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--SUPERS--

00:00 – 00:09

Souce: Yi Yang

00:09 – 00:14

Yi Yang and Johny Ni

00:14 – 00:21

Source: Yi Yang

00:21 – 00:59

Source: Utah County Clerk’s Office

00:59 – 01:18

Josh Daniels

Utah County Clerk

01:18 – 01:27

CNN

01:27 – 01:37

Source: Yi Yang

01:37 – 01:42

“Addicted”

From Beijing Fengmang Culture Communications Co.

01:42 – 01:46

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” trailer

From Warner Bros. Pictures

01:46 – 01:51

“Bohemian Rhapsody” trailer

From 20th Century FOX

01:51 – 02:23

Yi Yang and Johny Ni

--LEAD IN--

SAME-SEX COUPLES IN CHINA ARE MAKING THEIR LOVE OFFICIAL IN THE

UNITED STATES...

BUT ALL FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES.

MARC STEWART REPORTS ON HOW UTAH IS MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--

THIS DISNEY LOVING COUPLE YI YANG AND JOHNY NI SHARED THIS FIRST
SELFIE KISS WITH MASKS ON ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO.

Yi Yang and Johny Ni: “And this year we have this little guy with us.”

YET AS A GAY COUPLE LIVING IN CHINA GETTING MARRIED HASN'T ALWAYS

BEEN AN OPTION UNTIL NOW.

IN OCTOBER, THE COUPLE TIED THE KNOT IN A VIRTUAL CEREMONY FROM

THEIR HOME IN SHANGHAI.

BUT THERE'S A HIGH TECH TWIST.

THE CEREMONY AND CERTIFICATE ACTUALLY ORIGINATED ON THE OTHER

SIDE OF THE OCEAN IN UTAH COUNTY UTAH IN THE UNITED STATES.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE CLERK'S OFFICE BEGAN OFFERING ONLINE

WEDDINGS AS A SERVICE.

NOW, COUPLES FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S. LIKE YI AND JOHNY ARE LOGGING ON
TO GET MARRIED.

Marc Stewart, CNN: “Was the intention to allow same sex couples from around the
world to get married in Utah.”
Josh Daniels, Utah County Clerk: “Yeah, it certainly wasn't our intention, but but we're
really happy to serve members of our community and our community today is very
global and if we're able to serve people outside the physical boundaries of our
community, that's great too.”

FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, 399 COUPLES FROM CHINA

HAVE BEEN MARRIED USING THE ONLINE SERVICE.

117 WERE THE SAME GENDER.

FOR THE TWO MEN GETTING MARRIED WASN'T NECESSARILY A PRIORITY.

AND IN CHINA, SUCH A CERTIFICATE CARRIES NO LEGAL WEIGHT OR

PROTECTION.

THE COUNTRY HAS EVEN BANNED THE PORTRAYAL OF GAY RELATIONSHIPS

ON TV…

GOING SO FAR AS TO CUT OUT ANY GAY REFERENCES IN HOLLYWOOD

MOVIES.

BUT WITH JOHNNY MOVING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM NEXT YEAR FOR
BUSINESS SCHOOL…

THIS FELT LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Yi Yang and Johny Ni: “When we talked about the situation we face like move together.
Yeah, long distance relationship is a challenge we will face. We think, okay, probably we
could get married at this point // Actually, it gives me more confidence to have a good
life in a new country.”

MARC STEWART, CNN NEW YORK.

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