Latest News – October 17

Lake County Issues Two Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

The first same sex marriage license was issued in Lake County on October 10, 2014 at the Lake County Courthouse.

Chuck Williams (Left) and Lee Trujillo (right) were issued the first same sex marriage license in Lake County on October 10, 2014. Photo: Leadville Today

“We did it,” wrote Leadville resident Lee Trujillo on his Facebook Page. “I don’t like to get giddy about things, but today is a very special day for us. We applied for our Marriage License. Actual Marriage License after 30 years together. We never expected this right to be ours, but now it is in Colorado.”

Public Record shows Trujillo and his partner Chuck Williams were issued the marriage license by Lake County Chief Deputy Clerk Kathleen Owens on October 10, 2014. The couple plan to have an official ceremony and celebration sometime soon.

For many, securing a marriage license is little more than a clerical duty. However for same sex couples applying for a license has been anything but, as the controversy has played out on the national stage. But earlier this month when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear all appeals on same-sex marriage, it effectively made the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling final, legalizing same-sex marriage in Colorado and five other states.

While the photo may be a bit fuzzy, the union is not. Lee Trujillo (left) and Chuck Williams (right) show off their marriage license, the first one in Lake County issued to a same sex couple. Photo: Padaric Smith.

That decision led Colorado Attorney General John Suthers to say that same-sex marriage will be legal in Colorado and all 64 county clerks must issue licenses to gay couples.

Since then, according to Lake County Clerk Owens, there has been one other same sex marriage license issued, to two women. However, she noted, all of the state licenses for marriage have now been updated to read Party One and Party Two, in place of the traditional Mr./Man and Miss/Woman lines.

Best wishes to all!