5 Female Couples Who Paved the Way for Full Marriage Equality

I don't know about you, but I am still reeling from Friday's ruling and the whirlwind of pride and rainbows that has happened since. Just for fun, though, let's pretend like I can string coherent thoughts together about this and look back at some of the women who have helped us achieve marriage equality. Thanks to the tireless efforts of these women, and dozens of other advocates, the hearts and minds of Americans have become more accepting, and the courts have largely agreed.

Nicole Dinetman & Cleopatra De Leon

These two working mothers in Austin, Texas, got married in Massachusetts in 2009. With their children in mind, they sought to challenge Texas lawmakers' reasoning that banning same-sex marriage discourages unions that can't lead to children. "Responsible procreation" was the phrase used to describe the action of having kids. (Because, you know, there's something really irresponsible about the lengthy and expensive process same-sex couples have to go through in order to have kids.) Their long road to equality in De Leon v. Perry is detailed in this article from Texas Monthly. It's well worth a read, particularly toward the end when the solicitor general of Texas, Jonathan Mitchell, tries to defend the "sanctity" of marriage by calling it nothing more than a "subsidy." In other words "oh, you gay people don't even really want this. It's not that big a deal." The couple pressed on, and their efforts were rewarded in February 2014 when U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia handed down a ruling that "state-imposed inequality can find no refuge in our United States Constitution." The ruling was stayed during the appeal, but Obergefell has swept in and saved the day. Three cheers for these lovely ladies who endured on behalf of all same-sex couples in Texas!

Kelly Noe and Kelly McCracken

These Kentucky residents were married in Massachusetts in 2011 (I'm sensing a theme). They both work across the state border in Ohio and are parents to a little girl named Ruby. One of the easiest ways to challenge bans on same-sex marriage has been to show how such bans negatively impact children, so many of our plaintiffs are parents. These women were two of thirty plaintiffs in Obergefell, and when the decision came they "screamed, and then we all cried, and then we all sat in silence for a solid ten minutes and just stared at each other, then we all screamed again." Sounds just about like my reaction, too! 

Pam and Nicole Yorksmith

Two more parents for our list! Pam and Nicole were two of the Henry v Hodges plaintiffs (that case got merged with Obergefell). Their need for same sex marriage was highlighted when Pam took their 4-month-old son Orion to the emergency room and needed to wait an hour for the staff to confirm with Orion's biological mother, Nicole, that Pam could authorize treatment of the child. Before your blood starts to boil over that, remember that they won and now that won't happen anymore! (We hope...) 

April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse

These women joined the fight in Michigan accidentally. All they wanted to do, they say, was "get custody of our children, to make sure they had their full legal rights." After the decision was announced, they had an announcement of their own. They will be adding a fifth child to their family, who they will be naming Kennedy.

Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin

This Oklahoman couple has been together for 18 years. They were one of two lesbian couples that challenged Oklahoma's ban in the 10th circuit federal court in Bishop v United States. They won their case in 2014 and were able to legally wed immediately, to the amusing chagrin of fellow Oklahoman and outspoken marriage equality opponent Jim Inhofe.