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Meet the first same-sex couple to seek a marriage license in Wisconsin

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project
A clip from a GPU News story dated November 1971.

This Be Seen episode features the story of Donna Burkett and her then-partner, Manonia Evans — the first lesbian couple to seek a marriage in Milwaukee County. When denied, they filed a lawsuit in federal court, received extensive media coverage but ultimately lost their case.

Michail Takach, curator at Wisconsin LGBTQ+ History Project, shares the narrative behind this story with archival audio from Burkett, courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, and reaction from Wisconsin ACLU Legal Director Larry Dupuis.

Director of Digital Content | Radio Milwaukee