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class="styl_ntaer__ZKkl3" data-activy-map="social-share-lks-article-top" data-ttid="social-share-menu"><li data-ttid="social-share-facebook" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_facebook__bOW_X"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-facebook"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-twter" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_twter__ww7sF"><a href="(and%20Can't)%20Gay%20Coupl%20Get%20Married%3F&via=nbews& target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-ptert" class="styl_em__b5A78 styl_ptert__CaMm1"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in in-share-ptert"></span></a></li><li data-ttid="social-share-email" class="styl_em__b5A78"><a href="mailto:?subject=Where Can (and Can't) Gay Coupl Get Married?& target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="styl_lk__RsJVU"><span class="in 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UTC<span> / </span>Updated<!-- --> <!-- -->May 25, 2014, 3:51 PM UTC</time></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">If the past week is any ditn, gay marriage is g to a state near you — and soon.</p><p class="">On Monday, <a href=">Oregon beme the 18th state</a> to allow same-sex marriag. On Tuday, <a href=">Pennsylvania beme the 19th</a>. The next day, platiffs Montana filed the first challenge to the ban on gay marriage there, and the day after that, the same thg happened South Dakota — leavg North Dakota as the lone state wh a ban that hasn't been challenged.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">"There really is not another issue out there that has gaed so much support so fast," said Charl Jough, natnal prs secretary for Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights anizatn that works for lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr equal rights.</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ" data-ttid="vio-player"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src="></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="42624069836"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">Gay Couple Be Fay At Last</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>May 24, 2014</span><span>01:35</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject=Gay Couple Be Fay At Last& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">The gas marriage equaly have been a victory for not jt gay upl, but for their fai.</p><p class="">Ever sce Ben Wt and Pl Rummell of Portland, Ore., started fosterg an 8-year-old named Jay 2012, the ltle boy who had been passed om foster home to foster home had one qutn: "When am I gog to have a forever fay?"</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Image: Ben Wt Wt, Pl Rummell" height="1764" width="2310"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Platiffs Ben Wt, left, and Pl Rummell walk to feral urt Eugene, Ore., on April 23, 2014. The two celebrated Oregon's lg last Monday overturng the ban on same-sex marriage, and plan to get married the near future.</span><span class="ptn__source">Don Ryan / AP</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Wt and Rummell — two platiffs Oregon's se to reverse the ban on same-sex marriage — formally adopted Jay Febary. But wasn't until Monday that the uple, who had held an rmal mment ceremony before iends and fay 2010, felt they uld tly be a fay.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">"The lg brought validy to [Jay's] forever fay, that we as a society regnize his fay is important and that we're takg on the rponsibily to raise this child that didn't get the right start at life and we're makg sure that he has every opportuny to grow and be a wonrful, healthy person," the 35-year-old Wt said, chokg up.</p><p class="">Sce Wt and Rummell met 2006, they've seen a huge change attus toward gay rights. The uple never nsired leavg Oregon, where they have fay gog back for generatns, to marry. Now they don't have to, and are planng a small ceremony shortly after Wt fish nursg school a uple of weeks.</p><p class="">"The mood the natn has changed so dramatilly," Wt said. "People's stereotyp and thoughts around this issue are startg to cmble bee they're startg to see our fai out more and visible. And younger people are begng to speak up and say, 'This is such a non-issue for .'"</p><p class="">Here is the stat of gay marriage across the Uned Stat, now permted 19 stat pl Washgton, D.C.