Brenda Bauer and Celia Castle Marriage Equality collection, 1978-2015

In 1998 Washington state passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. In 2004, same-sex couples sued for marriage rights, but the Washington Supreme Court upheld DOMA. In 2007 Washington created state-registered domestic partnerships (SRDPs), granting some rights to same-sex couples. The ACLU of Washington was involved in advocating for these rights.

Brenda Bauer was one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging Washington's law that limited marriage to opposite-sex couples. She and her partner Celia Castle were among 11 couples represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in the case known as Castle v. State. Bauer and Castle had been together for 16 years and were parents to two girls. They were legally married in Portland, Oregon on March 16, 2004, when Multnomah County briefly issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples. As plaintiffs, Bauer and Castle sought to have their Oregon marriage recognized in Washington, and the right to marry in Washington State. Bauer worked as an attorney and Director of Contracting Services for the City of Seattle, while Castle was a firefighter with 25 years of service. Their case highlighted the lack of legal protections for same-sex couples, as Bauer would not be eligible for spousal benefits under Washington law if Castle were to die in the line of duty. Through their participation in this lawsuit and their willingness to share their story publicly, Brenda Bauer and Celia Castle contributed significantly to the legal and social movement that ultimately led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Washington State in 2012.

Source: Box 1, folder 11 in collection and ACLU.org