Current Version
| Region | United States |
| Issue | Same-sex marriage |
| Status | Varies by Region |
| Start Date | Jan 1, 1973 |
| End Date | Jun 26, 2015 |
| Description | From January 1973 to June 2015, the legality of gay marriage in the United States varied by state. Maryland passed the first law banning marriages in 1973 with others following suit but not all. On November 18th, 2003, Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, and their ruling came into effect on May 17th, 2004. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Between May 17th, 2004, and June 26th, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, 37 states and the District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage. |
| Sources | Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling: https://glad-org-wpom.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/goodridge_decision.pdf Massachusetts Ruling Goes Into Effect; Legalizes Gay Marriage: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152670 Article Shows Which States Had Gay Marriage Legal: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages https://web.archive.org/web/20130912035547/http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/history-and-timeline-of-marriage |
Revision History (7)
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. There were regional variances beforehand as some states banned it but others did not starting in 1973.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | May 17, 2004 | Jan 1, 1973 |
| Description | From May 2004 to June 2015, the legality of gay marriage in the United States varied by state. On November 18th, 2003, Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, and their ruling came into effect on May 17th, 2004. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Between May 17th, 2004, and June 26th, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, 37 states and the District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage. | From January 1973 to June 2015, the legality of gay marriage in the United States varied by state. Maryland passed the first law banning marriages in 1973 with others following suit but not all. On November 18th, 2003, Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, and their ruling came into effect on May 17th, 2004. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Between May 17th, 2004, and June 26th, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, 37 states and the District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage. |
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| Sources | Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling: https://glad-org-wpom.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/goodridge_decision.pdf Massachusetts Ruling Goes Into Effect; Legalizes Gay Marriage: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152670 Article Shows Which States Had Gay Marriage Legal: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages | Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling: https://glad-org-wpom.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/goodridge_decision.pdf Massachusetts Ruling Goes Into Effect; Legalizes Gay Marriage: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152670 Article Shows Which States Had Gay Marriage Legal: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages https://web.archive.org/web/20130912035547/http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/history-and-timeline-of-marriage |
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edited by Unknownmiles. Fixing the date, description, and links
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | May 14, 2004 | May 17, 2004 |
| Description | Legal status is extremely variable based on the individual state. Recognized at a Federal level, but not in all states, for all intents and purposes except Social Security. Social Security is based on the state of residence's recognition of marital status. | From May 2004 to June 2015, the legality of gay marriage in the United States varied by state. On November 18th, 2003, Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, and their ruling came into effect on May 17th, 2004. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Between May 17th, 2004, and June 26th, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, 37 states and the District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_6j37.pdf | Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling: https://glad-org-wpom.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/goodridge_decision.pdf Massachusetts Ruling Goes Into Effect; Legalizes Gay Marriage: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152670 Article Shows Which States Had Gay Marriage Legal: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Special Status | (REMOVED) | Varies by Region |
| Start Date | Jun 26, 2013 | May 14, 2004 |
Reports (3)
- Status is not correct "2015 US Supreme Court case Obergefell v Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide"
- Sources are invalid or broken
- Newer law has been passed "Respect for Marriage Act Passed, codifying same-sex & interracial marriage"
Reports (1)
- Newer law has been passed "TEST"
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal | Ambiguous |
| Description | Recognized at a Federal level, but not in all states, for all intents and purposes except Social Security. Social Security is based on the state of residence's recognition of marital status. | Legal status is extremely variable based on the individual state. Recognized at a Federal level, but not in all states, for all intents and purposes except Social Security. Social Security is based on the state of residence's recognition of marital status. |
Show Difference | ||
Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gay-marriage-and-other-major-rulings-at-the-supreme-court/2015/06/25/ef75a120-1b6d-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html?tid=sm_tw"
| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Legal |
| Start Date | Jun 26, 2013 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Recognized at a Federal level, but not in all states, for all intents and purposes except Social Security. Social Security is based on the state of residence's recognition of marital status. |
| Sources | http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_6j37.pdf |
Reports (3)
- Other information is incorrect "same sex marriage is not yet legal on federal level, and is illegal in the majority of states."
- Other "I do not think it is accurate to have same-sex marriage listed as legal, because although the federal government may recognize same-sex marriages, such unions are in fact illegal in a majority of states. Perhaps, in countries where LGBTQ legislation varies by state/province it should be broken down and detailed in that way on the countries full profile, and there should be a more appropriate status for the entire country, such as "Legal in some areas" or "Partially legal.""
- Other "I would put this as "Ambiguous" or another label ... I believe it is not legal to get married to a same sex partner for most(?) US citizens inside their home state.
If you tend toward "ambiguous" in general rather than "legal" (until something is 100% true) then that shows more clearly on a map there is more we need to work on/strive toward."