Twenty years ago the subject of gay marriage in the United States seemed to be almost a joke. Yet here we sit, a scant twenty years later, counting the number of states that have already embraced the concept, and looking ahead to other states joining suit. While the future of gay marriage is still somewhat unclear, the sheer diversity of the states that have legalized it is amazing to behold.
As the future of gay marriage moves forward, it is instructive to look back at those first bellwether states and how they helped to reshape the face of the nation.
Connecticut
The state of Connecticut officially allowed gay marriages to take place starting on November 12, 2008. That made Connecticut the third state to officially allow same-sex couples to marry. The state had previously enacted a civil union law back in 2005. That law gave gay and lesbian couples many of the same protections as marriage, and it became law on April 20, 2005 when the governor signed the bill. Civil unions for gay and lesbian couples officially began on October 1 of the same year. The new gay marriage law established in 2009 replaces those civil union and gives those same-sex unions the official recognition of the state.
Iowa
The legalization of gay marriage in Iowa proved once and for all that support for same-sex relationships is not confined to the coasts. The harbinger of all things Midwestern, Iowa joined the gay marriage parade on April 3, 2009. But although that is the date gay marriage officially became legal, it is not the first time Iowans had grappled with this thorny issue.
Iowa first began looking at the issue back in 1998, when a series of court cases found that denying gays and lesbians the right to marry violated the Equal Protection Clause of the constitution in many states. Iowa first reacted to these lawsuits by passing their own version of the Defense of Marriage Act, essentially barring gays and lesbians from marrying in the state.
A 2005 lawsuit filed on behalf of six Iowa couples denied marriage licenses revived the issue, and in 2007 a court in Polk County, Iowa ruled in favor of those same-sex couples. Then on April 3, 2009 the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that there was no basis to deny these couples, or any same-sex couples, the right to marry.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was one of the first in the country to recognize the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. The history of gay marriage in Massachusetts goes back to May of 2004, when the Supreme Judicial Court in the state ruled that the language restricting marriages to heterosexual couples was unconstitutional.
The decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was controversial at the time, and it remains controversial to this day. But in the meantime thousands of gay and lesbian couples have been able to marry and start families in the Commonwealth.
New Hampshire
On New Year’s Day 2010 New Hampshire joined the growing list of states that formally recognize marriages by same-sex couples. This new marriage law in the state of New Hampshire replaced the existing law, which had granted gays and lesbians the right to form civil unions but stopped short of granting those couples the right to marry.
The state of New Hampshire had previously adopted that civil union legislation back on January 1, 2008. The bill to legalize those civil unions was passed in April of 2007, but the actual legislation did not take effect until the dawning of the new year. Meanwhile, same-sex couples continued to fight for full marriage recognition, with its host of legal protections, and on January 1, 2010 they finally got their wish.
Vermont
The state of Vermont officially recognized marriages between gay and lesbian couples on September 1, 2009. Vermont had long been a bellwether state in terms of gay marriage. The state was the first to introduce same-sex civil unions for gays and lesbians, way back in July 2000, when few people took the issue of gay marriage seriously.
Then in March of 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee in the state of Vermont unanimously recommended that same-sex marriage be implemented. The State Senate and House followed through and passed the bill, although it was later vetoed by the governor. Even so, the State Senate in Vermont was able to override that veto, and gay marriage became the law of the land.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. joined the parade of locations recognizing gay marriage in March of 2010. Those first same-sex marriage licenses were issued following months of wrangling and trepidation over a bill passed by the city council would ever go into effect.
That bill, known officially as the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, gave gays and lesbians the right to marry, and when news of the bill’s passage started to spread, couples from the D.C. area quickly began lining up for those first marriage licenses. Gay marriage officially became legal in Washington, D.C. on March 9 of 2010.
New York
New York joined the gay marriage bandwagon in 2011, and hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and New York state residents took to the streets to celebrate the decision to legalize same-sex unions.
The decision to legalize same-sex marriages in New York state is a fairly recent one, dating back to June 24, 2011. That is when the legislature in the Republican-dominated New York Senate officially passed the bill by a vote of 33 to 29. The governor of New York quickly signed the bill into law, making New York the largest state to officially recognize gay marriage. Gay and lesbian couples can officially begin applying for marriage licenses in late July.
