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Tuesday, Jun. 3, 2025

Did a case in Minnesota argue for same-sex marriage before Obergefell v. Hodges?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
yes

Before Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage, there was Baker v. Nelson. 

When Jack Baker and Michael McConnell became a couple, McConnell told Baker he would commit to him if they could find a way to marry. Baker later attended the University of Minnesota Law School and realized state marriage statutes did not explicitly prevent same-sex marriage. The men applied for a marriage license in Hennepin County in 1970 but were denied. They filed a case in Hennepin County District Court (Nelson was the county clerk) that was appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court and, later, the U.S. Supreme Court. All appeals were denied – but the men found a way to marry. 

In 1971, McConnell adopted Baker, who changed his legal name to Pat Lyn McConnell. Michael McConnell then applied for a marriage license for the two of them in Blue Earth County, which he received. 

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