Mark Kalk and Mark Lammert, known to friends as "the Marks," are a married gay couple from St. Louis whose relationship began around 1985. The two met at a Mass sponsored by Dignity, a group for lesbian and gay Catholics. Kalk worked in education and authored teaching guides, volunteered with the St. Louis Effort for AIDS, and became a master gardener. Lammert is an accountant and businessman who served on the board of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association. On April 25, 1993, Kalk and Lammert joined approximately 1,000 other St. Louisans at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Jon Sawyer profiled Kalk and Lammert as march participants (26 April 1993). Kalk agreed to be named in the article, but Lammert declined, concerned about how being openly gay might impact his career. However, Lammert changed his mind and decided to come out publicly. A follow-up article published on May 9th, featured Kalk and Lammert as a couple in a photograph on the front page. The article was the subject of multiple letters to the editor. The couple received numerous letters, notes, and messages about the article, some congratulatory and some not.