</p><h2 class="">Where gay marriage is allowed, and the public perceptn</h2><p class="">Bis Oregon and Pennsylvania, the stat allow gay marriage: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illois, Mae, Maryland, Massachetts, Mnota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexi, New York, Rho Island, Vermont, and Washgton.</p><p class="">Three other stat allow civil unns or domtic partnerships for same-sex upl: Colorado, Nevada and Wisns.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">The trend toward gay marriage has picked up steam. Half of the stat where same-sex upl n legally marry passed their laws 2013.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x styl_noCaptn__KOOim"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="883" width="1653"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__source">msnbc</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Forty-four percent of Amerins now live a state that allows gay marriage. A Washgton Post-ABC News poll March found that <a href="|utmc=%28anic%29|utmcmd=anic|utmctr=%28not%20provid%29&__utmv=-&__utmk=229">59 percent of Amerins</a> support gay and lbians beg allowed to legally marry.</p><p class="">"Amerins across the board are supportg marriage equaly recent numbers," said Jough, of the Human Rights Campaign. "That number go up virtually every sgle day."</p><h2 class="">Where are the current gay marriage battlefields?</h2><p class="">Natnwi, there are currently more than 70 marriage equaly s that have been filed 29 stat, pl Puerto Ri, acrdg to Human Rights Campaign.</p><p class="">Meanwhile, judg 11 stat have issued lgs favor of same-sex marriage, but many of those lgs have been stayed as they proceed to appellate urts: Judg have stck down gay marriage bans Arkansas, Idaho, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Virgia. In Indiana, Kentucky, Oh and Tennsee, judg have issued more limed pro-marriage lgs.</p><sectn class="le-vio le-vio---body"><div class="le-vio__background"><div class="le-vio__player"><div class="vioPlayer styl_vioPlayer__bL8AJ styl_adNotPlayg__Q51_C styl_alignDktopBottom__4cHaO styl_alignMobileBottom__bhgkQ" data-ttid="vio-player"><div class="vioSlate"><a href=" class="allowClicksOnPreview"><picture class=""><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet="><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet="><img loadg="lazy" src="></picture></a><div class="playButtonOuter absolute absolute-fill w100 dn-prt"><div class="absolute absolute-fill w100 df ems-center ems-center-m jtify-center jtify-center-m"><div class="play le-vio__play-button"><svg class="play--in" xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 15 15" prerveAspectRat="xMidYMid" style="max-width:30px"><path d="M0 0v15l15-7.41z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div id="42660421736"></div></div></div></div><div class="le-vio__"><h2 class="le-vio__tle"><a href=">'Ground zero is here!'</a></h2><span class="le-vio__tail"><span>Dec. 24, 2013</span><span>01:59</span></span><div class="styl_share__n3Syu le-vio__share dn-prt"><div class="styl_shareExpanr__hVk8d le-vio__share-expanr styl_hoverEffect___Dj4s"><span class="styl_shareDot__9pfRZ le-vio__share-dot"></span><svg class="styl_shareClose__6BZxR le-vio__share-close" viewBox="0 0 15 15"><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="0" y2="15"></le><le class="styl_shareLe__EJUjO" x1="0" x2="15" y1="15" y2="0"></le></svg></div><div class="styl_shareList___M8wC le-vio__share-list"><a href=" class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-facebook styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="!'&via=nbews& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-twter styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a><a href="mailto:?subject='Ground zero is here!'& class="styl_shareLk__gSGN3" target="_blank" rel="noopen noreferrer"><span class="in in-email styl_shareIn__lVnRm le-vio__share-in"></span></a></div></div></div></sectn><p class="">When feral judg led this week Oregon and Pennsylvania that a <a href=">ban on same-sex marriage was discrimatory</a>, the attorneys general there cid not to appeal the lgs — a move experts thk uld bee a trend.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">"Sce public opn on the issue is changg so much, the polics of whether mak sense to ntue spendg lns of dollars taxpayer money on this issue is changg," said Jam Esseks, director of the ACLU Lbian Gay Bisexual Transgenr & AIDS Project.</p><p class="">In the g months, five feral appeals urts will nsir ne marriage equaly s om Utah, Oklahoma, Nevada, Texas, Virgia, Tennsee, Kentucky, Oh and Michigan.