Legalization of same-sex marriage

[pbrower2a]

As the result of a vote by the District of Columbia Council in 2009, SSM became lawful in March 2010. This is significant because if the Federal Government could not nullify SSM in the District of Columbia it could not nullify it as the decision of a State. States' rights would apparently protect states' legislation allowing SSM. But that is as far as things would go.

I mark DC with a 56 indicating that it is between the fifth and sixth states to recognize SSM by law.





Legalization from previous years (white)

from legal decisions made that year and valid from that year:

resulting from a state court decision invalidating an SSM ban
resulting from state legislation
resulting from the decision of the DC Council

Only one state would legalize SSM in 2011 -- but the state is New York State, effective on July 24 through legislation. Through this state legislation, more than twice as many people would get the right to participate in same-sex marriage without having to cross a state line.



(Ignore Maine and Nebraska districts).


Legalization from previous years (white)

from legal decisions made that year and valid from that year:

resulting from a state court decision invalidating an SSM ban
resulting from state legislation
resulting from the decision of the DC Council

2012:

In three states -- Maine, Maryland, and Washington -- same-sex marriage would be legalized through a popular initiative or referendum. Although the Maryland law would permit same-sex marriage on January 1, 2013, that is close enough for me to put the legalization in 2012. I'm giving the situation on January 1, 2013. Maine counts now due to permanence.





Legalization from previous years (white)

from legal decisions made that year and valid from that year:

resulting from a state court decision invalidating an SSM ban
resulting from state legislation
resulting from the decision of the DC Council
resulting from a statewide initiative or referendum

Things accelerate in 2013.

Most significant, and not only for the number of people that it would affect, would be the end of a long legal process starting in 2008 involving California, the US Supreme Court deciding on June 26 that same-sex marriages would be legal in California with such marriages being resumed on June 28.

SSM became lawful and effective  in Delaware on July 1, in Rhode Island and Minnesota  on August 1, and Hawaii on through legislation on December 2. A state court validated SSM in New Jersey on October 21 and another in New Mexico so did on December 13.







Legalization from previous years (white)

from legal decisions made that year and valid from that year:

resulting from a state court decision invalidating an SSM ban
resulting from state legislation
resulting from the decision of the DC Council
resulting from a statewide initiative or referendum
resulting from a decision by the US Supreme Court

2014:

The Ninth District Court invalidated an SSM ban in Oregon on May 19. The federal appeals court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania invalidated the SSM ban of Pennsylvania the next day, and the Governor declined to appeal.     






For clarity -- "12T" applies to both Minnesota (easily visible) and Rhode Island (not so visible) indicating that same-sex marriage became possible on the same day.


Legalization from previous years (white)

from legal decisions made that year and valid from that year:

resulting from a state court decision invalidating an SSM ban
resulting from state legislation
resulting from the decision of the DC Council
resulting from a statewide initiative or referendum
resulting from a decision by the US Supreme Court
resulting from a decision by a federal court subsidiary to the US Supreme Court