Mark Pino saw the YouTube video "It Could Happen To You" in May, 2012, and couldn't get it out of his mind. It was "permanently emblazoned on my heart," he said.
The 10-minute emotional video by Shane Bitney Crone, dedicated to his late partner, Tom Bridegroom, went viral and has been viewed more than 4 million times, and thus, it was made into a feature length documentary, titled "Bridegroom," that premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and premiered Oct. 27, on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
"Bridegroom" tells the tale of the two young men in a loving and committed relationship that was cut tragically short by a misstep off the side of a roof. The story delves into the issues of legal protections, or lack thereof, for same-sex couples who are not married. The two had planned to marry in California.
"A friend of mine who I hadn't seen in about eight years was helping with some of the press for the film," said Pino, who was sent an advance copy of the film.
"I was broken open and immediately wrote a letter to Shane and told him that I was determined to do anything I possibly could to help the film, which had yet to be released to the general public. With Shane's blessing, I brought Bridegroom to the head of the network, who loved it," too.
Pino ultimately planned an event to screen the film in Chicago, which was held in early October at the Chicago History Museum, and Crone attended, participating in a Q&A session after the screening.
"Following that screening, I was contacted by Chicago Cubs co-owner, Laura Ricketts, who had heard of the film and asked if I would co-host a screening with her, Jeremy Gottschalk and Brooke Skinner at Wrigley Field to benefit Illinois Unites for Marriage," Pino said. "Once again, Shane came to Chicago to participate in a Q & A [session]. The event was extremely successful, [helping raise] nearly $50,000 for Illinois Unites."
Bringing "Bridegroom" to OWN "has been my proudest career achievement so far," Pino sad. "The opportunity to combine two hugely important aspects of my life, about which I am extremely passionate, has been rewarding beyond belief. The airing of 'Bridegroom' inspired an entire block of gay-themed programming for the network that day, and I could not have been more proud."
Pino said joining Chicago House, "has been a long time goal of mine. For years, I have admired the incredible work of Jeremy Hilborn, who is my predecessor in this position. I believe strongly in the mission of Chicago House and am beyond thrilled to join the team. I could never fill Jeremy's shoes, but am so proud to follow in his footsteps."
—Overcoming obstacles: "Growing up gay in a small, predominantly Hispanic, predominantly Catholic, town in northern New Mexico was not quite a Sunday in the park. I've managed to come a long way from that, while still managing to hold on to my deep cultural roots and the strong values instilled in me by my parents and family."
—2013 Chicago Marathon: "Running the marathon was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but has been one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. I've never been a very athletic person, so to be able to commit to it and finish it, was such a huge achievement for me. Crossing the finish line that [October] day was incredibly emotional for me."
—Little-known fact: "The scar on my face came from a horseback riding accident when I was a kid. I was riding a horse that got spooked and I was thrown through a barbed-wire fence. I was left with a huge scar on my left arm and one on the side of my face, and it was [during] the beginning [of] my first year in middle school. Until then, I had been a really shy kid, but having to open up and explain what happened when kids asked about the scar actually brought me out of my shell."
THE STATS
Age: 35
Lives in: West Lakeview
Relationship status: Dating Dan Churchill
Job title: Special Events Manager at Chicago House & Social Service Agency, starting Dec. 16. He formerly was, for five years, in Development/Production for Harpo Studios, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
Hobbies: Musical theatre, movies, running, cooking, karaoke
Favorite movie: The First Wives Club
Favorite actor and actress: Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep
If you could attend one concert, what would it be: Celine Dion in Las Vegas
Pizza topping( s ): Sausage, peppers, onions, pepperoni and mushrooms
Dream vacation destination: Australia
