Women Ask To Marry (Press, 23 February 1971)
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Summary: Women Ask To Marry (Press, 23 February 1971)
A Circuit Court judge in Louisville, Kentucky, has denied a marriage licence to two women, Tracy Knight, 25, and Marjorie Jones, 39. The judge, Lyndon Schmid, expressed his disapproval, stating that he saw no reason to "condone and accept a spirit of what is acceptable as perverted lust," drawing a parallel to the rejection of thievery and deception. Despite the absence of a specific prohibition against same-sex unions in Kentucky's marriage statute, which has been in place for 175 years, Judge Schmid expressed doubt that contemporary society would recognise such a relationship as marriage. The judge dismissed arguments presented by the women’s counsel, which included that homosexual marriages are accepted in other cultures, suggesting that such practices could also be linked to non-mainstream activities like head-hunting and human sacrifice. Following the ruling, the women's legal team stated their intention to appeal, first to a higher Kentucky court and potentially to the United States Supreme Court if necessary. The case highlights ongoing debates regarding marriage equality and societal acceptance of same-sex relationships in the United States during this period.
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