(WNS)–Until 2003, same-sex marriage was banned in all 50 states. But a lot has changed in the last decade. Seventeen states now allow same-sex marriage, either through legislative action or voter referendum. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, judges in six states have struck down statutes upholding traditional marriage. More judges likely will follow suit, and the question of whether states can determine what constitutes marriage within their borders will eventually be decided by the nation’s highest court.
Judicial activism in 2013 and 2014:
- Pennsylvania—A federal judge declares the state’s voter-approved ban unconstitutional. Gov. Tom Corbett decides not to appeal.
- Oregon—A district judge declares its voter-approved ban unconstitutional.
- Idaho—A federal judge ruled the state’s 2006, voter-approved ban is unconstitutional.
- Arkansas—A county circuit judge strikes down the state’s ban, approved by voters in 2004.
- Ohio—Judge orders state to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Ruling stayed pending appeal.
- Tennessee—A federal appeals court stays a lower court judge’s orders that the state must recognize three same-sex marriages performed in other states. The ruling does not yet apply to other couples. The state is appealing the decision. Same-sex marriage was banned by constitutional amendment in 2006.
- Michigan—Constitutional ban overturned by federal judge. Judge’s ruling stayed pending appeal.
- Texas—Constitutional ban overturned by federal judge. Judge’s ruling stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court pending appeal.
- Kentucky—Judge orders state to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
- Virginia—Constitutional ban overturned by federal judge. Judge’s ruling stayed pending appeal.
- Oklahoma—Constitutional ban overturned by federal judge. Judge’s ruling stayed pending appeal.
- Utah—Constitutional ban overturned by federal judge. Judge’s ruling stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court pending appeal. (2013)
Legalized in 2013:
- New Mexico—by state Supreme Court ruling
- Illinois—by state statute
- Hawaii—by state statute
- New Jersey—by a judge’s ruling
- California—by a federal judge’s ruling in 2010. The ruling did not go into effect until the Supreme Court upheld it in 2013.
- Minnesota—by state statute
- Delaware—by state statute
- Rhode Island—by state statute
Legalized in 2012:
- Maine—by voter referendum
- Maryland—by voter referendum
- Washington—voter referendum
Legalized in 2011 and 2009:
- New York—by state statute (2011)
- New Hampshire—by state statute
- Vermont—by state statute
- Iowa—by state Supreme Court ruling
Legalized in 2008:
- Connecticut—by state Supreme Court ruling
First legalization—2003:
- Massachusetts—by state supreme court ruling
Banned in 2012:
- Nevada—Constitutional ban upheld by a federal judge, under review in federal appeals court
- North Carolina—by constitutional amendment
Banned by constitutional amendment in 2008:
- Arizona
- Florida
Banned by constitutional amendment in 2006:
- Colorado
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Banned by constitutional amendment in 2005 and 2004:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Kansas (2005)
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Oregon—Recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other states
Early bans:
- Nebraska—by constitutional amendment in 2000
- West Virginia—by state statute in 2000
- Alaska—by voter referendum in 1998
- Indiana—by state law in 1997
- Pennsylvania—by state statute in 1996
- Wyoming—by state statute in 1977