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What states have which laws regarding marriage equality?
While two states (Massachusetts and California) uphold the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, there are four states — Massachusetts, California, Rhode Island, and New York — that officially pledge non-discrimination against marriages between same-sex couples.
- Because New Mexico’s laws do not prohibit marriage between same-sex couples, there is no impediment to New Mexico same-sex couples marrying in Massachusetts or California and having their marriage honored in New Mexico. While Massachusett’s government directed that licenses could be given to New Mexico couples, the New Mexico state government has not taken action to ensure they will be honored.
Anti-gay initiatives in California, Florida, and Arizona have qualified for the ballot in November 2008. Each would write discrimination into their state constitutions, and California’s would take away the equality and fairness achieved by California’s Supreme Court ruling to uphold the freedom to marry in May 2008.
Various states now offer broad protections short of marriage including civil unions in Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Hampshire and broad domestic partnerships in California and Oregon. Smaller packages of protections for same-sex couples are available in Maine, Hawaii, Washington, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. All of these states continue to work toward marriage.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in support of ending the exclusion of gay couples from marriage.
(View the Resolution) (Read the Press Release)Learn more about what's going on in New York and take action now! (Link)
As you may know, Maine's constitution provides for referendum on bills enacted into law. (Link)
The Human Rights Campaign released a statement and a factual rebuttal on a television spot produced by the National Organization for Marriage. In the ad, actors make disproven claims about marriage for lesbian and gay couples. (Link)
