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States
Click on a state or choose one from our drop-down menu to find the latest developments, state organizations, and action alerts on a local level.
While two states (Massachusetts and Connecticut) uphold the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, there are four states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York — that officially pledge non-discrimination against marriages between same-sex couples.
- Because New Mexico’s laws do not prohibit marriage between same-sex couples, there is no impediment to New Mexico same-sex couples marrying in Massachusetts or California and having their marriage honored in New Mexico. While Massachusett’s government directed that licenses could be given to New Mexico couples, the New Mexico state government has not taken action to ensure they will be honored.
Various states now offer broad protections short of marriage including civil unions in Vermont, New Jersey, and New Hampshire and broad domestic partnerships in Oregon and California. Smaller packages of protections for same-sex couples are available in Maine, Hawaii, Washington, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. All of these states continue to work toward marriage.
WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Equality FederationEquality Federation is the national alliance of state-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organizations. The Federation works to achieve equality for lgbt people in every state and territory by building strong and sustainable statewide organizations in a state-based movement.
Why Marriage Matters America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry.
By Evan Wolfson
Read reviews! Purchase the book or receive a signed copy as a thank you for your donation!
Read families’ stories about how marriage discrimination affects everyday life. These stories communicate, in concrete ways, how the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage hurts families and helps no one.
Start in The Marriage Basics to get short answers to your big questions about the freedom to marry, and learn more about the protections and responsibilities of marriage, the historical background for this civil rights movement, why separate is not equal, and so much more.
