Fifty for 150: Clela Rorex issues six same-sex marriage licenses in 1975 in Boulder

Clela Rorex, then the newly elected Boulder County clerk, in March 1975 issued one of the first same-sex marriage licenses in U.S. history. She issued the license to two men, who simply asked for one. Bruce McCord and David Robert Zamor traveled to the Boulder County Courthouse to request a marriage license after the El […]

By: Lindsey Toomer

Outlets: Colorado Newsline

Published: June 24, 2026

Words: 521

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

Body Text Preview

Clela Rorex, then the newly elected Boulder County clerk, in March 1975 issued one of the first same-sex marriage licenses in U.S. history.

This story is part of Colorado at 150. Each Fifty for 150 story focuses on an event that helped define Colorado over 150 years of statehood. Newsline is publishing one Fifty for 150 story every weekday in reverse chronological order until the sesquicentennial, Aug. 1, when …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.
Register for Free Log in