Timeline that shows various changes to marriage laws
Created by MWBarone on Nov 19, 2009
Last updated: 11/23/09 at 01:51 PM
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Maine voters approve referendum that denies same-sex couples the right to marry.
Vermont becomes the forth current state to allow same-sex marriage and the first one to do so without requiring a court ruling. The Vermont legislature passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, but Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed it. Both houses of the Vermont legislature then overruled the veto by securing a two-thirds majority offically legalizing same-sex couple to marry.
Maine's legislature votes too allow same-sex couples to marry. Before the law can be enacted however opponents get referendum 1 on the books for the November elections which halts the progress.
The Iowa Supreme Court upholds a ruling by the District Court that says, " there is no important governmental interest in denying citizens marriage licenses based on their sexual orientation." The ruling officially legalizes same-sex marriage in the state. Iowa becomes the third state to currently allow all of its citizens to marry
The very divided Connecticut legislature votes to allow same-sex marriages in the state
Voters in California vote yes on Proposition 8 a ballot measure proposed during the 2008 general elections that reworded the California Constitution to clarify that marriage is only between a man and a woman. This Proposition made the previously legal practice of marrying same-sex couples illegal. All the marriages that were performed between June and November of 2008 were upheld.
California becomes the second state behind Massachusetts to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.
New York Gov. David Paterson issues a directive mandating that all state offices recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and Canada
President Bill Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act which officially defines marriage in the United States as only between a man and a woman
Maryland becomes the first state to officially define marriage as only between a man and a women
The Supreme Court rules Virginia's "Racial Equality Act of 1924" unconstitutional. The decision ended all race-based restrictions on marriage.
The US Congress passes and President Abraham Lincoln signs an act which makes Bigamy, the act of having more than one spouse at once, illegal. The act was geared primary towards those who practiced the Morman faith which at that time allowed polygamous marriages
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