The legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the United States expanded from one state in 2004 (Massachusetts) to all 50 states in 2015 through various court rulings, state legislation, and direct popular vote. States have separate marriage laws, which must adhere to rulings by the Supreme Court of the United States that recognize marriage as a fundamental right guaranteed by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as first established in the 1967 landmark civil rights case of Loving v. Virginia.
Civil rights campaigning in support of marriage without distinction as to sex or sexual orientation began in the 1970s. In 1972, the later-overturned Baker v. Nelson saw the Supreme Court of the United States decline to become involved. The issue became prominent from around 1993, when the Supreme Court of Hawaii ruled in Baehr v. Lewin that it was unconstitutional under the Constitution of Hawaii for the state to abridge marriage on the basis of sex. That ruling led to federal and state actions to explicitly abridge marriage on the basis of sex in order to prevent the marriages of same-sex couples from being recognized by law, the most prominent of which was the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that it was unconstitutional under the Constitution of Massachusetts for the state to abridge marriage on the basis of sex. From 2004 through to 2015, as the tide of public opinion continued to move towards support of same-sex marriage, various state court rulings, state legislation, direct popular votes (referendums and initiatives), and federal court rulings established same-sex marriage in thirty-six of the fifty states.
The most prominent supporters of same-sex marriage are human rights and civil rights organizations, while the most prominent opponents are religious groups, though some religious organizations support marriage equality. The first two decades of the 21st century saw same-sex marriage receive support from prominent figures in the civil rights movement, including Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Julian Bond, and Mildred Loving. In May 2012, the NAACP, the leading African-American civil rights organization, declared its support for same-sex marriage and stated that it is a civil right.
In June 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down DOMA for violating the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution in the landmark civil rights case of United States v. Windsor, leading to federal recognition of same-sex marriage, with federal benefits for married couples connected to either the state of residence or the state in which the marriage was solemnized. In June 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark civil rights case of Obergefell v. Hodges that the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples, with all the accompanying rights and responsibilities, is guaranteed by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. On December 13, 2022, DOMA was repealed and replaced by the Respect for Marriage Act, which recognizes and protects same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law and in interstate relations.
Gallup found that nationwide public support for same-sex marriage reached 50% in 2011, 60% in 2015, and 70% in 2021.
A study of nationwide data from January 1999 to December 2015 revealed that the establishment of same-sex marriage is associated with a significant reduction in the rate of attempted suicide among teens, with the effect being concentrated among teens of a minority sexual orientation, resulting in approximately 134,000 fewer teens attempting suicide each year in the United States.
Tables
States and territories with same-sex marriage before Obergefell v. Hodges· Legal issues › Local laws prior to <i>Obergefell v. Hodges</i>
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Alaska
Alaska
State or territory
Alaska
Population
736,732
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 12, 2014
Date Effective
October 17, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska ruling in Hamby v. Parnell.
Arizona
Arizona
State or territory
Arizona
Population
6,731,484
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 17, 2014
Date Effective
October 17, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona ruling in Connolly v. Jeanes and in Majors v. Horne.
California
California
State or territory
California
Population
38,802,500
Date of Enactment/Ruling
May 15, 2008
Date Effective
June 16, 2008
Legalization method
State court decision → overturned by constitutional ban
Details
California Supreme Court ruling in In re Marriage Cases. Ceased via state constitutional amendment after Proposition 8 passed on November 5, 2008.
August 4, 2010
August 4, 2010
State or territory
August 4, 2010
Population
June 28, 2013
Date of Enactment/Ruling
Federal court decision → legislative statute
Date Effective
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, finding Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Stayed during appeal, affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as Perry v. Brown. Certiorari granted and appealed as Hollingsworth v. Perry to the U.S. Supreme Court; the high court dismissed Hollingsworth for lack of standing and vacated the Ninth Circuit decision below, resulting with the original decision in Perry left intact. Gender-neutral marriage bill passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of California took effect on January 1, 2015.
