also see the “Not My Flag” film at her website:  http://shesmicdup.com/not-my-flag/ .

NOT MY FLAG

http://shesmicdup.com/not-my-flag

[email protected]

310-748-7794

Source: notmyflag