Same-Sex Marriage Fast Facts

Here’s a look at same-sex marriage in the United States and worldwide. Facts: According to Pew Research Center, support for same-sex marriage in the United States has steadily increased over the last several years. More than 30 countries outside of the United States have laws allowing same-sex marriage. Most of these are in Europe and South America. Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. US Timeline September 21, 1996 - President Bill Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage and defining marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” December 3, 1996 - A state court ruling makes Hawaii the first state to recognize that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same privileges as heterosexual married couples. The ruling is stayed and appealed the following day. December 20, 1999 - The Vermont Supreme Court rules that gay and lesbian couples should be given the same rights as heterosexual couples. November 18, 2003 - The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules that a ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. February 12-March 11, 2004 - Nearly 4,000 same-sex couples get marriage licenses in San Francisco, but the California Supreme Court eventually orders San Francisco to stop issuing marriage licenses. The nearly 4,000 sanctioned marriages are later nullified by the California Supreme Court. February 20, 2004 - Sandoval County, New Mexico, issues 26 same-sex marriage licenses, but they are nullified by the state attorney general the same day. February 24, 2004 - President George W. Bush announces support for a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. February 27, 2004 - New Paltz, New York Mayor Jason West performs same-sex marriages for about a dozen couples. In June, the Ulster County Supreme Court issues West a permanent injunction against marrying same-sex couples. March 3, 2004 - In Portland, Oregon, the Multnomah County Clerk’s office issues marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Neighboring Benton County follows on March 24. May 17, 2004 - Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage, the first state in the United States to do so. July 14, 2004 - The US Senate blocks a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage from moving forward in Congress. August 4, 2004 - A Washington judge rules the state’s law defining marriage is unconstitutional. September 30, 2004 - The US House of Representatives votes against amending the Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. October 5, 2004 - A Louisiana judge throws out an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage because the ban also includes civil unions. In 2005, the Louisiana State Supreme Court reinstates the constitutional amendment. November 2, 2004 - Eleven states pass constitutional amendments defining marriage as being between a man and a woman only: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. March 14, 2005 - A Superior Court judge rules that California’s law that limits marriage to a union between a man and a woman is unconstitutional. April 14, 2005 - Oregon’s Supreme Court nullifies the same-sex marriage licenses issued there in 2004. May 12, 2005 - A federal judge strikes down Nebraska’s ban on protection and recognition of same-sex couples. September 6, 2005 - The California Legislature passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislature is the first in the United States to act without a court order to sanction same-sex marriages. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger later vetoes the bill. September 14, 2005 - The Massachusetts Legislature rejects a proposed amendment to its state constitution to ban same-sex marriages. November 8, 2005 - Texas becomes the 19th state to adopt a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. January 20, 2006 - A Maryland judge rules the state’s law defining marriage is unconstitutional. March 30, 2006 - The highest court in Massachusetts rules that same-sex couples who live in other states cannot get married in Massachusetts unless same-sex marriage is legal in their home states. June 6, 2006 - Alabama voters pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. July 6, 2006 - The New York Court of Appeals rules that a state law banning same-sex marriage is legal, and the Georgia Supreme Court upholds the state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. November 7, 2006 - Constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage are on the ballot in eight states. Seven states: Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, pass theirs, while Arizona voters reject the ban. May 15, 2008 - The California Supreme Court rules that the state’s ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. The decision goes into effect on June 16 at 5:01 p.m. October 10, 2008 - The Connecticut Supreme Court in Hartford rules that the state must allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Connecticut on November 12, 2008. November 4, 2008 - Voters in California approve Proposition 8, which will amend the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Voters in Arizona and Florida also approve similar amendments to their state constitutions. April 3, 2009 - The Iowa Supreme Court strikes down a state law banning same-sex marriage. Marriages become legal in Iowa on April 27, 2009. April 7, 2009 - Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage after both the state Senate and House of Representatives overturn a veto by Governor Jim Douglas. The Senate vote is 23-5, while the House vote is 100-49. Marriages become legal on September 1, 2009. May 6, 2009 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Maine, as Gov. John