Sidebar: The State of Marriage

·         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. Suprem 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

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Publication date: May 27, 2014