Colorado
Colorado
State or territory
Colorado
Population
5,355,866
Date of Enactment/Ruling
July 9, 2014
Date Effective
October 7, 2014
Legalization method
State court decision → legislative statute
Details
Colorado district court ruling in Brinkman v. Long and statutorily codified since August 2, 2019.
July 23, 2014
July 23, 2014
State or territory
July 23, 2014
Population
Federal court decision → legislative statute
Date of Enactment/Ruling
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado ruling in Burns v. Hickenlooper and statutorily codified since August 2, 2019.
Connecticut
Connecticut
State or territory
Connecticut
Population
3,596,677
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 10, 2008
Date Effective
November 12, 2008
Legalization method
State court decision → legislative statute
Details
Connecticut Supreme Court ruling in Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health and statutorily codified since October 1, 2010.
Delaware
Delaware
State or territory
Delaware
Population
935,614
Date of Enactment/Ruling
May 7, 2013
Date Effective
July 1, 2013
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the Delaware General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of Delaware.
District of Columbia
District of Columbia
State or territory
District of Columbia
Population
658,893
Date of Enactment/Ruling
December 18, 2009
Date Effective
March 9, 2010
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the Council of the District of Columbia.
Florida
Florida
State or territory
Florida
Population
19,893,297
Date of Enactment/Ruling
August 21, 2014
Date Effective
January 6, 2015
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida ruling in Brenner v. Scott.
Guam
Guam
State or territory
Guam
Population
165,124 (not included in population total)
Date of Enactment/Ruling
June 5, 2015
Date Effective
June 9, 2015
Legalization method
Binding federal court precedent → actions of territorial officials → federal court decision → legislative statute
Details
Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson deferred to the controlling precedent set by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Latta v. Otter, ordering that marriage licenses for same-sex couples be processed immediately beginning on April 15, 2015. District Court of Guam ruling in Aguero v. Calvo upholding the earlier decision by the Ninth Circuit and statutorily codified since August 27, 2015.
Hawaii
Hawaii
State or territory
Hawaii
Population
1,419,561
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 13, 2013
Date Effective
December 2, 2013
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Hawaii Marriage Equality Act passed by the Hawaii State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii.
Idaho
Idaho
State or territory
Idaho
Population
1,634,464
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 7, 2014
Date Effective
October 15, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho ruling in Latta v. Otter, upheld by the Ninth Circuit.
Illinois
Illinois
State or territory
Illinois
Population
12,880,580
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 20, 2013
Date Effective
June 1, 2014
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of Illinois.
Indiana
Indiana
State or territory
Indiana
Population
6,596,855
Date of Enactment/Ruling
September 4, 2014
Date Effective
October 6, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana ruling in Baskin v. Bogan. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's ruling.
Iowa
Iowa
State or territory
Iowa
Population
3,107,126
Date of Enactment/Ruling
April 3, 2009
Date Effective
April 27, 2009
Legalization method
State court decision
Details
Iowa Supreme Court ruling in Varnum v. Brien. One same-sex couple obtained a marriage licensed and married before initial ruling was stayed.
Maine
Maine
State or territory
Maine
Population
1,330,089
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 6, 2012
Date Effective
December 29, 2012
Legalization method
Initiative statute
Details
Proposed by initiative as referendum Question 1, approved.
Maryland
Maryland
State or territory
Maryland
Population
5,976,407
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 6, 2012
Date Effective
January 1, 2013
Legalization method
Legislative statute → referendum
Details
Civil Marriage Protection Act passed by the Maryland General Assembly; petitioned to referendum Question 6, upheld.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
State or territory
Massachusetts
Population
6,745,408
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 18, 2003
Date Effective
May 17, 2004
Legalization method
State court decision
Details
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.
Minnesota
Minnesota
State or territory
Minnesota
Population
5,457,173
Date of Enactment/Ruling
May 14, 2013
Date Effective
August 1, 2013
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of Minnesota.
