Bonauto first fought to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine before arguing before the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established marriage equality as the law of the land.
“Her efforts made millions of families whole and forged a more perfect Union,” read a statement from the White House.
Mary Bonauto (with suitcase) gives the thumbs up as she enters the Supreme Court. Image: Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia Commons
For more than thirty years, Bonauto has been committed to ending discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and she has been a central figure in building the legal framework for marriage equality in the US.
A Newburgh, NY, native and graduate of Hamilton College and the Northeastern University School of Law, Bonauto began her legal career at a small firm in Maine.
At Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) in Boston, Bonauto was cocounsel for the landmark decision by the Vermont Supreme Court to allow same-sex civil unions.
Despite occasional disappointments and setbacks, she has long been a clear and steady voice for ending discrimination in marriage.
The awards were presented at the White House on January 2, 2025.
