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| Jack Baker and Michael McConnell at home, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1970 Photo: Charlotte Brooks, LOOK Magazine collection (Library of Congress) |
Pioneers of Marriage Equality
In 1970, Baker and McConnell, in Minneapolis, became the first same-sex couple known to apply for a marriage license. When Hennepin County denied their application, they fought the decision, eventually appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court declined to hear their case, the dismissal set a precedent against same-sex marriage that would later influence the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Despite facing legal hurdles, Baker and McConnell managed to get married in 1971, with their marriage legally recognized by the government. Their actions and legal challenge played a significant role in the broader fight for marriage equality, and their story serves as an important part of LGBTQ+ history. Over forty years after Baker and McConnell first applied for a license, Minnesota legalized same-sex marriage on May 13, 2014.
Their story is told in the book THE WEDDING HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD available through major booksellers and online.
I send eternal gratitude to you both, Jack and Michael...you are the reason I am married to my husband today.
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