Montana
Montana
State or territory
Montana
Population
1,023,579
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 19, 2014
Date Effective
November 19, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Montana ruling in Rolando v. Fox.
Nevada
Nevada
State or territory
Nevada
Population
2,839,099
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 7, 2014
Date Effective
October 9, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision → legislative statute
Details
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Sevcik v. Sandoval. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada's ruling and statutorily codified since July 1, 2017.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
State or territory
New Hampshire
Population
1,326,813
Date of Enactment/Ruling
June 3, 2009
Date Effective
January 1, 2010
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the New Hampshire General Court and signed into law by the Governor of New Hampshire.
New Jersey
New Jersey
State or territory
New Jersey
Population
8,938,175
Date of Enactment/Ruling
September 27, 2013
Date Effective
October 21, 2013
Legalization method
State court decision → legislative statute
Details
New Jersey Superior Court ruling in Garden State Equality v. Dow; appellate courts affirmed by refusal to accept appeal; statutorily codified since January 10, 2022.
New Mexico
New Mexico
State or territory
New Mexico
Population
2,085,572
Date of Enactment/Ruling
December 19, 2013
Date Effective
December 19, 2013
Legalization method
State court decision → legislative statute
Details
New Mexico Supreme Court ruling in Griego v. Oliver and statutorily codified since July 1, 2019.
New York
New York
State or territory
New York
Population
19,746,227
Date of Enactment/Ruling
June 24, 2011
Date Effective
July 24, 2011
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Marriage Equality Act passed by the New York State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
North Carolina
North Carolina
State or territory
North Carolina
Population
9,943,964
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 10, 2014
Date Effective
October 10, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision → legislative statute
Details
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina ruling in General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper and statutorily codified since July 12, 2017.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma
State or territory
Oklahoma
Population
3,878,051
Date of Enactment/Ruling
July 18, 2014
Date Effective
October 6, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma ruling in Bishop v. Oklahoma. The Tenth Circuit affirmed the ruling in Bishop v. Smith.
Oregon
Oregon
State or territory
Oregon
Population
3,970,239
Date of Enactment/Ruling
May 19, 2014
Date Effective
May 19, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision → legislative statute
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon ruling in Geiger v. Kitzhaber and statutorily codified since January 1, 2016.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
State or territory
Pennsylvania
Population
12,787,209
Date of Enactment/Ruling
May 20, 2014
Date Effective
May 20, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruling in Whitewood v. Wolf.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
State or territory
Rhode Island
Population
1,055,173
Date of Enactment/Ruling
May 2, 2013
Date Effective
August 1, 2013
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of Rhode Island.
South Carolina
South Carolina
State or territory
South Carolina
Population
4,832,482
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 12, 2014
Date Effective
November 20, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina ruling in Condon v. Haley.
Utah
Utah
State or territory
Utah
Population
2,942,902
Date of Enactment/Ruling
June 25, 2014
Date Effective
October 6, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Utah ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert. Marriages licensed between December 20, 2013, and January 6, 2014. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert.
Vermont
Vermont
State or territory
Vermont
Population
626,562
Date of Enactment/Ruling
April 7, 2009
Date Effective
September 1, 2009
Legalization method
Legislative statute
Details
Passed by the Vermont General Assembly, overriding Governor Jim Douglas' veto.
Virginia
Virginia
State or territory
Virginia
Population
8,326,289
Date of Enactment/Ruling
July 28, 2014
Date Effective
October 6, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision → Legislative statute
Details
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruling in Bostic v. Rainey. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. district court ruling in Bostic v. Schaefer and statutorily codified since July 1, 2020.
Washington
Washington
State or territory
Washington
Population
7,061,530
Date of Enactment/Ruling
November 6, 2012
Date Effective
December 6, 2012
Legalization method
Legislative statute → referendum
Details
Passed by the Washington State Legislature; suspended by petition and referred to Referendum 74, approved.
