The gay couple believed to be the first to legally wed in the U.S. did so in Minnesota in 1971. Though Jack Baker and Michael McConnell received a marriage license and were wed by a Methodist minister, state courts soon declared their union illegal. The couple fought all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court for recognition of their marriage, but lost. On Wednesday, however, their home state will become the 12th in the nation to legally recognize same-sex marriage.
In a rare video of their 1971 wedding, published online Monday by local news channel CBS Minnesota, the couple can be seen exchanging rings and sharing a passionate first kiss.
Pastor Roger Lynn, who married the couple more than 40 years ago, told CBS Minnesota, “That [kiss] was the moment when I really felt it viscerally, like, ‘Oh, this is different.'"
Watch the video above to see the remarkable moment.
In June, the Supreme Court made two historic decisions in favor of marriage equality, striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, and dismissing California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. The state quickly began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
Click through the slideshow below to see photos of beautiful same-sex weddings.
