{"id":74535,"date":"2008-04-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-04-01T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2008\/04\/01\/gay-marriage-timeline\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:13:55","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:13:55","slug":"gay-marriage-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2008\/04\/01\/gay-marriage-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Gay Marriage Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Timeline provided by Stateline.org<\/em><\/a>\n\u00ab Return to the gay marriage issue page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0A history of same-sex marriage laws<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Important events are listed in red<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\u00a01993<\/div>\n

Hawaii Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules the state must show a compelling reason to ban same-sex marriage and orders a lower court to hear a case seeking the right of same-sex couples to marry. (May)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a01995<\/div>\n

Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R)<\/strong><\/span> signs into law the first state Defense of Marriage statute, which stipulates that Utah does not have to recognize out-of-state marriages that violate state public policy. (March)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a01996<\/div>\n

President Bill Clinton<\/strong><\/span> signs into law the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which upholds states’ rights to ban same-sex marriages and to refuse to recognize such marriages performed elsewhere. (September)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a01998<\/div>\n

Alaska Superior Court judge<\/strong><\/span> rules that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry but stays the decision pending appeals to the state Supreme Court. (February)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hawaii voters<\/strong><\/span> approve a state constitutional amendment reserving the right to define marriage to the Legislature. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alaska voters<\/strong><\/span> approve a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a01999<\/div>\n

Alaska Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules that same-sex couples cannot seek the right to marry under the state constitution in light of the 1998 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. (September)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vermont Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules that the state Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the same rights to marriage as heterosexual couples. However, the court leaves it up to the Legislature to decide how to provide marriage rights and benefits to same-sex couples. (December)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02000<\/div>\n

Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D)<\/strong><\/span> signs a civil union bill, making Vermont the first state to legally recognize same-sex couples. (April)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nebraska voters<\/strong><\/span> approve a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02001<\/div>\n

Seven same-sex Massachusetts couples<\/strong><\/span> file a lawsuit after being denied marriage licenses. In Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health, the couples seek the right to marry.<\/p>\n

\u00a02002<\/div>\n

Nevada voters<\/strong><\/span> give final approval to a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Voters first approved the ban in 2000, but state law requires a majority vote in two consecutive election years to amend the constitution. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02003<\/div>\n

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court<\/strong><\/span>, the state’s highest court, rules the state constitution guarantees equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. (Nov. 18)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02004<\/div>\n

New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey (D)<\/strong><\/span> signs a domestic partnership law granting same-sex couples certain rights, such as hospital visits. (Jan. 12)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court<\/strong><\/span> reaffirms its decision and specifies that only marriage rights – not civil unions – would provide equal protection under the state constitution. (February)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Legislature<\/strong><\/span> holds a constitutional convention to consider amending the state constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman. The measure fails to pass. (February)<\/strong><\/p>\n

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/span> authorizes city officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (February)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sandoval, N.M., county clerks<\/strong><\/span> issue licenses to 26 same-sex couples before courts intervene. New Paltz, N.Y., Mayor Jason West begins officiating same-sex marriages and Multnomah County (Portland), Ore., commissioners issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (February through March)<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Bush<\/strong><\/span> announces support for federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Feb. 24)<\/strong><\/p>\n

California Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> orders halt to San Francisco same-sex marriages. (March)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Legislature<\/strong><\/span> votes to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage but allow civil unions. Legislature must approve the measure again by 2006 before amendment can go to statewide vote. (March)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Massachusetts<\/strong><\/span> begins marrying same-sex couples. (May 17)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voters in 13 states<\/strong><\/span> – Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah – approve constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. (August through November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Montana Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules that the gay and lesbian partners of Montana University employees have the same right to health insurance benefits as their heterosexual counterparts. (December)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02005<\/div>\n

Kansas voters<\/strong><\/span> approve constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. (April)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oregon’s Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> nullifies nearly 3,000 marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in 2004 in violation of state law. (April 14)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R)<\/strong><\/span> signs bill authorizing civil unions for same-sex couples, effective Oct. 1. (April 20)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Federal judge<\/strong><\/span> strikes down a Nebraska constitutional amendment denying marriage rights to same-sex couples. (May)<\/strong><\/p>\n

California Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> lets stand a new law creating domestic partners’ registry for same-sex couples. (June)<\/strong><\/p>\n

California Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> issues first-of-its-kind ruling recognizing the co-parenting rights of same-sex couples. (August)<\/strong><\/p>\n

California state Assembly<\/strong><\/span> approves Senate-passed bill to legalize same-sex marriage, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vetoes it. (September)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Legislature<\/strong><\/span> defeats proposal at second constitutional convention to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage but allow civil unions. (September)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alaska Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules that state and local governments must offer the same benefits to employees’ same-sex partners that they do to spouses. (October)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Washington state Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> recognizes co-parenting rights of same-sex couples. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texas voters<\/strong><\/span> approve constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maine voters<\/strong><\/span> reject attempt to repeal a state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. (November)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02006<\/div>\n

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court<\/strong><\/span> upholds a 1913 state law banning out-of-state couples from marrying in Massachusetts if the marriage is illegal in their home state. (March)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alabama voters<\/strong><\/span> approve constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. (June)<\/strong><\/p>\n

New York Court of Appeals<\/strong><\/span>, the state’s highest court, rules that the state constitution does not guarantee same-sex couples equal access to the rights and privileges of marriage. (July 6)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Georgia Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> reinstates constitutional ban against same-sex marriage that had been thrown out by a lower court on procedural grounds. (July)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Connecticut judge<\/strong><\/span> rules that banning same-sex marriage does not violate same-sex couples’ constitutional rights because the state’s new civil union law provides similar protections. (July 12)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Washington state Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules that the state constitution does not guarantee same-sex couples equal access to the rights and privileges of marriage. (July 28)<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Jersey Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> rules that the state constitution guarantees same-sex couples all of the legal benefits of marriage but stops short of legalizing same-sex marriage. (Oct. 25)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Voters in seven states<\/strong><\/span> – Idaho, Colorado, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin – approve constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. (Nov. 7)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arizona<\/strong><\/span> becomes the first state to reject at the ballot box a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and other benefits for unmarried couples. (Nov. 7)<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D)<\/strong><\/span>, in the wake of a court order, signs a bill permitting same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, granting the same state benefits conferred on married couples. (December)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02007<\/div>\n

Michigan appeals court<\/strong><\/span> rules that state’s ban on gay marriage prohibits state and local governments and public universities from offering health benefits to partners in same-sex relationships. (February)<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Jersey<\/strong><\/span> begins accepting applications for civil unions. (Feb. 19)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch<\/strong><\/span> issues legal opinion advising state to recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts. (Feb. 21)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D)<\/strong><\/span> signs bill creating same-sex domestic partnership starting July 22, 2007. The law also applies to senior heterosexual couples. (April 22)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D)<\/strong><\/span> signs bill creating same-sex domestic partnerships starting January 1, 2008. (May 9)<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D)<\/strong><\/span> signs bill creating same-sex civil unions. (May 31)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Massachusetts lawmakers<\/strong><\/span> uphold the state’s court-imposed gay marriage law, protecting it from constitutional ban for at least five years. (June 14)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maryland’s highest court<\/strong><\/span> overturns a lower court decision, ruling that same-sex couples do not have a constitutional right to marry. (Sept. 18)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a02008<\/div>\n

California Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span> hears oral arguments in case determining whether the state’s domestic partnership law adequately fulfills the equal rights of gay couples. (March 4)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Washington state Legislature<\/strong><\/span> approves bill expanding rights conveyed under the state’s 2007 domestic partnership law. (March 4)<\/strong><\/p>\n

California Supreme Court<\/strong><\/span>, in a 4-3 decision, rules that the state constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. (May 15)<\/strong><\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: Stateline.org<\/a><\/em> reporting\n\u00ab Return to the gay marriage issue page<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Timeline provided by Stateline.org \u00ab Return to the gay marriage issue page \u00a0A history of same-sex marriage laws Important events are listed in red \u00a01993 Hawaii Supreme Court rules the state must show a compelling reason to ban same-sex marriage and orders a lower court to hear a case seeking the right of same-sex couples 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