Jack Baker and Michael McConnell

Jack Baker
Jack Baker
Born	Richard John Baker; March 10, 1942 (age 82); Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	Richard Baker, Pat Lyn McConnell
Education	University of Minnesota Law School (1972); Oklahoma City University (1968); University of Oklahoma (1965); Maryville Academy (1959)

Michael McConnell
Michael McConnell
Born	James Michael McConnell; May 19, 1942 (age 81); Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education	University of Oklahoma (1968); Norman High School (1960)

Jack Baker and Michael McConnell
Jack Baker and Michael McConnell
	Husbands Michael McConnell (left); and Jack Baker in 2016;
Born	1942 (age 81–82) (both)
Known for	First same-sex couple to have been married legally, followed by others from Minnesota, elsewhere in the United States and several countries.

Richard John Baker^[10] and James Michael McConnell^[11] are the first same sex couple in modern recorded history^[12] known to obtain a marriage license,^[13] have their marriage solemnized, which occured on September 3, 1971^[2] and be legally recognized by any form of government.^[14]^[15]

The couple met in 1966. On March 10, 1967 – Baker's 25th birthday – McConnell agreed to be "his lover"^[16] but only if it meant "a commitment . . . for the long haul," living openly as a married couple.^[17] That commitment continued long after "52 Years Since Same-sex Marriage Milestone".^[18]

^
Before 1970, no wedding conducted without a legal license was a marriage, even if blessed in a church.
- Source: Black's Law Dictionary, Revised Fourth Edition, West Publishing Co. (1968).
  - (page 1123) MARRIAGE: Marriage, as distinguished from the agreement to marry and from the act of becoming married, is the civil status, condition, or relation of [two parties] united in law for life, for the discharge to each other and the community of the duties legally incumbent on those whose association is founded on the distinction of sex. 1 Bish.Mar. & Div. § 3; Collins v Hoag & Rollins, 121 Neb. 716, 238 N.W. 351, 355; Allen v. Allen, 73 Conn. 54, 46 A. 242, 49 L.R.A. 142.
  - (page 1124) MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: An instrument which certifies a marriage, and is executed by the person officiating at the marriage; it is not intended to be signed by the parties. Spencer v. Spencer, 84 Misc.Rep. 264, 147 N.Y.S. 111, 113.
^ ^a ^b
Source: Blue Earth County
- Certificate 434960: Minnesota Official Marriage System
- Applicants: James Michael McConnell and Pat Lyn McConnell
- Date of Marriage: September 3, 1971
- Certified Copy: Marriage Certificate
^ Diplomas: "Bachelor of Arts" (June 4, 1967) and "Master of Library Science" (June 2, 1968), Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
^ Diploma: "High School", Board of Education (June 2, 1960)
^ Cite error: The named reference Student Body President was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^
Diploma: "Juris Doctor", The Regents of The University of Minnesota (December 13, 1972)
- Certificate: "Richard J. Baker . . . was . . . duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States . . ." Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States (May 14, 1990)
^ Diploma: "Master of Business Administration", Higher Learning Commission (May 18, 1968)
^ Diploma: "Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering", Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (June 6, 1965)
^ Diploma: "High School", Catholic School Board (June 7, 1959)
^ Padnani, Amisha; Fang, Celina (June 26, 2015). "Same-Sex Marriage: Landmark Decisions and Precedents". The New York Times.
^ Baume, Matt (March 1, 2019). "Meet the Gay Men Whose 1971 Marriage Was Finally Recognized". The Advocate.
^
StoryCorps Archive (September 12, 2017). "Michael McConnell, Jack Baker, and Lisa Vecoli".
- Michael McConnell (75) and husband Jack Baker (75) talk with friend Lisa Vecoli (55) about having the first same-sex marriage legally recognized by a U.S. civil government in 1971, why they chose to get married, and what the response to their marriage was like.
- JB describes the decades-long (46-year) process from the denial of their marriage license in 1971 until a second request that same year in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, was "declared to be in all respects valid" by Order of Gregory J. Anderson, Judge of District Court.
^
Newsletter, "Hidden Treasures from the Stacks", The National Archives at Kansas City, p. 6 (September 2013).
- Available online.
^ Cite error: The named reference ruling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Michael McConnell, with Jack Baker, as told to Gail Langer Karwoski, "The Wedding Heard Heard 'Round the World: America's First Gay Marriage". University of Minnesota Press (2016). Reprint, "With A New Epilogue" (2020).
^ Cite error: The named reference Maryville was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ McConnel, Michael (November 2013). "Marriage – my childhood dream comes true" (PDF). Retrieved October 27, 2023. Jack asked me to be his lover. I was now ready to state what I wanted in a commitment: live openly and not repeat the mistakes of my previous relationships. I was in it for the long haul, whatever that took. I wanted marriage – not with 'secret' rings recognized by a circle of mostly closeted friends. Jack agreed to make it happen.
^ Cite error: The named reference wedding was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[church_blessing-1] Before 1970, no wedding conducted without a legal license was a marriage, even if blessed in a church.
Source: Black's Law Dictionary, Revised Fourth Edition, West Publishing Co. (1968).
(page 1123) MARRIAGE: Marriage, as distinguished from the agreement to marry and from the act of becoming married, is the civil status, condition, or relation of [two parties] united in law for life, for the discharge to each other and the community of the duties legally incumbent on those whose association is founded on the distinction of sex. 1 Bish.Mar. & Div. § 3; Collins v Hoag & Rollins, 121 Neb. 716, 238 N.W. 351, 355; Allen v. Allen, 73 Conn. 54, 46 A. 242, 49 L.R.A. 142.