California
California first began issuing marriage license to same-sex couples back on June 16, 2008, following a ruling by the Supreme Court of California. That ruling held that denying gays and lesbians the right to marry violated the equal protection clause in the state constitution. Following that ruling, opponents of gay marriage mounted a successful campaign to ban the practice through Proposition 8, which was placed on the ballot in the 2008 general election. That proposition officially amended the California Constitution to state that marriage is between one man and one woman, leaving the future of gay marriage in the state of California up in the air. This was overturned by the District Court. It was appealed by proponent of the initiative all the way to the Supreme Court, which found that they did not have standing to bring the appeal, meaning that the District Court’s ruling stood and Proposition 8 was unconstitutional.
Summary
By now, the following states permit same sex marriages: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Even though the issue of gay marriage remains controversial, and the future of same-sex unions remains in doubt in many places, many strides have been made. In a relatively short period of time, gay marriage has become the law of the land in a number of states, from the west coast to the east, and legislatures in other states continue to tackle this difficult and sometimes emotional issue.
Gen 2:24 Gen.19,Lev. 17:11,Lev. 18:22-30, Psalms 1:1-6,Mat. 19:4-6, Rom. 1:20-32, 1 Cor. 6:1-5;9-12,Jude 1:6, Rev. 20: 12-15
You will never be able to change this. And I love you and I support you in the quest for love and acceptance.
Your friend
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for posting the scriptural references to marriage.
You are correct, in that I will never be able to change the scriptures. And I’m not even trying.
But what I do want to change–and am changing–is the secular government’s imposition of your religious beliefs on me as a citizen.
I thank you for your love and and support.
But I am not getting married for love and acceptance.
My partner and I already have all the love either one of us needs, and we’ve been accepted for years.
One should not get married to find love and acceptance.
One should get married because one has already found love and acceptance, and marriage is the perfect celebration of that.
Your friend
One of the things that makes this country great is the separation of church and state. Keep religion where it belongs — out of our government and out of private lives.
If you want to mix government and religion, there are a number of countries that do just that.
Examples of theocratic totalitarian countries (not an exhaustive list):
IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, SOMALIA, etc.
I am sure if you wished to go there any of these governments would be happy to have you.
I realize people who believe consenting adults have a right to form private associations will never change the minds of those who do not. But my rights to live happily ever after with my current spouse should not be impinged upon by those who prefer a theocratic totalitarian government.
and that way we have a seperation of church and state
I would not and will not and shall not allow same sex couples be a part of the congregation. Even if I was 6 years old I would not be happy to see that. That is out of place. It is just not right. What is this world coming to? going to hell gift wrapped that is what it is coming to. I can not believe that people think this is ok.
I am 100% Born-Again Christian but i agree with same sex marriage 100%. Maybe it’s because my brother and cousin are homosexual. I honestly don’t really know but i still don’t see the problem with it. As long as you have found someone that treats you well and that you are happy with and are in love with then you should be able to be with the person for the rest of your life without having to try to find acceptance from other people.
Thou shall ROT IN HELL .
point. blank. period.
SICK!!!
They should be banned and sent to hell
All of you all saying things about going to hell…see you there bitches! 😀
If you were to check the background and really study the Bible. You would understand that it is the behaviors of the “homosexuals” that is being judged as wrong…they were having sex and orgies outside of marriage. The Bible does not condem gay people and we are all created in God’s image so to say that homosexuals should rot in hell is just ignorant. I would venture to say that most people who condem gay beople do so because it is what they were taught to do by their church or their family. Not by God.
Luke 6:37, John 3:18
Respectfully,
Meghan
God Jehova does not hate the sinner. In fact Jesus surrounded himself with sinners. God hates the sin. In the bible you wont find the words homosexual christian. They just arent there, regardless of how much the gay, lesbian, transexual community would like to believe they have a place in heaven. Gods rules not mine. If you have an argument with our heavenly father, take it up with him. Mankind does NOT hold any of the answers you seek. To say that homosexuals are not going to hell is not true folks. Read the bible. Why else would there be a bible in the first place? Mabey to start a fire with?
I can’t believe people still saying mean things like this and call themselves “god loving people”. You can’t pick and choose. If there is a god. he/she will not hate anyone. Supreme being don’t stoop down to hate like that.
This is human nature that thousand of years ago human didn’t have knowledge of just like we believed the earth was flat. A book that written thousand of years ago doesn’t defy us as a society today. People getting smarter, learn from the mistakes, the assumption not continue to say “the book told me so”. Jesus didn’t write the new testament. It was “MEN” that wrote the book.
You won’t find the words “heterosexual christian” in the Bible either. Also, I don’t care about your heaven or your hell; I don’t believe in either, so why should I care?
