The two same-sex marriage cases in front of the Court are:

Select a case to see the decision or see the current state of same-sex marriage.

As of today, the status of same-sex marriage in each state is:

This case challenges Prop. 8, which amended the California state constitution to allow only opposite-sex couples to marry.

This case challenges the federal definition that marriage — and the associated benefits — is between a man and a woman.

    If the Supreme Court upheld Prop. 8:

    California and other states will continue to have the power to ban same-sex marriages. No states would have been affected.

    If the Supreme Court struck down Prop. 8:

    on the merits that states cannot withdraw the right to same-sex marriage once it has been extended, only California, highlighted below, would have been affected.

    If the Supreme Court struck down Prop. 8:

    on the merits that states cannot provide benefits of marriage through civil unions and withhold the label “marriage,” seven states, highlighted below, would have been affected.

    If the Supreme Court struck down Prop. 8:

    on the merits that the constitutional right of marriage must be extended to same-sex couples, marriage bans in 35 states, highlighted below, would have been affected.

    The Supreme Court says Prop. 8 supporters lack standing:

    The judgment of the Ninth Circuit is vacated and the case is remanded. Same-sex marriages in California are likely to resume. How the ruling applies elsewhere would require additional litigation.

    The Supreme Court overturns DOMA:

    The law is considered unconstitutional because it violated equal protection. As a result, federal benefits available to heterosexual couples must be extended to same-sex couples in the 12 states and the District of Columbia, highlighted below, where same-sex marriages are legal.

    If the Supreme Court upheld DOMA:

    Congress has the power to define marriage for federal purposes as between one man and one woman. No states would have been affected.

    • Status:
    • Legalized same-sex marriage
    • Allows civil unions/partnerships
    • Bans same-sex marriage

    West

    Midwest

    South

    Northeast

    SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures, staff reports. Regions defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Published June 19, 2013