The rapid rise of legal same-sex marriage
Most of the states where same-sex marriage is legal came after the Supreme Court overturned a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013. Judges across the country decided the reasoning of the ruling meant that state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional.
In 2002...
The road toward legalization
Same-sex marriage advocates won a major victory in 1993 when the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the denial of marriage to gay couples might violate the state constitution. But the win was short-lived. Hawaii never allowed the marriages to take place, and it produced a backlash elsewhere. Some states began to pass laws and amend their constitutions to forbid gay marriage, and Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which said the federal government would recognize only marriages between one man and one woman.
1993: Hawaii Supreme Court says ban on same-sex marriages might violate the state constitution
1993
1994
1995
1996: The Defense of Marriage Act is passed, barring same-sex married couples from recognition
by the federal government
1996
1997
1998
1999
1996-2013: Same-sex marriage not recognized by federal government
2000
2001
2002
2003: Massachusetts becomes first state to legalize same-sex marriage, based on a ruling from its highest court
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2013: Courts begin to strike down state bans on gay marriage after the Supreme Court invalidates a key portion of DOMA
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015: In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed gay couples’ right to marry
2015
2015: In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed gay couples’ right to marry
2003: Massachusetts becomes first state to legalize same-sex marriage, based on a ruling from its highest court
1993: Hawaii Supreme Court says ban on same-sex marriages might violate the state constitution
’95
’00
’05
’10
’15
’93
Same-sex marriage not recognized by federal law
1996: The Defense of Marriage Act is passed, barring same-sex married couples from recognition
by the federal government
2013: Courts begin to strike down state bans on gay marriage after the Supreme Court invalidates
a key portion of DOMA
2003: Massachusetts becomes first state to legalize same-sex marriage, based on a ruling from its highest court
2015: In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed gay couples’ right to marry
1993: Hawaii Supreme Court says ban on same-sex marriages might violate the state constitution
’95
’00
’05
’10
’15
’93
Same-sex marriage not recognized by federal law
2013: Courts begin to strike down state bans on gay marriage after the Supreme Court invalidates
a key portion of DOMA
1996: The Defense of Marriage Act is passed, barring same-sex married couples from recognition
by the federal government