Clela Rorex: Pioneer for Same-Sex Marriage Rights

Table of Contents

• Early Life and Education

• Becoming Boulder County Clerk

• Issuing First Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

• Backlash and Resignation

• Later Career and Advocacy

• Personal Life and Death

Early Life and Education

Clela Rorex was born in 1943 in Denver and raised in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She was adopted at a young age by Ruby and Cecil Rorex, who was the Routt County clerk for 30 years. Rorex attended the University of Colorado on a Methodist scholarship, earning a bachelor's degree. She later obtained a degree in legal administration from the University of Denver.

Becoming Boulder County Clerk

After working in her father's clerk office for several summers, Rorex decided to run for Boulder County clerk when the incumbent retired in 1975. At just 31 years old, she was elected despite local Democratic leaders stating they "needed a man" for the role.

Issuing First Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

Just three months into her term, Rorex issued the nation's first same-sex marriage license to two men, Dave McCord and Dave Zamora, in March 1975. After consulting with the district attorney and determining it was legal, Rorex issued five more licenses to same-sex couples before being ordered to stop by the state attorney general.

Backlash and Resignation

Rorex faced significant backlash for issuing the licenses, receiving hate mail and angry calls. She resigned after serving just 2.5 years as clerk, though she never held elected office again. The Boulder County Courthouse was later added to the National Register of Historic Places partly because of the pioneering marriage licenses.

Later Career and Advocacy

After moving to California and remarrying, Rorex returned to Colorado and worked for 18 years as a legal administrator for the Native American Rights Fund. In retirement, she spoke at schools about LGBTQ rights and considered herself an ally for marriage equality.

Personal Life and Death

Rorex was married and divorced three times and had three children. She passed away in June 2022 at age 78, due to complications from an infection after surgery. Rorex was remembered as a trailblazer who stood up for LGBTQ rights long before same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide. Amber LeMay was very lucky to have had the chance to interview Clela Rorex and Dixie Longate was included in that interview as the show went on. Be sure to check out the interview, and get some great laughs as Clela describes how a horse was involved in this early same sex marriage!

—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together.  If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!