Wedding Heard 'Round the World, The: America's First Gay Marriage

Wedding Heard 'Round the World, The: America's First Gay Marriage
Michael McConnell, Jack Baker, Gail Langer Karwoski
RRP:
NZ$ 24.99
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NZ$ 19.99
Paperback
h198 x 126mm - 192pg
1 Jun 2021 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9780751580044
Out Of Stock
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On September 3, 1971, Michael McConnell and Jack Baker exchanged vows in the first legal same-sex wedding in the United States. Their remarkable story is told here for the first time a unique account of the passion and energy of the gay liberation movement in the sixties and seventies. At the dawn of the modern gay movement(while New York s Stonewall riots and San Francisco s emerging political activism bloomed), these two young men insisted on making their commitment a legal reality.Theywere already crusaders for gay rights: Jack had twice been elected the University of Minnesota s student president the first openly gay university student president in the country, an election reported by Walter Cronkite on network TV news. They were featured in"Look"magazine s special issue about the American family and received letters of support from around the world. The couple navigated complex procedures to obtain a state-issued marriage license. Their ceremony was conducted by a Methodist minister in a friend s tiny Minneapolis apartment. Wearing matching white pantsuits, exchanging custom-designed rings, and sharing a tiered wedding cake, Michael and Jack celebrated their historic marriage. After reciting their vows, they sealed their promise to love and honor each other with a kiss and a signed marriage certificate.
"The great appeal of McConnell and Baker s recommended story is its simple style and the everydayness of their lives. Their appeal is how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. " "Library Journal"""The Wedding Heard Round the World "serves as a gentle reminder that there were couples plotting this victory long, long before a consensus formed around marriage equality." "The New Republic""Michael McConnell s easy, personable tone will make you feel like your uncle, father, or grandfather is telling the story of their younger years, and what queer life was like back in the day. His persona alone makes this book an instant classic." "Lambda Literary""A sweet story wrapped inside a righteous fight, told with charm and grace. Start "The Wedding Heard Round the World" and you ll have no defense." "Washington Blade""Recommended for all LGBT-related and general history collections, and especially for readers with Minnesota ties and memories. While we can all justifiably laud 2015 s same-sex marriage Final Answer, we should also save a round of applause for Baker and McConnell, who helped forge the way." "American Library Association s GLBT Round Table""A timely memoir." "Pioneer Press""Easy to read and good for a nice afternoon, "The Wedding Heard Round the World "is definitely something to put on your must-read list." "The Spectrum""Theirs is a beautiful love story, fit for admission amongst history s great classics. A tall tale filled with an enduring hunger for truth, long battles for justice against powerful, unwavering foes, filled with great challenges and crushing setbacks... And finally, a final victory for our two loves as they ride off into the sunset." "EDGE Media Network"""The Wedding Heard Round the World "is a very important addition to GLBT history. It is a fascinating story of love and struggle GLBT rights. It is a true story that reads like a novel. It also shows that the struggle for equal rights for GLBT people is far from over." "Washington Book Review""
Michael McConnell and Jack Baker are America s first legally married gay couple. They were married in Minneapolis in September 1971 in a small ceremony officiated by a Methodist minister, with an official license issued by a rural Minnesota county. They met in 1966 in Norman, Oklahoma. In 2010, Michael retired from the Hennepin County Library and Jack retired from his careers in law and engineering. They live in Minneapolis. Gail Langer Karwoski is an author and educator based in Athens, Georgia. She met Michael McConnell and Jack Baker in 1972, the year after they were married. She is the author of many books for young readers, most recently "When Hurricane Katrina Hit Home.""
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780751580044
Published: 1 Jun 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Sphere
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback
Height: 198mm
Width: 126mm
Pages: 192

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