What States Allow Gay Marriage in the United States
The United States has seen a significant shift in its stance on same-sex marriage over the past few decades. With the landmark Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, same-sex marriage was legally recognized across the nation. However, the journey to this point was long and varied, with different states taking different approaches to legalizing gay marriage. This article explores the states that allowed gay marriage before the Supreme Court ruling and those that have since followed suit.
Pre-Obergefell States
Before the Supreme Court decision, several states had already legalized gay marriage. These states included:
1. Massachusetts: In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legally recognize same-sex marriage.
2. Connecticut: Following Massachusetts, Connecticut became the second state to allow gay marriage in 2008.
3. Iowa: In 2009, Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right, making it the third state to recognize gay marriage.
4. Vermont: In 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to allow gay marriage, doing so through a legislative process.
5. New Hampshire: In 2009, New Hampshire became the fifth state to recognize gay marriage, also through a legislative process.
6. Maine: In 2009, Maine became the sixth state to allow gay marriage, also through a legislative process.
7. Maryland: In 2012, Maryland became the first state to approve gay marriage through a popular vote.
8. Washington: In the same year, Washington became the second state to approve gay marriage through a popular vote.
9. New York: In 2011, New York became the sixth state to allow gay marriage, following a legislative process.
10. Rhode Island: In 2013, Rhode Island became the tenth state to recognize gay marriage, following a legislative process.
Post-Obergefell States
After the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the remaining states that had not yet legalized gay marriage were required to do so. This left a total of 13 states that had not yet recognized same-sex marriage. However, following the ruling, these states began to change their laws:
1. Delaware: In 2013, Delaware became the eleventh state to allow gay marriage.
2. Hawaii: In 2013, Hawaii became the twelfth state to recognize gay marriage.
3. Illinois: In 2014, Illinois became the thirteenth state to allow gay marriage.
4. New Jersey: In 2013, New Jersey became the fourteenth state to recognize gay marriage.
5. Minnesota: In 2013, Minnesota became the fifteenth state to allow gay marriage.
6. Oregon: In 2014, Oregon became the sixteenth state to recognize gay marriage.
7. Pennsylvania: In 2014, Pennsylvania became the seventeenth state to allow gay marriage.
8. West Virginia: In 2014, West Virginia became the eighteenth state to recognize gay marriage.
9. Indiana: In 2014, Indiana became the nineteenth state to allow gay marriage.
10. Wisconsin: In 2014, Wisconsin became the twentieth state to recognize gay marriage.
11. Michigan: In 2014, Michigan became the twenty-first state to allow gay marriage.
12. Kentucky: In 2014, Kentucky became the twenty-second state to recognize gay marriage.
13. Oklahoma: In 2014, Oklahoma became the twenty-third state to allow gay marriage.
14. Tennessee: In 2014, Tennessee became the twenty-fourth state to recognize gay marriage.
15. Texas: In 2014, Texas became the twenty-fifth state to allow gay marriage.
16. Virginia: In 2014, Virginia became the twenty-sixth state to recognize gay marriage.
17. North Carolina: In 2014, North Carolina became the twenty-seventh state to allow gay marriage.
18. Arkansas: In 2014, Arkansas became the twenty-eighth state to recognize gay marriage.
19. Georgia: In 2014, Georgia became the twenty-ninth state to allow gay marriage.
20. Louisiana: In 2014, Louisiana became the thirtieth state to recognize gay marriage.
21. Mississippi: In 2014, Mississippi became the thirty-first state to allow gay marriage.
22. Alabama: In 2015, Alabama became the thirty-second state to recognize gay marriage.
23. Missouri: In 2014, Missouri became the thirty-third state to allow gay marriage.
24. Montana: In 2015, Montana became the thirty-fourth state to recognize gay marriage.
25. Nebraska: In 2015, Nebraska became the thirty-fifth state to allow gay marriage.
26. South Dakota: In 2015, South Dakota became the thirty-sixth state to recognize gay marriage.
27. Kansas: In 2015, Kansas became the thirty-seventh state to allow gay marriage.
28. Idaho: In 2015, Idaho became the thirty-eighth state to recognize gay marriage.
29. Utah: In 2015, Utah became the thirty-ninth state to allow gay marriage.
30. Wyoming: In 2015, Wyoming became the fortieth state to recognize gay marriage.
Conclusion
The journey to legalizing gay marriage in the United States has been a long and complex one. While the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges brought about a national recognition of same-sex marriage, the process leading up to that point varied greatly from state to state. The list of states that allowed gay marriage before and after the Supreme Court ruling reflects the diverse approaches that states took in addressing this issue. As the landscape of same-sex marriage continues to evolve, it is essential to recognize the progress that has been made and the ongoing efforts to ensure equality for all.
