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Domestic Partnership (DP) -- Marriage (M) I am leaving the above statement and map posted from just a few years ago, because we are now moving at warp speed. But, we must press on for equality all around the country and the world!!!   HAWAII (DP) - March 1991, three gay couples in Hawaii had filed a suit seeking the right to marry. Baehr v. Lewin would be a landmark in the freedom-to-marry movement, though it would not end in success for the plaintiffs, but it was a "tectonic shift" in the legal landscape of the gay rights movement. WASHINGTON, DC (DP), June 11, 1992; Washington, D.C., has recognized domestic partnerships since June 11, 1992, when the Health Benefits Expansion Act, DC Law 9-114, was passed, allowing unmarried, cohabiting couples (same-sex or opposite-sex) to register as domestic partners. Washington, DC, Domestic Partnership in Wikipedia  CALIFORNIA (DP) - Enacted in 1999, the domestic partnership registry was the first of its kind in the United States created by a legislature without court intervention. See Wikipedia for further history of Domestic partnership in California. See Domestic Partners Registry to register as domestic partners. For a short time, same-sex marriages were OK in San Francisco and later in the State, but both have, temproraly, been reversed. At warp speed, travel quickly to June 2013 and California becomes the 13th state to legalize same-sex marriage.  MASSACHUSETTS (M) - May 17, 2004 See Massachusetts Same Sex Marriage in Wikipedia WASHINGTON (DP) - July 27, 2007, Click here for additional details Washington Domestic Partnership in Wikipedia  Gay Talk Radio NEW HAMPSHIRE - January 1, 2008; Civil unions in New Hampshire are permitted under state law between unrelated same-sex individuals and are intended to provide the same "'rights, responsibilities and obligations' as heterosexual marriage, differing in name only. New Hampshire Civil Unions in Wikipedia  OREGON (DP) - February 4, 2008 Oregon Domestic Partnership in Wikipedia CONNECTICUT (M) - October 10, 2008; A ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court making gay marriage. Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions. Connecticut Same Sex Marriage in Wikipedia  IOWA (M) - April 3, 2009 (into law on April 27, 2009); The Iowa Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling Friday finding that the state's same-sex marriage ban violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian couples, making Iowa the third state where marriage will be legal. In its decision, the court upheld a 2007 district court judge's ruling that the law violates the state constitution. It strikes the language from Iowa code limiting marriage to only between a man a woman. "The court reaffirmed that a statute inconsistent with the Iowa constitution must be declared void even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion," said a summary of the ruling issued by the court. The ruling set off celebration among the state's gay-marriage proponents. "Iowa is about justice, and that's what happened here today," said Laura Fefchak, who was hosting a verdict party in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale with partner of 13 years, Nancy Robinson. VERMONT (M) - April 7, 2009; Vermont become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote. The Legislature voted to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override. (Civil Wars by David Moats, 2004)   MAINE (M) - May 6, 2009; On this date, Governor Baldacci signed the Maine marriage equality bill into law, making Maine the fifth State to End Gay Couples' Exclusion from Marriage. “In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Baldacci said in a written statement. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.” Congratulations to the legislators and the Governor who looked in their hearts and knew the right thing to do. Congratulations also to Maine’s gay and lesbian couples for lots of behind-the-scenes hard work. NEW YORK (M) - Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of New York became legal on July 24, 2011, under the Marriage Equality Act, which was passed by the New York State Legislature on June 24, 2011 and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on the same day. RHODE ISLAND (M) - The 10th State in the USA to legalize Same Sex Marriage MARYLAND - Same-sex marriage in Maryland has been legal since January 1, 2013. WASHINGTON state (M) - same-sex marriage in has been legal since December 6, 2012. MINNESOTA (M) - officially became the 12th state to approve same-sex marriage. The law went into effect August 1, 2013. CALIFORNIA (M) - June 2013, The United States Suprime Court ruled against DOMA and Proposition 8, opened the State of California to re-instate past same-sex-marriages and new same-sex marriages as legal in California. California makes it 13 States with marriage equality. The demise of DOMA has opened Federal Benefits for those living and married in states with same-sex marriges. My personal thanks to Vice-President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama for telling those in charge of federal benefits to open the doors for same-sex marriage benefits. What a tremendous change. Also means that those in states with equality, same-sex couples do not have to file seperate tax returns. Now filing can be as married couples filing once not twice. HAWAII??? - ILLINOIS??? - OREGON??? - NEW JERSEY??? -  or would like to be added to my "Fifty Gay Years" e-mail distribution list, please let Melba know. Thanks! |