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Minnesota has a long and diverse history of LGBTQ+ communities and movements. From the earliest recorded instances of same-sex relationships and gender nonconformity among Indigenous peoples to the Stonewall-era activism and pride celebrations of the late 20th century, Minnesota has been home to a vibrant and resilient LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the state's history, LGBTQ+ individuals have faced discrimination and marginalization but have also organized and fought for their rights and visibility. Today, Minnesota is known for its progressive policies and inclusive culture, but the struggle for equality and acceptance for LGBTQ+ people continues.

First Legal Same-Sex Marriage
Minnesota has an important place in the history of same-sex marriage in the United States. In 1971, Jack Baker and Michael McConnell became the country's first same-sex couple to marry legally. Their marriage occurred in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, on September 3, 1971. However, the county and state refused to recognize their marriage, beginning a 44-year battle for same-sex marriage rights in Minnesota.

The history of same-sex marriage in the United States dates back to the 1970s, when the first lawsuits seeking legal recognition of same-sex relationships were filed. The issue gained more attention in 1993 when the Hawaii Supreme Court suggested that the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage might be unconstitutional. This led to the federal Defense of Marriage Act and state-level efforts to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples. The first legal same-sex marriage ceremony in the United States occurred in 2004 in San Francisco. Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, and by late 2014, same-sex marriage had been legalized in states representing over 70% of the US population. Some states legalized same-sex marriage through state courts or legislation, while others did so through federal court decisions. In 2013, the US Supreme Court struck down the federal law that barred recognition of same-sex marriage, leading to more lawsuits challenging state bans on same-sex marriage. In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states and required states to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges.

Tretter Collection
The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota is an international archive containing a comprehensive collection of LGBTQ+ materials, including books, photographs, films, and other artifacts. Jean Tretter, a part-time curator at the university, developed the collection. Tretter used his international community connections and self-taught knowledge to collect exponentially expanding material. The collection has faced challenges in terms of organization but has received support from the university and the LGBTQ+ community and is now recognized as one of the most comprehensive archives of international queer history worldwide.

Constitutional Amendment
In 2012, Minnesota became the first state in the United States to defeat a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Opponents of the amendment, including the Minnesotans United for All Families, argued that marriage is about love and commitment and that everyone should be free to marry the person they love. With Democrats in control of the legislature, supporters of same-sex marriage expect to push for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state. The campaign against the amendment was the most expensive ballot contest in Minnesota's history, with Minnesotans United for All Families bringing in nearly $10 million in cash donations and the leading group supporting the amendment, Minnesota for Marriage, raising more than $5 million.

LGBTQ+ Activism and Advocacy
Minnesota has a history of LGBTQ+ activism and advocacy, including being home to one of the first openly gay elected officials in the world, Allan Spear, who was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1972. In 1975, Minneapolis passed the first known legal protections for transgender people. However, Minnesota's history has not been without setbacks, including the repeal of protections for gays and lesbians in St. Paul in 1978 and the devastation of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.