December 16, 2024
Boulder County Courthouse: A National Symbol for LGBTQ+ Equality Designated National Historic Landmark Status
|
|
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland made the announcement on December 16, 2024.
|
|
Boulder County, Colo. -- The historic Boulder County Courthouse has been designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its pivotal role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. The courthouse became a beacon of equality and justice in 1975 when Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex issued the first same-sex marriage license in the nation.
On March 26, 1975, Clerk Rorex consulted the Assistant District Attorney to confirm there were no Colorado laws prohibiting marriage between individuals of the same sex. With no legal barriers identified, Rorex courageously issued the license, stating years later, “After having been so deeply involved in the women’s rights movements, who was I to then deny a right to anyone else? It wasn’t my job to legislate morality.”
This act of courage ignited a nationwide conversation about marriage equality and cemented the courthouse’s role as a symbol of hope and progress for the LGBTQ+ community. Within weeks, Rorex issued five more same-sex marriage licenses, and news outlets across the country spotlighted Boulder as a trailblazer for civil rights.
Boulder County boasts a diverse and thriving LGBTQ+ community, whose contributions enrich the cultural fabric of the area. Honoring the courthouse with National Historic Landmark status celebrates this legacy and reaffirms the nation's commitment to justice, equality, and inclusion.
“This designation is not just about honoring the courageous actions of one individual, but about recognizing the enduring legacy of the Boulder County Courthouse as a symbol of human rights and equality,” said Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann.
Commissioner Marta Loachamin added, “This honor is particularly meaningful in today’s sociopolitical climate, where many Americans feel unwelcome or excluded. Recognizing the courthouse as a National Historic Landmark underscores the United States’ dedication to fostering a future built on equity and justice for all.”
“Our community includes people of many races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and professions, and we consider this diversity an asset that enriches the lives of all of our residents,” concluded Commissioner Claire Levy, “Honoring the Boulder County Courthouse with a National Historic Landmark designation is a tribute to these neighbors and a ringing endorsement that America is still the land of the brave.”
Boulder County appreciates the support of Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, and Congressman Joe Neguse for lending their support in a letter sent to the National Park Service review board.
About Boulder County Courthouse The Boulder County Courthouse is a historic building on Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado, built in 1933. The courthouse is a contributing property to the Downtown Boulder Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The original courthouse built in 1882 by Brown Palace Hotel architect F.E. Edbrooke, was destroyed by a fire in 1932. The present courthouse, which was re-built on the same site in the following year, is a five-story building designed by Glen H. Huntington, son of prolific Denver architect Glen Wood Huntington, in Works Progress Administration Moderne style (a restrained form of Art Deco architecture). It features vertical lines, a tower, and little ornamentation.
The courthouse no longer houses the actual courts for Boulder County, but it remains the seat of county government.
|
|
|
|