Baldacci signs a bill less than an hour after the state legislature approves it. Voters in Maine repeal the state’s law allowing same-sex marriage in November 2009. May 6, 2009 - New Hampshire lawmakers pass a same-sex marriage bill. Marriages will become legal on January 1, 2010. May 26, 2009 - The California Supreme Court upholds the passage of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage. However, 18,000 such marriages performed before Proposition 8 will remain valid. June 17, 2009 - President Barack Obama signs a memorandum granting some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. December 15, 2009 - The city council of Washington, DC votes to legalize same-sex marriage, 11-2. Marriages become legal on March 9, 2010. July 9, 2010 - Judge Joseph Tauro of Massachusetts rules that the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it interferes with a state’s right to define marriage. August 4, 2010 - Chief US District Judge Vaughn Walker from the United States District Court/Northern District of California decides that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. February 23, 2011 - The Obama Administration instructs the Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act in court. June 24, 2011 - The New York Senate votes to legalize same-sex marriage. Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the bill just before midnight. September 30, 2011 - The US Department of Defense issues new guidelines allowing military chaplains to perform same-sex ceremonies. February 1, 2012 - The Washington Senate passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, by a vote of 28-21. On February 8, 2012, the House approves the measure by a vote of 55-43. The bill is signed into law in Washington by Governor Christine Gregoire on February 13, 2012. February 7, 2012 - A three-judge panel with the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rules that Proposition 8, the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, violates the constitution. February 17, 2012 - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoes a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. February 23, 2012 - The Maryland Senate passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and Governor Martin O’Malley promises to sign it into law. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2013. May 8, 2012 - North Carolina voters pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, putting a ban that already existed in state law into the state’s charter. May 9, 2012 - Excerpts from an interview with ABC air in which Obama endorses same-sex marriage, the first such statement by a sitting president. He feels that the legal decision should be up to the states to determine. May 31, 2012 - The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston rules that the Defense of Marriage Act, (DOMA), discriminates against gay couples. June 5, 2012 - The 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals in San Francisco denies a request to review an earlier court decision stating that California’s Proposition 8 violates the Constitution. A stay on same-sex marriages in California remains in place until the issue is exhausted in the courts. October 18, 2012 - The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the Defense of Marriage Act, (DOMA), violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause, deciding in favor of widow Edith Windsor, an 83-year-old lesbian who sued the federal government for charging her more than $363,000 in estate taxes after being denied the benefit of spousal deductions. November 6, 2012 - Voters in Maryland, Washington and Maine pass referendums legalizing same-sex marriage. This is the first time same-sex marriage has been approved by a popular vote in the United States. Voters in Minnesota reject a ban on the issue. December 5, 2012 - Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signs Referendum 74, the Marriage Equality Act, into law. Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Washington the following day. December 7, 2012 - The US Supreme Court announces it will hear two constitutional challenges to state and federal laws dealing with the recognition of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed. Oral arguments in the appeal are held in March 2013, with a ruling expected by late June. January 25, 2013 - The Rhode Island House of Representatives passes a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. On May 2, 2013, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee signs the bill legalizing the marriages after the state legislature approves the measure, and the law goes into effect on August 1, 2013. May 7, 2013 - Delaware legalizes same-sex marriage. It goes into effect July 1, 2013. May 14, 2013 - Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signs a bill giving same-sex couples the right to marry. The law goes into effect on August 1, 2013. June 26, 2013 - The Supreme Court rejects parts of DOMA in a 5-4 decision, dismissing an appeal over same-sex marriage on jurisdictional grounds and ruling same-sex spouses legally married in a state may receive federal benefits. It also rules that private parties do not have “standing” to defend California’s voter-approved ballot measure barring gay and lesbian couples from state-sanctioned wedlock. The ruling clears the way for same-sex marriages in California to resume. August 29, 2013 - The US Treasury Department announces that legally married same-sex couples will be treated as married for tax purposes, even if they live in a state that does not recognize same-sex marriage. September 27, 2013 - A New Jersey state judge rules that same-sex couples must be permitted to marry in New Jersey starting October 