</p><p class="">Sce last summer's Supreme Court lg on the Defense of Marriage Act and Prop 8, two historic marriage s, not a sgle state marriage ban has survived a feral urt challenge.</p><p class="">Challeng to gay marriage bans on the state level uld bee moot if the Supreme Court cis to take up the issue, predicted to happen as early as 2015, and strik down the laws.</p><p class="">"There uld be a Supreme Court cisn sayg the Constutn requir every state to regnize gay marriage," said Michael Klarman, a Harvard law school profsor and thor of "From the Closet to the Altar: Courts, Backlash, and the Stggle for Same-Sex Marriage."</p><h2 class="">Which stat have been most ristant?</h2><p class="">Historilly, the state that polled the lowt public support for gay marriage was Mississippi, which voted agast gay marriage 86 percent to 14 percent 10 years ago, Klarman said. He said studi dite the percentage of those opposed has gone down by about 1 to 2 percent per year sce then. But gay marriage is still banned there.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">Dpe such bastns of support for the tradnal heterosexual fn of marriage, most experts don't expect the bans to last for long.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend" data-ttid="remend-wrapper"></div><p class="">"Opposn to same-sex marriage has llapsed wh astonishg speed. Sudnly, no one believ the arguments anymore," said Andrew Koppelman, a Northwtern Universy School of Law profsor and thor of "Same Sex, Different Sat: When Same-Sex Marriag Cross State L."</p><p class="">"In an creasg number of stat, same-sex marriage has been enacted by the legislature, wh no promptg at all om the judiciary. This is how mocratic polics work. Legislators tend not to vote for unpopular legislatn," he said. "Obvly, there are gog to be some Amerins that are opposed to same-sex marriage, and that's not gog to change any time soon, but their numbers are shrkg."</p><p class="">Wt, the adoptive father Oregon, hop more fai will get to experience the joy he felt when Oregon reversed their ban on same-sex marriage.</p><p class="endmark">"It was cheers and elatn and relief," he said. "I thk sometim might be hard for anybody who hasn't had to go through that stggle to totally prehend what 's like to have that moment."</p></div><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div><span></span><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div id="hfs-footer" class="dn-prt" data-activy-map="hfs-footer"><footer class="hfsf" ><div class="ner"><div class="logo"><a href="><svg class="peack" viewBox="578 62 67 39" xmlns=" fill="currentColor"><g fill-le="evenodd"><path d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M597.563 75.863l9.442 21.613-19.478-13.35c-4.887-3.24-3.896-8.79-1.19-11.237 3.83-3.24 9.245-2.12 11.226 2.97"></path><path class="feather" d="M610.57 70.93l-3.433 24.19-9.772-23c-2.113-5.75 2.64-9.516 5.81-9.583 3.632-.396 8.188 2.38 7.396 8.394"></path><path class="feather" d="M625.494 72.103l-9.707 23.067-3.102-20.82c-.265-3.17 1.716-3.237 2.443-3.832-.133-.463-1.124-.463-1.124-.463h-1.848c-.198-5.42 4.028-7.8 7.462-7.535 3.697.132 7.856 4.428 5.876 9.583"></path><path class="feather" d="M635.338 84.167L615.86 97.584l9.177-21.348c2.775-6.742 9.245-5.42 11.556-2.842 2.51 2.51 3.235 7.6-1.255 10.773"></path><path class="feather" d="M637.448 99.9h-22.515l18.29-12.756c4.49-2.975 9.244-.266 10.498 3.635 1.327 4.36-1.65 9.12-6.27 9.12"></path></g></svg></a></div><nav class="lks"><ul class="lks__wrap" data-l-2="14" data-l-3=15><li><a href=" target="_self">About</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Contact</a></li><li><a href=">Help</a></li><li><a href=">Careers</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ad Choic</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Sell My Personal Informatn</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA Notice</a></li><li><a href=">Terms of Service (Updated JULY 7, 2023)</a></li><li><a href=">NBC News Semap</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Closed Captng</a></li><li><a href=">Advertise</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Shoppg</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Personal Fance</a></li></ul></nav><div class="py"><p>© 2023 NBC UNIVERSAL</p><div class="brands"><a href="><svg viewBox="0 0 120 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-labelledby="nbc_news_logo"><tle class="nbc_news_logo">NBC News Logo