West Virginia
West Virginia
State or territory
West Virginia
Population
1,850,326
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 9, 2014
Date Effective
October 9, 2014
Legalization method
Binding federal court precedent → actions of state officials → federal court decision
Details
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, recognizing the precedent established by the Fourth Circuit ruling in Bostic v. Schaefer, dropped their defense of the state's same-sex marriage ban. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in McGee v. Cole overturned West Virginia's statutory ban on same-sex marriage on November 7, 2014.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
State or territory
Wisconsin
Population
5,757,564
Date of Enactment/Ruling
September 4, 2014
Date Effective
October 6, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruling in Wolf v. Walker. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's ruling.
Wyoming
Wyoming
State or territory
Wyoming
Population
584,153
Date of Enactment/Ruling
October 17, 2014
Date Effective
October 21, 2014
Legalization method
Federal court decision
Details
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming ruling in Guzzo v. Mead.
Total
Total
State or territory
Total
Population
221,434,635 (69.4% of the U.S. population)
Ranked list
State or territory
Population
Date of Enactment/Ruling
Date Effective
Legalization method
Details
Alaska
736,732
October 12, 2014
October 17, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of Alaska ruling in Hamby v. Parnell.
Arizona
6,731,484
October 17, 2014
October 17, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of Arizona ruling in Connolly v. Jeanes and in Majors v. Horne.
California
38,802,500
May 15, 2008
June 16, 2008
State court decision → overturned by constitutional ban
California Supreme Court ruling in In re Marriage Cases. Ceased via state constitutional amendment after Proposition 8 passed on November 5, 2008.
August 4, 2010
June 28, 2013
Federal court decision → legislative statute
District Court for the Northern District of California ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, finding Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Stayed during appeal, affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as Perry v. Brown. Certiorari granted and appealed as Hollingsworth v. Perry to the U.S. Supreme Court; the high court dismissed Hollingsworth for lack of standing and vacated the Ninth Circuit decision below, resulting with the original decision in Perry left intact. Gender-neutral marriage bill passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of California took effect on January 1, 2015.
Colorado
5,355,866
July 9, 2014
October 7, 2014
State court decision → legislative statute
Colorado district court ruling in Brinkman v. Long and statutorily codified since August 2, 2019.
July 23, 2014
Federal court decision → legislative statute
District Court for the District of Colorado ruling in Burns v. Hickenlooper and statutorily codified since August 2, 2019.
Connecticut
3,596,677
October 10, 2008
November 12, 2008
State court decision → legislative statute
Connecticut Supreme Court ruling in Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health and statutorily codified since October 1, 2010.
Delaware
935,614
May 7, 2013
July 1, 2013
Legislative statute
Passed by the Delaware General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of Delaware.
District of Columbia
658,893
December 18, 2009
March 9, 2010
Legislative statute
Passed by the Council of the District of Columbia.
Florida
19,893,297
August 21, 2014
January 6, 2015
Federal court decision
District Court for the Northern District of Florida ruling in Brenner v. Scott.
Guam
165,124 (not included in population total)
June 5, 2015
June 9, 2015
Binding federal court precedent → actions of territorial officials → federal court decision → legislative statute
Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson deferred to the controlling precedent set by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Latta v. Otter, ordering that marriage licenses for same-sex couples be processed immediately beginning on April 15, 2015. District Court of Guam ruling in Aguero v. Calvo upholding the earlier decision by the Ninth Circuit and statutorily codified since August 27, 2015.
Hawaii
1,419,561
November 13, 2013
December 2, 2013
Legislative statute
Hawaii Marriage Equality Act passed by the Hawaii State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii.
Idaho
1,634,464
October 7, 2014
October 15, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of Idaho ruling in Latta v. Otter, upheld by the Ninth Circuit.
Illinois
12,880,580
November 20, 2013
June 1, 2014
Legislative statute
Passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of Illinois.
Indiana
6,596,855
September 4, 2014
October 6, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the Southern District of Indiana ruling in Baskin v. Bogan. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's ruling.