21. The ruling says that the parallel label “civil unions,” which the state already allows, is illegally preventing same-sex couples from getting federal benefits. On October 10, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson denies the state’s appeal to halt same-sex marriages. November 13, 2013 - Governor Neil Abercrombie signs legislation making Hawaii the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage. The law takes effect on December 2, 2013. November 20, 2013 - Illinois becomes the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage when Governor Pat Quinn signs the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act into law. The law will go into effect on June 1, 2014. November 27, 2013 - Pat Ewert and Venita Gray become the first same-sex couple to marry in Illinois. Gray’s battle with cancer prompted the couple to seek relief from a federal court to immediately receive a license before the law goes into effect in June. Gray dies March 18, 2014. On February 21, 2014, an Illinois federal judge rules that other same-sex couples in Cook County can marry immediately. December 19, 2013 - The New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously rules to allow same-sex marriage statewide and orders county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to qualified same-sex couples. December 20, 2013 - A federal judge in Utah declares the state ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. On Demcember December 24, 2013 - The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denies a request from Utah officials to temporarily stay a lower court’s ruling that allows same-sex marriage there. The ruling allows same-sex marriages to continue while the appeal goes forward. January 6, 2014 - The Supreme Court temporarily blocks same-sex marriage in Utah, sending the matter back to an appeals court. Days later, State officials in Utah announce that the more than 1,000 same-sex marriages performed in the three weeks prior will not be recognized. January 14, 2014 - An Oklahoma federal court rules the state ban on same-sex marriage is “an arbitrary, irrational exclusion of just one class of Oklahoma citizens from a governmental benefit.” Anticipating an appeal, US Senior District Judge Terence Kern puts in place a stay pending the outcome of the Utah appeal, so same-sex couples in Oklahoma cannot immediately marry. February 10, 2014 - Attorney General Eric Holder issues a memo stating, “the (Justice) department will consider a marriage valid for purposes of the marital privilege if an individual is or was validly married in a jurisdiction authorized to sanction marriages, regardless of whether the marriage is or would have been recognized in the state where the married individuals reside or formerly resided, or where the civil or criminal action has been brought.” February 12, 2014 - US District Judge John G. Heyburn II rules that Kentucky’s denial of recognition for valid same-sex marriages violates the United States Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. February 13, 2014 - US District Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen strikes down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage. February 26, 2014 - US District Judge Orlando Garcia strikes down Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage, ruling it has no “rational relation to a legitimate government purpose.” March 14, 2014 - A federal preliminary injunction is ordered against Tennessee’s ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states. March 21, 2014 - US District Judge Bernard Friedman rules that the Michigan Marriage Amendment which bans same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette files an emergency request for Judge Friedman’s order to be stayed and appealed. April 14, 2014 - District Judge Timothy Black orders Ohio to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. May 9, 2014 - An Arkansas state judge declares the state’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. May 13, 2014 - Magistrate Judge Candy Wagahoff Dale rules that the Idaho ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. An appeal is filed. The following day, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals responds to the appeal and issues a temporary stay against same-sex marriage in Idaho. In October 2014, the Supreme Court lifts the stay. May 16, 2014 - The Arkansas Supreme Court issues an emergency stay as its judges consider an appeal to the state judge’s ruling on same-sex marriage. May 19, 2014 - A federal judge strikes down Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage. May 20, 2014 - District Judge John E. Jones strikes down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage. June 6, 2014 - A Wisconsin federal judge strikes down the state’s same-sex marriage ban. Within days, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen files a petition with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to halt same-sex marriages in the state. June 13, 2014 - District Judge Barbara Crabb temporarily blocks same-sex marriages in Wisconsin, pending appeals. June 25, 2014 - An appeals court strikes down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage. June 25, 2014 - District Judge Richard Young strikes down Indiana’s same-sex marriage ban. July 9, 2014 - A state judge in Colorado strikes down Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage. However, the judge prevents couples from immediately marrying by staying his decision. July 11, 2014 - A federal appeals court rules that about 1,300 same-sex marriages performed earlier this year must be recognized by Utah. July 18, 2014 - The Supreme Court grants Utah’s request for a delay in recognizing same-sex marriages performed