which state became the first state to permit gay marriage

In June of 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court led all state bans on same-sex marriage unnstutnal, allowg gay and lbian upl to marry natnwi. This timele highlights the chang state polici leadg up to that lg.

Contents:

FACTBOX: LIST OF STAT THAT LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE

* which state became the first state to permit gay marriage *

Clayton County "After marriage equaly passed the Supreme Court 2015, the next big victory was the lg that prohibed employment discrimatn agast gay and transgenr employe 2020, " explas Meyer.

GAY MARRIAGE

Twelve of the 50 U.S. stat pl Washgton, D.C., have legalized gay marriage. The U.S. Supreme Court was expected on Wednday to issue lgs two major s relatg to gay marriage. * which state became the first state to permit gay marriage *

Supreme Court was expected on Wednday to issue lgs two major s relatg to gay first three stat to allow gay marriage did so bee of urt lgs permtg , rather than through legislative actn or puttg the issue to voters to ci.

Sce mid-2009, six stat have approved gay marriage laws by passg laws state legislatur and three stat by ballot California, same-sex marriage was legal briefly 2008 followg a urt lg permtg . Supreme is a look at the stat that have approved gay ORDERS* MASSACHUSETTS - In 2003, Massachetts beme the first state to allow gay marriage after s hight urt led the state’s ban vlated the nstutnal rights of same-sex upl.

* NEW YORK - After a gay marriage bill failed New York’s Democratic-ntrolled Senate by a marg of 38 to 24 2009, advot retooled their strategy and applied prsure to lawmakers who had voted “no. * RHODE ISLAND - In 2013, after the state legislature and ernor approved a gay marriage bill, Rho Island beme the last of the New England stat to legalize same-sex marriage. Early Years: Same-Sex Marriage Bans In 1970, jt one year after the historic Stonewall Rts that galvanized the gay rights movement, law stunt Richard Baker and librarian Jam McConnell applied for a marriage license Gerald Nelson rejected their applitn bee they were a same-sex uple, and a trial urt upheld his cisn.

HOW GAY MARRIAGE BEME A CONSTUTNAL RIGHT

The road to full marriage equaly for same-sex upl the Uned Stat was paved wh setbacks and victori. The landmark 2015 Supreme Court se Obergefell v. Hodg ma gay marriage legal throughout the untry. * which state became the first state to permit gay marriage *

” This lg effectively blocked feral urts om lg on same-sex marriage for s, leavg the cisn solely the hands of stat, which alt blow after blow to those hopg to see gay marriage beg 1973, for stance, Maryland beme the first state to create a law that explicly f marriage as a unn between a man and woman, a belief held by many nservative relig groups.

Though the gay rights movement saw some advancements the 1970s and 1980s—such as Harvey Milk beg the first openly gay man elected to public office the untry 1977—the fight for gay marriage ma ltle headway for many years. In 1989, the San Francis Board of Supervisors passed an ordance that allowed homosexual upl and unmarried heterosexual upl to register for domtic partnerships, which granted hospal visatn rights and other years later, the District of Columbia siarly passed a new law that allowed same-sex upl to register as domtic partners.

C., 1993, the hight urt Hawaii led that a ban on same-sex marriage may vlate that state nstutn’s Equal Protectn Clse—the first time a state urt has ever ched toward makg gay marriage Hawaii Supreme Court sent the se—brought by a gay male uple and two lbian upl who were nied marriage licens 1990—back for further review to the lower First Circu Court, which 1991 origally dismissed the the state tried to prove that there was “pellg state tert” jtifyg the ban, the se would be tied up ligatn for the next three Defense of Marriage Act Opponents of gay marriage, however, did not s on their hnch. Congrs 1996 passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which Print Bill Clton signed to didn’t ban gay marriage outright but specified that only heterosexual upl uld be granted feral marriage benefs. That is, even if a state ma gay marriage legal, same-sex upl still wouldn’t be able to file e tax jotly, sponsor spo for immigratn benefs or receive spoal Social Secury payments, among many other act was a huge setback for the marriage equaly movement, but transient good news arose three months later: Hawaii Judge Kev S.

STAT ACROSS U.S. STILL CLG TO OUTDATED GAY MARRIAGE BANS

Sort through the more than 30 jurisdictns that have enacted laws allowg gays and lbians to marry. * which state became the first state to permit gay marriage *

Phg for Change: Civil Unns The next saw a whirlwd of activy on the gay marriage ont, begng wh the year 2000 when Vermont beme the first state to legalize civil unns, a legal stat that provis most of the state-level benefs of years later, Massachetts beme the first state to legalize gay marriage when the Massachetts Supreme Court led that same-sex upl had the right to marry Goodridge v. 2004 was notable for upl many other stat as well, though for the oppose reason: Ten typilly nservative stat, along wh Oregon, enacted state-level bans on gay marriage. Kansas and Texas were next 2005, and 2006 saw seven more stat passg Constutnal amendments agast gay towards the end of the , gay marriage beme legal var stat, cludg Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont (the first state to approve by legislative means) and New Hampshire.

