The Lovings were a real life interracial married couple who were criminally charged under a Virginia statute banning miscegenation. By counsel of and with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Lovings brought a suit which sought to overturn the law. In 1967, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Lovings, striking down the Virginia law, and all state anti-miscegenation laws, as unconstitutional per the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Loving v. Virginia has been cited in every "same sex marriage" or "marriage equality" case brought on behalf of gay people wishing to receive marriage licenses from the states in which they live, or to overturn state "marriage is only between a man and a woman" laws in many states of the United States. On June 12, 2007, Mildred Loving made a statement on the 40th anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision, in which, among other things, she said that she was proud that their names were "...on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."
"Garnet" was the first name of Mildred Loving's sister, and although spelled differently, the last name of the Sheriff of Caroline County, Brooke Garnett, who arrested Mildred and Richard Perry Loving.
PROLOGUE: "Virginia, 1958."
"Interracial marriage is illegal, punishable by jail."
"This is the law in 24 states across the country."
"Newlyweds Mildred Jeter Loving --- a 'colored' woman --- and Richard Perry Loving --- a white man --- are arrested for committing the crime of mixed marriage."
"They are convicted on felony charges and banished from Virginia."
"The Lovings spent the next nine years trying to get home."
"Interracial marriage is illegal, punishable by jail."
"This is the law in 24 states across the country."
"Newlyweds Mildred Jeter Loving --- a 'colored' woman --- and Richard Perry Loving --- a white man --- are arrested for committing the crime of mixed marriage."
"They are convicted on felony charges and banished from Virginia."
"The Lovings spent the next nine years trying to get home."