Marriage Equality State-by-State

Updated 19 May 2013

The federal government does not yet recognize same-gender relationships, even in states that have legalized same-gender marriage, civil union, and/or domestic partnership. This affects military personnel pay/benefits, immigration, social welfare programs, insurance, taxation, disability, pensions, inheritance, and other issues in 1,138 federal programs. For details, see 1,138 Federal Rights and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). For further information see Economic Impact Reports by State provided by the Williams Institute. For details on states that have laws, lawsuits, and ballots pending that would change state marriage laws, visit Current Status - Marriage Map.

Graphic provided by the Williams Institute May 2013.

States where civil marriage is legal at the state level for same-sex couples are in bold in the list below.

• Alabama: No marriage equality.
• Alaska: No marriage equality.
• Arizona: No marriage equality.
• Arkansas: No marriage equality.
• California: No marriage equality. After 18,000 same-gender couples had legally wed, Proposition 8 banned future same-gender marriage starting 5 November 2008, but left Registered Domestic Partnerships available. In August 2010, a federal trial court found Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, and on 7 February 2012, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals again found it unconstitutional (Summary). The proponents of Proposition 8, pponents of marriage equality, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On 26 March 2013 the Prop 8 case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, was heard by the United States Supreme Court. The Court's ruling is due to be handed down the end of June 2013.  In the meantime, same-gender marriage remains on hold, although Registered Domestic Partnerships remain available at the state level.
• Colorado:  No marriage equality. Civil Unions at the state level were legalized on 21 March 2013.
• Connecticut: On 12 November 2008 civil same-sex marriage was legalized at the state level.
• Delaware: On 7 May 2013 the Delaware Senate passed HB 57, and within moments of its passage Governor Jack Markell signed the bill into law, legalizing civil marriage at the state level for same-sex couples in Minnesota. Same-sex couples will be eligible for marriage licenses on 1 July 2013.
• District of Columbia: On 18 December 2009 civil same-sex marriage at the District ("state") level was legalized.
• Florida: No marriage equality.
• Georgia: No marriage equality.
• Hawaii: No marriage equality. Civil Unions and more limited reciprocal benificary relationships are legal at the state level.
• Idaho: No marriage equality.
• Illinois: No marriage equality. Civil Unions at the state level became legal on 1 June 2011.
• Indiana: No marriage equality.
• Iowa: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level on 3 April 2009.
• Kansas: No marriage equality.
• Kentucky: No marriage equality.
• Louisiana: No marriage equality.
• Maine: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level on 29 December 2012.
• Maryland: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level on 1 January 2013.
• Massachusetts: Civil same-sex marriages, legal at the state level, began on 17 May 2004.
• Michigan: No marriage equality for people who do not belong to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. On 5 March 2013, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan passed a marriage equality law allowing same-gender marriage.
• Minnesota: On 13 May 2013 the Minnesota Senate passed HF 1054 and the bill was signed by Governor Mark Dayton on 14 May 2013. This bill legalized civil marriages at the state level for same-sex couples in Minnesota. The bill takes effect 1 August 2013.
• Mississippi: No marriage equality.
• Missouri: No marriage equality.
• Montana: No marriage equality.
• Nebraska: No marriage equality.
• Nevada: No marriage equality. Registered Domestic Partnerships are available. Same-sex marriage is banned.
• New Hampshire: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level on 1 January 2010.
• New Jersey: No marriage equality. Civil Unions are legal at the state level.
• New Mexico: No marriage equality.
• New York: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level 24 July 2011.
• North Carolina:  No marriage equality.
• North Dakota: No marriage equality.:
• Ohio: No marriage equality.
• Oklahoma: No marriage equality.
• Oregon: No marriage equality for people who do not belong to the Coquille Tribe. Same-gender marriages are legal within the Coquille Tribe in Oregon; elsewhere, domestic partnership is legal.
• Pennsylvania:  No marriage equality.
• Rhode Island: On 2 May 2013 the Rhode Island House passed an amended version of A N  A C T RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO MARRY. Governor Lincoln Chaffee signed the bill into law later that same day, legalizing civil marriage at the state level for same-sex couples in Rhode Island. The bill becomes effective on 1 August 2013.
• South Carolina: No marriage equality.
• South Dakota: No marriage equality.
• Tennessee: No marriage equality.
• Texas: No marriage equality.
• Utah: No marriage equality.
• Vermont: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level on 1 September 2009.
• Virginia: No marriage equality.
• Washington: Civil same-sex marriages became legal at the state level 6 December 2012. Same-gender marriages are legal within the Suquamish Tribe in Washington.
• West Virginia:  No marriage equality.
• Wisconsin: No marriage equality.
• Wyoming: No marriage equality.