Marriage Equality History #3
part 3
November 18, 2003: The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, a case brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, that the state constitution mandates the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Three months later, the Court reaffirms its decision, stating that only marriage - not separate and lesser mechanisms, such as civil union - sufficiently protects same-sex couples and their families.
May 17, 2004: Massachusetts becomes the first state in the United States to allow same-sex couples to share in the freedom to marry. Marriage opponents attempt to amend the constitution to strip away the freedom to marry, but the amendment is defeated on June 14, 2007, when over 75 percent of the state legislature votes to stand up for all families.
November 2, 2004: Anti-gay forces in eleven states, marshaled by Karl Rove, push through constitutional amendments to deny same-sex couples the freedom to marry. In Mississippi, Montana, and Oregon the amendments restrict marriage to different-sex couples. In the other states - Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Utah - the amendments deny all forms of family recognition or status, including civil union and domestic partnership. A similar amendment banning marriage was passed in Missouri in August 2004.
January 19, 2005: The Louisiana Supreme Court reinstates a hurtful anti-family ban on marriage between same-sex couples, bringing the number of states with constitutional amendments against marriage to 17. The Supreme Court decision overturns an October 2004 ruling from District Judge William Morvant, who declared that constitutionally excluding same-sex couples from marriage is unconstitutional.
April 20, 2005: Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell signs a civil union bill into law, affording same-sex couples some - but not all - of the projections that marriage provides. The law goes into effect on October 1, 2005.
September 6, 2005: The California legislature becomes the first state legislature to pass a freedom to marry bill. The landmark bill is vetoed soon after passage by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Two years later, the legislature again passes a marriage bill, and again, it is vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.
November 8, 2005: The discriminatory constitutional amendment Proposition 2 is passed in Texas, constitutionally excluding same-sex couples from marriage. In April of that year, same-sex couples in Kansas are denied any form of family recognition by a similar anti-gay constitutional amendment.
November 18, 2003: The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, a case brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, that the state constitution mandates the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Three months later, the Court reaffirms its decision, stating that only marriage - not separate and lesser mechanisms, such as civil union - sufficiently protects same-sex couples and their families.
May 17, 2004: Massachusetts becomes the first state in the United States to allow same-sex couples to share in the freedom to marry. Marriage opponents attempt to amend the constitution to strip away the freedom to marry, but the amendment is defeated on June 14, 2007, when over 75 percent of the state legislature votes to stand up for all families.
November 2, 2004: Anti-gay forces in eleven states, marshaled by Karl Rove, push through constitutional amendments to deny same-sex couples the freedom to marry. In Mississippi, Montana, and Oregon the amendments restrict marriage to different-sex couples. In the other states - Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Utah - the amendments deny all forms of family recognition or status, including civil union and domestic partnership. A similar amendment banning marriage was passed in Missouri in August 2004.
January 19, 2005: The Louisiana Supreme Court reinstates a hurtful anti-family ban on marriage between same-sex couples, bringing the number of states with constitutional amendments against marriage to 17. The Supreme Court decision overturns an October 2004 ruling from District Judge William Morvant, who declared that constitutionally excluding same-sex couples from marriage is unconstitutional.
April 20, 2005: Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell signs a civil union bill into law, affording same-sex couples some - but not all - of the projections that marriage provides. The law goes into effect on October 1, 2005.
September 6, 2005: The California legislature becomes the first state legislature to pass a freedom to marry bill. The landmark bill is vetoed soon after passage by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Two years later, the legislature again passes a marriage bill, and again, it is vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.
November 8, 2005: The discriminatory constitutional amendment Proposition 2 is passed in Texas, constitutionally excluding same-sex couples from marriage. In April of that year, same-sex couples in Kansas are denied any form of family recognition by a similar anti-gay constitutional amendment.
