This resolution honors Clela Rorex, a Boulder County, Colorado clerk who issued the first same-sex marriage license in the United States in 1975. At age 31, Rorex issued a marriage license to Dave McCord and Dave Zamora after determining that Colorado state law did not explicitly prohibit same-sex marriage, an act of civil rights leadership that preceded the Supreme Court's nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage by 40 years. Despite receiving death threats and hundreds of hostile communications following national media coverage, Rorex issued five additional same-sex marriage licenses that month and continued advocating for LGBTQ rights throughout her life until her death in 2022. The House recognizes Rorex's courage, leadership, and contributions to civil rights and expresses support for Boulder County's designation of July 23 as "Clela Rorex Day." This resolution does not involve any funding or legislative requirements—it is a commemorative measure acknowledging an individual's historical impact on American civil rights.
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