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What States Is Gay Marriage Legal
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Gay marriage is legal in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the regional autonomous government in Mexico City. In the United States, gay marriage has been legal since June 2015 when the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry. This decision came after many states had already legalized same-sex marriages within their borders and declared bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional by lower courts. The complete list of state statutes and/or court rulings declaring bans on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional are listed below:
Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut (plus Washington D.C.)
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
What States is Gay Marriage Legal
Gay marriage has been legal in the United States since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). Since then, it has become federally accepted as a legitimate form of marriage and is available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples in all 50 states. Though this was an exciting development for LGBTQ+ rights advocates, there are still many states where gay marriage remains illegal.
To better understand what states currently recognize and accept gay marriage, we need to look at some of the legal developments that have occurred around the country since 2015. After Obergefell v. Hodges, many courts continued to review cases involving state bans on gay marriage until these laws were either overturned or declared unconstitutional by individual state Supreme Courts or federal District Courts. Most recently, laws banning same-sex marriage were found unconstitutional in Montana (2017) and Tennessee (2021).
Though each state provides unique protections or restrictions on gay marriage, most still prohibit same-sex marriages from being performed within their borders—though they may recognize such unions that are made legal in other states. Ultimately, though strides have been made toward full equality for gays and lesbians throughout the U.S., more work will always be necessary before these marriages can be celebrated without restriction throughout all fifty states.
History of the Eventual Legality of Same-Sex Marriage
When it comes to the legality of same-sex marriage, there have been many milestones along the way – especially in recent years. In 2003 Massachusetts became the first state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage. This event marked a major breakthrough for the fight for gender equality and legal rights for members of the LGBTQ community.
Since then, other states have followed suit and legalized gay marriage. Delaware, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire were next on board by legalizing same-sex unions in 2006-2008. Soon after this momentum started to increase as more states began legislation for making gay marriage legal between 2010 and 2013 – mostly enacted through state court rulings or executive orders from governors.
At this point over 30 states had legalized same-sex marriage with a handful of remaining states following suit soon after either through court rulings or public approval of ballot initiatives legalizing gay marriage. The US Supreme Court eventually made it official with a landmark 2015 decision declaring that all 50 states must certify such marriages throughout their jurisdictions.
Current State Status for Same-Sex Marriage
Currently, gay marriage is legal in 37 out of 50 US states. This includes Washington D.C., where a law allowing such nuptials was passed in 2009. Other states that do not recognize same-sex unions are Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
In addition to the states that have legalized same-sex marriage, another seven states – Arkansas, Idaho, Michigan , Nebraska, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming – have some form of domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples. Some of these state-level regulations may include hospital visitation rights or adoption rights.
In general though across all US states it is important to note that since the 2015 Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage on a federal level all laws commonly referred to as ‘gay marriage bans’ are now illegal.
Impact of the Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage
In 2015, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. This was a huge victory for the LGBTQ+ community and allowed same-sex couples to marry across the nation regardless of state laws. It effectively overruled every individual state law forbidding same-sex marriages as unconstitutional.
This ruling had an immense impact on both individuals seeking the right to marry, and businesses in those states struggling under conflicting laws. Businesses no longer had to worry about whether they were compliant with local laws, or if their services would be limited due to their residence in another state. Same-sex couples no longer had to worry about moving cross-country to marry in order to get recognition from their home state.
The Supreme Court ruling not only allowed for freedom of choice as far as marriage is concerned, but also set a precedent for future civil rights cases and equal treatment under the law regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Current State Laws and Policies on Same-Sex Civil Unions
Same-sex couples have the right to marry in various states across the United States. Currently, 32 states and the District of Columbia have laws that recognize same-sex marriage. In addition to these states, many other states maintain civil union laws that recognize two adults as a legal partnership but offer fewer protections than a marriage.
However, not all states are equal when it comes to same-sex civil unions. Some states only recognize same-sex marriages, while others only recognize domestic partnerships or civil unions. The laws of each state must be consulted before entering into any kind of agreement regarding same-sex relationships in order to fully understand the rights and responsibilities involved with such an arrangement.
For instance, some states restrict the ability of same-sex couples from adopting children jointly, while others do not. Similarly, while some states offer spousal benefits to those in a domestic partnership or civil union, others do not. It’s important to research state policies in order to ensure that you and your partner understand what rights you possess or may be entitled to if you choose to enter into an agreement with one another.