US location that issued same-sex marriage licenses in 1975 earns landmark status
announced it was granting National Historic Landmark status to Boulder County Courthouse. It highlighted the location as where, “Clela Rorex issued six marriage licenses in 1975 to same-sex couples, playing a unique and pivotal role in bringing national attention to the issue of same-sex marriage.”Boulder County authorities said in a statement, “On March 26, 1975, Clerk Rorex consulted the Assistant District Attorney to confirm there were no Colorado laws prohibiting marriage between individuals of the same sex.
With no legal barriers identified, Rorex courageously issued the license, stating years later, ‘After having been so deeply involved in the women’s rights movements, who was I to then deny a right to anyone else?
It wasn’t my job to legislate morality’.”Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann. Said, “This designation is not just about honoring the courageous actions of one individual, but about recognizing the enduring legacy of the Boulder County Courthouse as a symbol of human rights and equality.” Commissioner Marta Loachamin added, “This honor is particularly meaningful in today’s sociopolitical climate, where many Americans feel unwelcome or excluded.
Recognizing the courthouse as a National Historic Landmark underscores the United States’ dedication to fostering a future built on equity and justice for all.”Rorex referred to herself as an “accidental activist”.
