about
Cody Stokes (writer / director / producer) A winner of the prestigious Princess Grace Film Award, Cody has worked in Ghana, Rwanda, and around the United States on various films. While living in St. Louis, MO he founded the Middle Coast Film Collective. Cody now lives in Brooklyn, New York City with his wife Amanda Stokes. While traveling and promoting Heartland Transport, he is also producing two short films Paper Hallways, and Stories of Friends and Lovers and will begin work on a his third music video in March.
"This film was something that came very unexpectedly to me. I consider myself mainly a narrative filmmaker, and, although I've always had a great interest in documentary film, I was quite intimidated by it. So, when I learned of the planned trip from St. Louis to Iowa City only two days before the buses left, I wasn't sure if it was something I could really pull off. I knew that, for history's sake alone, this was a film that needed to be made, and as soon as I spoke with Ed Reggi I knew it was something that I personally wanted to be involved in. After going on the trip and seeing people partaking in a civil right so many of them thought they'd never see, I was no longer worried about how I was going to make the film - the story fashioned itself. It has been such a great feeling to be let into these people's lives in such an intimate way. I'm very proud of the film. We now have to work to get the film out there and seen, something I look forward to doing." - Cody Stokes
Photo Courtesy of Vital Voice MagazineEd Reggi (producer / actor / activist) was born in the Big Apple and spent his youth sneaking into the NBC Studios in his Brooklyn neighborhood. Reggi pursued musical Theatre at the University of New York but transferred to Fontbonne University where he earned his BFA in 1994. Reggi went on to study at Chicago’s historic The Second City and later went on to work closely with its founder Paul Sills. In November 2008, upon hearing of the passing of Proposition 8, Ed began using his background in theatre to organize the first “Show Me No Hate” rally on the steps of the Historic Old Court House. Since that day, he has been organizing protests and rallies in the Show Me State. Today, Ed works as a freelance Executive Producer with the local PBS affiliate in St. Louis. When Ed is not counter-protesting Fred Phelps, he is a fierce advocate and public speaker for Marriage Equality.
Scott Emanuel (social worker / activist) has been active community organizer in the St. Louis LGBT community for more than twenty years. A social worker by profession, he has been spent the last nine years as an active volunteer and adult leader with Growing American Youth, an organization providing support and social opportunities to LGBTQ youth. He has seen firsthand that LGBTQ youth, when supported, can and do actualize amazing lives for themselves. Before his work with Growing American Youth, Scott was heard on 88.1FM KDHX’s “Lavender Limelight” and then again on “Outspoken.” Both were St. Louis’ only LGBT talk radio shows. Today, Scott is the Development Associate at the ACLU of Eastern Missouri, an organization committed to supporting LGBTQ people through legal advocacy and public education. Scott also serves on the St. Louis LGBT Community Center’s board.
In September, Ed Reggi and Scott Emanuel both received the Human Rights Campaign - St. Louis Chapter - 2010 Equality Award for their work around Marriage Equality.
The fall continued to shower Reggi and Emanuel with praises. Both were both nominated as the 2010 Shining Stars by the Wish Upon A Wedding for their efforts in helping local same-sex couples obtain legal marriages in Iowa.
The January 2011 issue of St. Louis Magazine featured a story about Scott and Ed's next marriage bus, where they will successfully have transported over 100 couples to Iowa.
Early February, ALIVE Magazine announced its 2011 Buzz List, a list of dedicated movers and shakers of Saint Louis. This year's Buzz List included Scott and Ed for their work on marriage equality.