Domtic Partnerships Throughout the and the begng of the next, California equently ma headl for seawg on the gay marriage state was the first to pass a domtic partnership statute 1999, and legislators tried to pass a same-sex marriage bill 2005 and 2007. For the first time the untry’s history, voters (rather than judg or legislators) Mae, Maryland, and Washgton approved Constutnal amendments permtg same-sex marriage marriage also beme a feral issue 2010, Massachetts, the first state to legalize gay marriage, found Sectn 3 of DOMA—the part of the 1996 law that fed marriage as a unn between one man and one woman—to be unnstutnal. Wdsor, nservative Jtice Anthony Kennedy sid wh Jtic Ruth Bar Gsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan favor of same-sex marriage rights, ultimately makg gay marriage legal across the natn June this time, was still outlawed only 13 stat, and more than 20 other untri had already legalized gay marriage, startg wh the Netherlands December 2000.

Gay and lbian upl Cambridge, Mass, beg fillg out applitns for marriage licens at 12:01 am, when Massachetts be first state untry to allow them to marry; scene scribed; photo (M) * which state became the first state to permit gay marriage *

We're here to help wh life's everyday qutnsSame-sex upl and adoptnIn 2003, Massachetts beme the first state to allow same-sex upl to adopt children, acrdg to the Boston Globe — but the journey to natnal adoptn equaly was far om 2016, a Feral District Court void a law Mississippi which prevented gay upl om adoptg children, acrdg to the Washgton Post.

In 1971, she noted, sodomy was a crime nearly every state, gays were routely persecuted and barred om public and private employment, and homosexualy was classified as a mental illns.

By now, has bee a polil cliché to wonr at how quickly public opn has changed on gay marriage recent years—support for “marriag between homosexuals, ” measured at 60 percent this year, was jt 27 percent when Gallup first asked the qutn 1996. Today, when many Amerins thk of gay people, they may thk of that nice uple the next apartment, or the fay the next pew at church, or their fellow parents the PTA. They appealed va to Natnal Gay Rights Advot (now funct), the Lbian Rights Project (now the Natnal Center for Lbian Rights), the Amerin Civil Liberti Unn, and Lambda Legal, where a young lawyer named Evan Wolfson wanted to take the se—but his boss, who were opposed to pursug gay marriage, wouldn’t let him.

The bans on gay marriage 13 stat across Ameri have been led unnstutnal. * which state became the first state to permit gay marriage *

(Dennis Cook / AP)It was a major breakthrough: the first time history that a urt had acknowledged that gay-marriage proponents’ arguments served a hearg. The cisn, he wrote, was “nothg ls than a tectonic shift, a fundamental realignment of the landspe, possibly the biggt lbian and gay rights legal victory ever.

Wolfson always believed that only the urt uld legalize gay marriage: Regardls of public opn, he firmly believed the Constutn required , and jurists would eventually have to regnize that fact. Wolfson cid some batn of the two measur—state-level ws and public support—would be necsary to get the Supreme Court to weigh on gay Baehr and Dancel, the backlash was paful. In 2004, the movement sred another major victory when a lg the Massachetts supreme urt, on a se brought by Bonto, ma the first state to allow gays to marry.

For every step forward for gay marriage, there seemed to be many more steps Baehr and Dancel talked, they slipped to the old, easy timacy of long-ago ex-lovers. The same clerk who refed to give them a marriage license, Irene Takeda, was still on duty to give Dancel a legal marriage license when Hawaii legalized gay marriage and Dancel married Kathryn Dennis November we talked, I noticed some faiar fac havg dner at the next table.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* WHICH STATE BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO PERMIT GAY MARRIAGE

Factbox: List of stat that legalized gay marriage | Rters .

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