Some of the first cases seeking equal marriage rights for same-sex couples were brought soon after Stonewall. They were, however, roundly rejected.

1971: Baker v. Nelson – Minnesota Supreme Court / 1972: United States Supreme Court

Jack Baker and Michael McConnell asked the United States Supreme Court to declare that Minnesota’s failure to let the two men marry violated the Constitution. The court didn’t even hear arguments in the case, declaring the issue didn’t raise “a substantial federal question.”

1973: Jones v. Hallahan – Kentucky Court of Appeals

When Marjorie Jones and Tracy Knight sued to get a marriage license, the court denied the two women’s request, declaring that “what they propose is not a marriage.”

1974: Singer v. Hara – Washington Court of Appeals

John Singer and Paul Barwick cited Washington State’s new Equal Rights Amendment as a reason for requiring that state to allow same-sex couples to marry, but the court cited the Kentucky case in nonetheless rejecting their request.