Iowa
3,107,126
April 3, 2009
April 27, 2009
State court decision
Iowa Supreme Court ruling in Varnum v. Brien. One same-sex couple obtained a marriage licensed and married before initial ruling was stayed.
Maine
1,330,089
November 6, 2012
December 29, 2012
Initiative statute
Proposed by initiative as referendum Question 1, approved.
Maryland
5,976,407
November 6, 2012
January 1, 2013
Legislative statute → referendum
Civil Marriage Protection Act passed by the Maryland General Assembly; petitioned to referendum Question 6, upheld.
Massachusetts
6,745,408
November 18, 2003
May 17, 2004
State court decision
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.
Minnesota
5,457,173
May 14, 2013
August 1, 2013
Legislative statute
Passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed into law by the Governor of Minnesota.
Montana
1,023,579
November 19, 2014
November 19, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of Montana ruling in Rolando v. Fox.
Nevada
2,839,099
October 7, 2014
October 9, 2014
Federal court decision → legislative statute
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Sevcik v. Sandoval. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada's ruling and statutorily codified since July 1, 2017.
New Hampshire
1,326,813
June 3, 2009
January 1, 2010
Legislative statute
Passed by the New Hampshire General Court and signed into law by the Governor of New Hampshire.
New Jersey
8,938,175
September 27, 2013
October 21, 2013
State court decision → legislative statute
New Jersey Superior Court ruling in Garden State Equality v. Dow; appellate courts affirmed by refusal to accept appeal; statutorily codified since January 10, 2022.
New Mexico
2,085,572
December 19, 2013
December 19, 2013
State court decision → legislative statute
New Mexico Supreme Court ruling in Griego v. Oliver and statutorily codified since July 1, 2019.
New York
19,746,227
June 24, 2011
July 24, 2011
Legislative statute
Marriage Equality Act passed by the New York State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
North Carolina
9,943,964
October 10, 2014
October 10, 2014
Federal court decision → legislative statute
District Court for the Western District of North Carolina ruling in General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper and statutorily codified since July 12, 2017.
Oklahoma
3,878,051
July 18, 2014
October 6, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma ruling in Bishop v. Oklahoma. The Tenth Circuit affirmed the ruling in Bishop v. Smith.
Oregon
3,970,239
May 19, 2014
May 19, 2014
Federal court decision → legislative statute
District Court for the District of Oregon ruling in Geiger v. Kitzhaber and statutorily codified since January 1, 2016.
Pennsylvania
12,787,209
May 20, 2014
May 20, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruling in Whitewood v. Wolf.
Rhode Island
1,055,173
May 2, 2013
August 1, 2013
Legislative statute
Passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of Rhode Island.
South Carolina
4,832,482
November 12, 2014
November 20, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of South Carolina ruling in Condon v. Haley.
Utah
2,942,902
June 25, 2014
October 6, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of Utah ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert. Marriages licensed between December 20, 2013, and January 6, 2014. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert.
Vermont
626,562
April 7, 2009
September 1, 2009
Legislative statute
Passed by the Vermont General Assembly, overriding Governor Jim Douglas' veto.
Virginia
8,326,289
July 28, 2014
October 6, 2014
Federal court decision → Legislative statute
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruling in Bostic v. Rainey. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. district court ruling in Bostic v. Schaefer and statutorily codified since July 1, 2020.
Washington
7,061,530
November 6, 2012
December 6, 2012
Legislative statute → referendum
Passed by the Washington State Legislature; suspended by petition and referred to Referendum 74, approved.
West Virginia
1,850,326
October 9, 2014
October 9, 2014
Binding federal court precedent → actions of state officials → federal court decision
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, recognizing the precedent established by the Fourth Circuit ruling in Bostic v. Schaefer, dropped their defense of the state's same-sex marriage ban. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in McGee v. Cole overturned West Virginia's statutory ban on same-sex marriage on November 7, 2014.
Wisconsin
5,757,564
September 4, 2014
October 6, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruling in Wolf v. Walker. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's ruling.
