Courthouse that Issued First Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Named Historic Landmark

A Colorado courthouse was named a historic landmark for the same-sex marriage licenses issued there, reported NBC News.

The Colorado Boulder County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places, joining the Stonewall Inn in New York and the Dr. Franklin E. Kameny Residence in Washington, D.C. as some of the only LGBTQ landmarks.

In 1975, Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex was approached by two men asking for a marriage license. Rorex granted the couple’s request and word of mouth brought five other gay couples to the courthouse. After granting six same-sex marriage licenses, Rorex was ordered to stop by Colorado’s attorney general.

At the unveiling of the plaque recognizing the courthouse as a historic place, Rorex had a message for today’s LGBTQ community.

“I want this plaque to symbolize… a notice that people whoa re in the LGBT community are safe here in Boulder County,” she said.

Newly-appointed governor Jared Polis also spoke at the event. “It’s so exciting to acknowledge Boulder County’s role in the history of the equality movement,” he said. Polis made history as the country’s first openly gay governor.