in late 2013 and early 2014. July 18, 2014 - The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a judge’s ruling from January 2014 that the same-sex marriage ban in Oklahoma is unconstitutional. The panel stays the ruling, pending appeal from the state. July 23, 2014 - A federal judge rules that Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The judge stays implementation of the ruling pending appeals. July 28, 2014 - A federal appeals court strikes down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage. The 4th Circuit opinion also will affect marriage laws in other states within its jurisdiction, including West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Separate orders will have to be issued for affected states in the region outside Virginia. August 20, 2014 - The Supreme Court grants a request to delay enforcement of an appeals court ruling that overturned Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban. August 21, 2014 - District Judge Robert Hinkle rules Florida’s same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, but same-sex marriages cannot immediately be performed. September 3, 2014 - Judge Martin L. C. Feldman upholds Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriages, breaking a streak of 21 consecutive federal court decisions overturning the bans since June 2013. October 6, 2014 - The US Supreme Court refuses to hear appeals from five states – Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin – seeking to keep their same-sex marriage bans in place. Therefore, same-sex marriage becomes legal in those states. October 7, 2014 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Colorado and Indiana. October 7, 2014 - The 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals in California concludes bans on same-sex marriage in Nevada and Idaho violate the equal protection rights of same-sex couples to legally marry. October 9, 2014 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Nevada and West Virginia. October 10, 2014 - Same-sex marriage becomes legal in North Carolina. October 17, 2014 - Judge John Sedwick rules that Arizona’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and refuses to stay his ruling. The same day, Attorney General Eric Holder announces that federal legal recognition of same-sex marriages extends to Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Also, the US Supreme Court rejects Alaska’s request to delay enforcement of the court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. Less than an hour later, a federal judge in Wyoming did the same in that Western state. November 4, 2014 - A federal judge rules that Kansas’ ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. He puts the ruling on hold until November 11, to give the state time to file an appeal. November 6, 2014 - The US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upholds bans on same-sex marriages in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. November 12, 2014 - A South Carolina federal judge strikes down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, delaying the effective date until November 20, allowing time for an appeal by the state’s attorney general. November 19, 2014 - A federal judge overturns Montana’s same-sex marriage ban. The order is effective immediately. January 5, 2015 - The US Supreme Court denies Florida’s petition to extend the stay on allowing same-sex marriages. Couples are free to marry as the case continues through the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. January 12, 2015 - A federal judge rules South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional but stays the ruling. January 23, 2015 - A federal court judge rules in favor of the freedom to marry in Alabama for same-sex couples but stays the ruling. January 27, 2015 - Federal Judge Callie Granade rules to strike down the same-sex marriage ban in a second case involving an unmarried same-sex couple in Alabama but stays her ruling for 14 days. February 8, 2015 - Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore instructs probate judges not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The following day, some Alabama probate judges, including in Montgomery County, begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Others follow the instructions of Moore. On February 12, Judge Granade instructs Probate Judge Don Davis, of Mobile County, Alabama, to issue same-sex marriage licenses. March 2, 2015 - US District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon strikes down Nebraska’s same-sex marriage ban, effective March 9. The state immediately appeals the ruling, but Bataillon denies a stay. On March 5, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals issues a stay on Batallion’s ruling. The ban on same-sex marriage will remain in effect through the state’s appeals process. March 3, 2015 - The Alabama Supreme Court orders probate judges to discontinue issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The judges have five business days to respond to the order. April 28, 2015 - The US Supreme Court hears arguments in the case, Obergefell v. Hodges. The Courts ruling will decide whether states can constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. June 26, 2015 - The Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples can marry nationwide. In the 5-4 ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy writes the majority opinion, each of the four conservative justices files their own dissent. December 13, 2022 - President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act. The law officially voids the Defense of Marriage Act and mandates that states honor the validity of out-of-state marriage licenses, including same-sex unions.