(page 1124) MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: An instrument which certifies a marriage, and is executed by the person officiating at the marriage; it is not intended to be signed by the parties. Spencer v. Spencer, 84 Misc.Rep. 264, 147 N.Y.S. 111, 113.

[2] Source: Black's Law Dictionary, Revised Fourth Edition, West Publishing Co. (1968).
(page 1123) MARRIAGE: Marriage, as distinguished from the agreement to marry and from the act of becoming married, is the civil status, condition, or relation of [two parties] united in law for life, for the discharge to each other and the community of the duties legally incumbent on those whose association is founded on the distinction of sex. 1 Bish.Mar. & Div. § 3; Collins v Hoag & Rollins, 121 Neb. 716, 238 N.W. 351, 355; Allen v. Allen, 73 Conn. 54, 46 A. 242, 49 L.R.A. 142.

(page 1124) MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: An instrument which certifies a marriage, and is executed by the person officiating at the marriage; it is not intended to be signed by the parties. Spencer v. Spencer, 84 Misc.Rep. 264, 147 N.Y.S. 111, 113.

[3] (page 1123) MARRIAGE: Marriage, as distinguished from the agreement to marry and from the act of becoming married, is the civil status, condition, or relation of [two parties] united in law for life, for the discharge to each other and the community of the duties legally incumbent on those whose association is founded on the distinction of sex. 1 Bish.Mar. & Div. § 3; Collins v Hoag & Rollins, 121 Neb. 716, 238 N.W. 351, 355; Allen v. Allen, 73 Conn. 54, 46 A. 242, 49 L.R.A. 142.

[4] (page 1124) MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: An instrument which certifies a marriage, and is executed by the person officiating at the marriage; it is not intended to be signed by the parties. Spencer v. Spencer, 84 Misc.Rep. 264, 147 N.Y.S. 111, 113.