Wyoming
584,153
October 17, 2014
October 21, 2014
Federal court decision
District Court for the District of Wyoming ruling in Guzzo v. Mead.
Total
of the U.S. population)
· Marriage statistics
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Year
Year
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
Year
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
male
couple
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
female
couple
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
male
couple
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
female
couple
2005
2005
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2005
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
34.8%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
39.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
10.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
24.7%
2006
2006
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2006
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
37.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
35.7%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
10.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
24.8%
2007
2007
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2007
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
32.4%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
38.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
10.1%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
24.6%
2008
2008
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2008
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
33.9%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
27.9%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
7.4%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
25.9%
2009
2009
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2009
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
28.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
28.9%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
6.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
21.9%
2010
2010
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2010
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
25.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
26.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
6.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
23.0%
2011
2011
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2011
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
26.1%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
26.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
6.1%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
21.9%
2012
2012
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2012
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
25.3%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
27.7%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
6.4%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
22.8%
2013
2013
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2013
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
18.8%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
27.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
5.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
20.5%
2014
2014
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2014
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
16.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
26.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
6.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
21.9%
2015
2015
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2015
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
13.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
26.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
6.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
22.1%
2016
2016
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2016
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
12.8%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
25.5%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
5.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
20.4%
2017
2017
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2017
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
11.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
25.5%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
4.7%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
21.2%
2018
2018
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2018
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
12.4%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
25.5%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
4.9%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
19.3%
2019
2019
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2019
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
9.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
27.0%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
3.9%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
19.7%
2020
2020
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2020
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
Not available
2021
2021
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2021
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
8.9%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
26.2%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
3.5%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
17.6%
2022
2022
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2022
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
8.1%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
27.1%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
2.6%
Percent of same-sex households with children
U.S. Census Bureau
16.2%
Ranked list
Percent of same-sex households with children U.S. Census Bureau
Married
Unmarried
Year
male couple
female couple
male couple
female couple
2005
34.8%
39.0%
10.6%
24.7%
2006
37.0%
35.7%
10.2%
24.8%
2007
32.4%
38.6%
10.1%
24.6%
2008
33.9%
27.9%
7.4%
25.9%
2009
28.6%
28.9%
6.6%
21.9%
2010
25.2%
26.2%
6.2%
23.0%
2011
26.1%
26.2%
6.1%
21.9%
2012
25.3%
27.7%
6.4%
22.8%
2013
18.8%
27.0%
5.2%
20.5%
2014
16.2%
26.2%
6.0%
21.9%
2015
13.6%
26.0%
6.0%
22.1%
2016
12.8%
25.5%
5.6%
20.4%
2017
11.2%
25.5%
4.7%
21.2%
2018
12.4%
25.5%
4.9%
19.3%
2019
9.6%
27.0%
3.9%
19.7%
2020
Not available
2021
8.9%
26.2%
3.5%
17.6%
2022
8.1%
27.1%
2.6%
16.2%
References
Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be regis
Neither performed nor recognized in Tokelau or the associated states of the Cook Islands and Niue.
Same-sex marriage is also legal in the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey, and the British Overs
Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal
Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights in Israel. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of m
The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the forei
A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters suc
Guardianship agreements confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care
Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
Indian courts have recognized guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not
Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.
Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.
Among many examples: (1) the U.S. District Court ruling in Bourke v. Beshear, which required Kentucky to recognize same-
Other cases that sought review by the U.S. Supreme Court were Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, Gill v. Office
In early 2013, the IRS recognized the community property and income of same-sex partners in community property states.
"Brief of the American Psychological Association, the Massachusetts Psychological Association, The National Association of Social Workers and its Massachusetts Chapter, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees and in Support of Affirmance – Appeals from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts Civil Action Nos. 1:09-cv-11156-JLT, 1:09-cv-10309-JLT (Honorable Joseph L. Tauro)"
"Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Guidance on the Extension of Benefits to Married Gay and Lesbian Federal Employees, Annuitants, and Their Families – (OPM Benefits memo)"