However, I do respect that you will let us take it up with God himself rather than taking it into your own hands. I just hope you are following God’s example and loving /everyone/ whether they need to take up an argument with God or not.
Christ himself doesn’t say anything about homosexuals, but christ did teach and show by his deeds is that we’re to love and accept everyone no matter who’s different or how low we feel them to be they are from us…
-ok what the hell is wrong with you people i am a 100% chrisian and i am gay and god gave us a place to choose what we wanted to be so therefore all you hypocrites out there need to learn the bible and get the hell over because one day ill make sure its legal in all states js god bless have a wonderful day
oh and if you hae a problem bout it take it up with me my email is david_dowling@rocketmail.com
And I’m with skittles (above ^^) if you have a problem with what I have said then please feel free to rant your little heart out till its content. my e-mail is mg_rodgers@yahoo.com
My answer will continue to be the same though.
WE ARE ALL EQUAL!!!
No matter what anyone says.
What state closest to Texas can we go to get married?
Homosexuality is wrong in the eyes of the heavenly father! That said, it was Jesus who said, “Let he who among you without sin cast the first stone!” (and there was none to cast a stone), Christians don’t condemn people to hell. Judge Ye not, less Ye be judged. However, I do believe that the father punishes nations that transgress his laws. Without judging, ..fact, it is sexual sin. Read the Holy Bible.
So when these states get wiped off the face of the map, don’t be on CNN crying, why, why why. His judgement is true and just.
dont preach about the bible you little fucking robot bitchs, you dont see us gay on the alter with a shoot gun pointed to our heads, we have taken media back lash for to long and finally they are allowing same sex in many states. so go fuck yourselves.
GO GAAAYYYYAY PEOPLE!!!!!! <3
MY FRIEND SAYS GAY PEOPLE ARE COOL!!!!(:
Homosexuality is no different in the eyes of the lord than fornication (premarital sex) and adultery. to any one who calls them self a christian and can have the audacity to tell someone to rot in hell is no more christian than an atheist. I’m a 100% heterosexual male that is simply tired of this hatred towards my fellow man. think about your personal sins before you criticize someone else’s.
It’s against the bible to divorce and yet there’s an over 50% divorce rate. If anything threatens straight marriage, it’s straight people!
Gay marriage is coming. Canada did it and nothing changed… there is no way to tell- go up there, you will not see any difference. The anti-gay bigot generation will die off and leave only a few discontented stragglers. Equality is coming, it’s just a matter of time.
u know im a lesbian. and im proud and so is mom. so FUCKING WHAT. we are all EQUAL
I don’t know were some of you are getting it is a sin to love some one no matter of sex god is in your heart and if you love that person than that is your hearts way of saying its right and if god is in your heart listen to what is there not people they are not god .
I am a lesbian and I am proud of it I love her no matter what anybody say!!!! I am a christian as well we go to church. God said “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Everybody sins God said no sin is bigger than another. I don’t see where it says we can’t marry another female. There for find something else to do than judge us.
listen up jackasses who being gay is okay well it’s not don’t u fools know that if you continue down that you’re going straight to hell and another thing you can’t be gay and christan at the same time it’s god or satan there is no such thing as purgtory i will continue to pray for gay people
i definetly agree being gay is against god it says it in the bible in the book of leviticus 18:22-23 and leviticus 20:13-14 i hope you find the truth and repent of you’re works
i personally believe gays should not have right to marry i think gays need to change
It is always easy to be passionate about what pleases ourselves. Being comfortable is a very addictive place for human beings. Unfortunately, just because it is our desire or is what makes us comfortable, it is not always what is right. I am the lover of your souls homosexuals, therefore as a woman of God I feel obligated to speak the truth because it shall set you free. It is the truth that NOTHING can seperate you from the Love of God. BUT sin does seperate you from Him. Satan, who by the way is real, assigns many demonic forces in the earth. The same force that convinces a murderer to kill is the same force that convinces a man that he is in love with another man/ woman with another woman, and that its ok because its your right. Those that crucified Jesus felt it was their right…but clearly it was wrong. This situation of homosexuality is not a right or wrong issue, its a truth issue. I can guarantee you that if ANY person truly commits his/her life to Christ and the principles of Christ then they will be renewed by the transforming of the mind. Homosexuals, especially the ones who are claiming to be Christians, challenge yourselves by the Word and measure yourselves against the Word not the world. Then and only then will you know what pleases God, and pleasing Him is what its all about. Praying for each of you by name.
In Love.
Feel sorry for these people because they Will cause alto of problème on thé society ,first because they are Robbins thé next génération or a child from knowing a true mother and father