Why, yes, love is in the air! The Arkansas Cinema Society (ACS) is thrilled to celebrate the tale of Tippi & Barb with you and friends during a special hometown premiere in Little Rock  at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) on February 16, 2025.

From filmmaker Brad Burleson, Tippi & Barb tells the inspiring love story of ACS Board Member - Rep. Tippi McCullough and her wife, Barb Mariani. When Tippi is fired from a Catholic school after marrying Barb, the couple turns their hardship into a platform for change. Advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights at the local, state, and national levels, they transform adversity into activism. Tippi & Barb premiered at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF) last October and recently won the overall Audience Choice Award at the 2025 Persistence of Vision Film Festival (POV) in Hot Springs.

ACS Founding Board Member Kathy Webb is an Executive Producer on the project, and all parties —Brad, Kathy, Tippi, and Barb—will reunite on stage for a Q&A session moderated by Senator Clarke Tucker. Following the on-stage chat, our celebration and conversation will continue during a Happy Hour in the Atrium, featuring specialty-themed cocktails and mocktails!

This outstanding film hits home, literally. This Valentine’s Day weekend, we invite you to join us in celebrating love and activism inspired by our friends Tippi & Barb!

Synopsis: Tippi & Barb tells the inspiring story of two women whose enduring love for each other sparked a passionate movement. Tippi McCullough, a lifelong Arkansan and beloved school teacher, and Barbara Mariani, a prominent lawyer who immigrated from Italy as a child, were two pillars of their community, known for their shared devotion to volunteerism and living a life of integrity. After 14 years together, they married in a quiet ceremony in 2013, nearly a thousand miles from home, shortly after same-sex marriage became legal.

Their happiness, however, was short-lived. Less than an hour after their wedding, Tippi received a phone call from the Catholic school where she taught, asking about the marriage. A "morality clause" in her contract forced her to choose between resigning or being fired for being openly gay. Shaken but resolute, Tippi and Barb faced a battle against discrimination that would not only change their lives but set them on a path to challenge institutional biases.

Tippi, undeterred by the discrimination she faced, turned her pain into purpose. Determined to fight for systemic change, she and Barb found themselves at the forefront of a growing movement for LGBTQIA+ rights. Their resilience not only inspired local activism but also caught the attention of national advocates,  culminating in Tippi’s run for the Arkansas House of Representatives. As they continue their work, Tippi and Barb’s story remains a powerful reminder that love and determination have the potential to transform hearts, minds, and communities.