2021 Digital Pride Guide

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN MN:
A RRRS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
BY TAMMY SJ LANAGHAN
At midnight on August 1, 2013, eighteen
couples stood before Judges Michelle
Lawson and Lisa Borgen, in the Clay County
courtroom in Moorhead, Minnesota, and
recited their marriage vows. What made
this moment historic was that these
were lesbian and gay couples. After
many years of unsuccessfully advocating
for equal access to the legal institution
of marriage in Minnesota, these thirtysix
individuals finally were granted
permission by the state to take up the
rights and responsibilities of that status.
As we approach the tenth anniversary
of this historic moment, the Red River
Rainbow Seniors (RRRS) Oral History
Project will partner with the Historical and
Cultural Society of Clay County (HCSCC)
to conduct interviews with these couples
and other individuals that were involved
in the ceremony (judges, witnesses,
guests, family members). The intent of
the project is to preserve the memories
of the wedding ceremony and to record
the reflections of the participants on the
impact their legal marriage has had on
their lives personally, socially, and legally.
All materials will be deposited with the
HCSCC, the Minnesota Historical Society,
and the “Breaking Barriers: Harvesting
LGBTQ Stories from the Northern Plains”
collection at the NDSU Archives. RRRS
and HCSCC plan to develop an exhibit
at the Hjemkomst to celebrate the 10th
anniversary in the summer of 2023.
Please stop by the Red River Rainbow
Seniors booth at Pride in the Park
follow Breaking Barriers on Facebook:
@BreakingBarriersLGBTQ. For further
inquiries: redriverrainboworalhistory@
gmail.com.
This project was made possible in part
by the people of Minnesota through a
grant funded by an appropriation to the
Minnesota Historical Society from the
Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage
Fund. Any views, findings, opinions,
conclusions, or recommendations
expressed in this publication are those
of the authors and do not necessarily
represent those of the State of Minnesota,
the Minnesota Historical Society, or the
Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory
Committee.
Equality with Wisdom.
The Red River Rainbow Seniors and the
Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
plan to develop an exhibit at the Hjemkomst
to celebrate the 10th anniversary
in the summer of 2023.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Stop by the Red River Rainbow Seniors booth at Pride in the Park follow Breaking Barriers on Facebook:
@BreakingBarriersLGBTQ. For further inquiries: redriverrainboworalhistory@gmail.com.
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AUGUST 12-15