Baker, Jack, 1942-

Jack Baker is a gay activist. His marriage to Michael McConnell in 1971 sparked controversy; they were the first same-sex couple to be married legally with a license that was never revoked. Their wedding became the earliest same-sex marriage ever to be recorded in the public files of any civil government. In late 1971, the Minnesota Supreme Court in Baker v. Nelson affirmed the lower court order to deny a marriage license to same-sex partners. Their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was accepted but later dismissed.