Rocky Mountain Equality celebrates the designation of the Boulder County Courthouse as a National Historic Landmark by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. The organization worked with local and national officials to ensure the significance of the courthouse to the LGBTQ community would not be forgotten.
This designation is among 19 new National Historic Landmarks that are nationally significant for the LGBTQ, African American, and Asian American Pacific Islander communities, women’s history, or the development of American technology, landscape design, and art.
The Boulder County Courthouse is where Clela Rorex, a trailblazing ally and former Boulder County Clerk, issued the nation’s first same-sex marriage licenses in 1975. Her courageous actions paved the way for marriage equality to become a national reality. Clela’s unwavering commitment to justice was rooted in a profound belief in human dignity and equal rights for all.
Rocky Mountain Equality and its staff had the honor of knowing and working with Clela Rorex up until her passing in 2022. Her advocacy and allyship have been a constant source of inspiration for the organization’s staff and volunteers, and the Colorado LGBTQ community at large.
“I wish I could pick up the phone and call Clela right now,” said Mardi Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Equality. “When I heard the news, my heart took an extra beat, caused by happiness and pride. This announcement couldn’t be more timely, as we approach the 50th anniversary of when she issued these marriage licenses.”
Designating the Boulder County Courthouse as a National Historic Landmark secures Clela’s legacy and the history of the LGBTQ movement for future generations. It stands as a shining example of the courage it takes to challenge societal norms in the pursuit of justice.