As Boulder County Clerk, Clela Rorex Issued the First Same-Sex Marriage License in the U.S. in March 1975
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse reintroduced a resolution to designate March 26, 2025, as “Clela Rorex Day” to honor Clela Rorex, the Boulder County Clerk who issued the first same sex-marriage license in the U.S. in March 1975.
“Clela should be recognized for her leadership as a national civil rights leader, paving the way for countless individuals,” wrote the lawmakers.
In April 1975, 40 years before the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, the Boulder County Clerk issued the first marriage license to a same-sex couple. At the time, Colorado State laws did not expressly prohibit granting a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Mrs. Rorex, continued to advocate on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community for the remainder of her time in public service and throughout her life.
In 2016, Mrs. Rorex said, “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.” Clela passed away in the summer of 2022, in Longmont, Colorado. She was 78 years old.
In addition to Hickenlooper, Bennet, and Neguse, the resolution is supported by Representatives Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen.
Full text of the resolution is available HERE.
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