Milwaukee woman broke ground on gay marriage — in 1971

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/milwaukee-woman-broke-ground-on-gay-marriage--in-1971-b99366742z1-278458321.html

Donna Burkett made national news when she and the woman she loved applied for a marriage license in Milwaukee. Their trip to the courthouse was not this week, when the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in Wisconsin and four other states that tried clinging to their bans.

It was back in 1971 and, as you might guess, it didn't go well. The two African-American women were trying to push open a door that would stay closed to gay and lesbian couples for decades more.

"I really didn't care what the law was. We knew what we wanted to do," Burkett said during an interview Monday at her downtown apartment. Burkett, then 25, and her partner at the time, Manonia Evans, 21, were turned away at the county clerk's office. They filed suit in federal court, seeking an order allowing them to marry. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in 1972, citing a lawyer's failure to file written legal arguments.

They shouldn't even need to go to court, Burkett told a WTMJ television reporter at the time, adding, "It is already a given right through the Constitution." On Saturday, Burkett, 68, will receive an "everyday courage" award from the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center at its Big Night Out Cabaret at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino to mark National Coming Out Day.

[theHandpuppet]

1. Thanks so much for posting this

A chapter in LGBT history that should never be forgotten.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Excellent.

And I love the choice of venue. But then a Potawatomi would, wouldn't she?
Love, Peace and Shelter.
~ littlemissmartypants 🙏

[marym625]

3. Great post

Sad that it took so long for her to be honored.

There were more than a few marriages way back then. Probably the most famous (infamous?) was John Stanley Wojtowicz and Ernest Aron (later known as Elizabeth Eden) of Dog Day Afternoon fame. I believe the priest that performed the ceremony was excommunicated. The marriage wasn't legal because Wojtowicz was still legally married to his first wife. But they had a real, religious ceremony and they tried.

[burrowowl]

4. K&R Beautiful!