It only takes a spark to start a fire that turns into an inferno, which become difficult to put out.
2003
November 18: United States: Massachusetts: decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health
2004
February 12: United States, California: Newly-elected San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom issues the first same-sex marriage certificates in the US, purely as an exercise of executive power. These certificates were later nullified by the California Supreme Court.
February 20: In New Mexico, Sandoval County clerk Victoria Dunlap issues marriage licenses to more than 60 same-sex couples until stopped by the state attorney general later that day, declaring them invalid; 26 couples were married by local pastors on the courthouse steps that day, and most of the other couples who received licenses married elsewhere. A district court later issued an injunction prohibiting Dunlap from issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Dunlap’s motion to the state supreme court to lift the restraining order was rejected on July 8.
May 17: United States: Massachusetts – first legal same-sex marriages in the US performed.
September 18: United States: Louisiana voters ratified a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.
October: United States: Louisiana – District Judge William Morvant of Baton Rouge struck down the amendment, approved by voters in September, on the grounds that it violated a provision of the state constitution requiring that an amendment to cover only one subject; the amendment prevented the state from recognizing any legal status for common-law relationships, domestic partnerships and civil unions between both gay and heterosexual couples.
November 3: United States Results of November 2 vote confirms that state constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage are passed in eleven states: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, and Utah. The measures in Oregon, Mississippi, and Montana bar same-sex marriage only; those in the other states bar civil unions and domestic partnerships as well; and Ohio bars granting any benefits whatsoever to same-sex couples.
2005
January 19: United States: The Louisiana Supreme Court reinstated the anti-gay marriage amendment that had been struck by a District Judge in October, 2004.
March 14: United States: Judge Richard Kramer of San Francisco County Superior Court said California’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.
April 7: United States: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg orders city agencies to recognize legal same-sex marriages from other states and countries. This order will give same-sex couples who married in places such as Massachusetts or Canada rights that couples recognized under the city’s existing domestic partnership law do not have, including the power to make life-or-death medical decisions. Same-sex spouses will also be able to collect worker’s compensation if a partner dies.
April 7: United States: The Connecticut State Senate passes legislation that legalizes same-sex civil unions. On April 13, the bill is passed through the Connecticut House of Representatives with the added "marriage is between a man and a woman" definition. The bill is sent back to the Senate for approval. Finally, on April 20, the State Senate approved the amended bill by a vote of 26-8 and Republican Governor Jodi Rell signed the same-sex civil union bill into law.
May 12: United States: A federal judge in Omaha strikes down Nebraska’s sweeping ban on same-sex marriages, civil unions, domestic partnerships, and other same-sex relationships. U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled that the ban, known as Initiative 416, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This is the first state constitutional provision banning same-sex marriage to be ruled unconstitutional.
November 8: United States: Texas becomes the 18th state to write a ban on same-sex marriage into its constitution, defining marriage as "the union of one man and one woman" and prohibiting the state from "creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage," when voters approved the amendment in the November elections.
2006
July 6: New York State Court of Appeals rules that the NYS Constitution does not mandate recognition of same sex marriage.
July 26: Washington State Supreme Court issues its decision upholding state DOMA laws
October 25: New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously rules in favor of marriage equality; 4–3 say decision whether to rewrite marriage law or write civil union law for homosexuals (separate but equal debate) is left to the legislature in the next six months. The three dissenting justices dissented because they believed same-sex couples should have the full right to marry.
November 7: In the U.S. elections, Arizona rejects an initiative banning gay marriage. The first state in the country to do so. However, seven other states pass marriage amendments.
2007
April 21: The state of Washington legalizes domestic partnerships. The law went into effect on July 22, 2007.
May 9: The state of Oregon legalizes domestic partnerships. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2008 (but was delayed 48 hours prior to coming into affect, then after a Court Case in February it was allowed to come into affect from 1 February 2008).
May 31: The state of New Hampshire legalizes civil unions, to take effect on January 1, 2008.
June 14: In the Massachusetts legislature, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage is defeated in a vote of 154 against and 46 in favor. 50 votes in favor would have been required for the amendment to go on the ballot for a popular vote in the 2008 elections.
August 30: Iowa’s Defense of Marriage Act was struck down as unconstitutional as a result of a legal challenge. The state has announced plans to appeal, but couples began applying for marriage licenses immediately in anticipation of an injunction. About 20 couples obtained marriage licenses and one couple married before the judge issued a stay of his ruling pending appeal.
September 18: Maryland Court of Appeals upholds state law banning same-sex marriage, overturning a lower court ruling.
2008
January 1: Civil unions in New Hampshire take effect.
February 1: Domestic partnership in Oregon take effect after court rescinds injunction.
May 15: Supreme Court of California legalizes same-sex marriage in the landmark In re Marriage Cases ruling.
May 22: Maryland governor Martin O’Malley signs into law two bills establishing limited domestic partnership rights in that state.
June 16: California state supreme court’s ruling on Same-sex marriage in becomes effective at 5:01 pm.
July 1: Maryland domestic partnership laws become effective.
October 10: Supreme Court of Connecticut legalizes same-sex marriage
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_same-sex_marriage
Recent Comments