[3Sept1971-2] Source: Blue Earth County
Certificate 434960: Minnesota Official Marriage System

Applicants: James Michael McConnell and Pat Lyn McConnell

Date of Marriage: September 3, 1971

Certified Copy: Marriage Certificate

[6] Certificate 434960: Minnesota Official Marriage System

[7] Applicants: James Michael McConnell and Pat Lyn McConnell

[8] Date of Marriage: September 3, 1971

[9] Certified Copy: Marriage Certificate

[3] Diplomas: "Bachelor of Arts" (June 4, 1967) and "Master of Library Science" (June 2, 1968), Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

[4] Diploma: "High School", Board of Education (June 2, 1960)

[Student_Body_President-5] Cite error: The named reference Student Body President was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[6] Diploma: "Juris Doctor", The Regents of The University of Minnesota (December 13, 1972)
Certificate: "Richard J. Baker . . . was . . . duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States . . ." Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States (May 14, 1990)

[14] Certificate: "Richard J. Baker . . . was . . . duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States . . ." Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States (May 14, 1990)

[7] Diploma: "Master of Business Administration", Higher Learning Commission (May 18, 1968)

[8] Diploma: "Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering", Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (June 6, 1965)

[9] Diploma: "High School", Catholic School Board (June 7, 1959)

[10] Padnani, Amisha; Fang, Celina (June 26, 2015). "Same-Sex Marriage: Landmark Decisions and Precedents". The New York Times.

[11] Baume, Matt (March 1, 2019). "Meet the Gay Men Whose 1971 Marriage Was Finally Recognized". The Advocate.

[12] StoryCorps Archive (September 12, 2017). "Michael McConnell, Jack Baker, and Lisa Vecoli".
Michael McConnell (75) and husband Jack Baker (75) talk with friend Lisa Vecoli (55) about having the first same-sex marriage legally recognized by a U.S. civil government in 1971, why they chose to get married, and what the response to their marriage was like.

JB describes the decades-long (46-year) process from the denial of their marriage license in 1971 until a second request that same year in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, was "declared to be in all respects valid" by Order of Gregory J. Anderson, Judge of District Court.

[21] Michael McConnell (75) and husband Jack Baker (75) talk with friend Lisa Vecoli (55) about having the first same-sex marriage legally recognized by a U.S. civil government in 1971, why they chose to get married, and what the response to their marriage was like.

[22] JB describes the decades-long (46-year) process from the denial of their marriage license in 1971 until a second request that same year in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, was "declared to be in all respects valid" by Order of Gregory J. Anderson, Judge of District Court.

[National_Archives-13] Newsletter, "Hidden Treasures from the Stacks", The National Archives at Kansas City, p. 6 (September 2013).
Available online.

[24] Available online.

[ruling-14] Cite error: The named reference ruling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[epilogue-15] Michael McConnell, with Jack Baker, as told to Gail Langer Karwoski, "The Wedding Heard Heard 'Round the World: America's First Gay Marriage". University of Minnesota Press (2016). Reprint, "With A New Epilogue" (2020).

[Maryville-16] Cite error: The named reference Maryville was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[ChildhoodDream-17] McConnel, Michael (November 2013). "Marriage – my childhood dream comes true" (PDF). Retrieved October 27, 2023. Jack asked me to be his lover. I was now ready to state what I wanted in a commitment: live openly and not repeat the mistakes of my previous relationships. I was in it for the long haul, whatever that took. I wanted marriage – not with 'secret' rings recognized by a circle of mostly closeted friends. Jack agreed to make it happen.

[wedding-18] Cite error: The named reference wedding was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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Jack Baker and Michael McConnell
Husbands Michael McConnell (left) and Jack Baker in 2016
Born	1942 (age 81–82) (both)
Known for	First same-sex couple to have been married^[1] legally,^[2] followed by others from Minnesota, elsewhere in the United States and several countries.

Michael McConnell
Born	James Michael McConnell (1942-05-19) May 19, 1942 (age 81) Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education	University of Oklahoma (1968)^[3] Norman High School (1960)^[4]

Jack Baker
Born	Richard John Baker (1942-03-10) March 10, 1942 (age 82) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	Richard Baker, Pat Lyn McConnell^[5]
Education	University of Minnesota Law School (1972)^[6] Oklahoma City University (1968)^[7] University of Oklahoma (1965)^[8] Maryville Academy (1959)^[9]