States where gay marriage is legal map 2016
Marriage & Association Recognition Laws
States with the independence to marry execute not ban lgbtq+ couples from entering into legal marriages. Some states also offer comprehensive partnership recognition, such as domestic partnerships or civil unions, to same- and different-sex couples. However, most states still possess constitutional amendments, statutes, or both banning marriage for lgbtq+ couples, even after the 2015 Supreme Court case Obergefell extended marriage equality nationwide. For more on the current status of express marriage laws, spot MAP's 2022 report: Underneath Obergefell: A National Patchwork of Marriage Laws.
Marriage equality for same-sex couples(50 states , 5 territories + D.C.)
Comprehensive civil union or national partnership law (9 states + D.C.)
State has targeted religious exemption law (see note)
Citations & More Information
Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Marriage & Relationship Recognition Laws."https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/marriage_relationship_laws. Accessed 08/01/2025.
NOTE: Kansas permits faith-based organ
New Jersey has its first gay weddings
A protester was removed after shouting: "This is unlawful in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ."
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop conducted a joint ceremony for eight couples at the urban area council chambers.
"I never mind I'd see this in my lifetime," said Barbara Milton after she was married to Kay Osborn, in remarks carried by the Associated Press news agency.
"To have this moment of equality is overwhelming."
Married gay couples in New Jersey can now receive all the mention and federal benefits of marriage.
Mr Christie dropped the appeal hours after the first weddings began on Monday.
"Although the Governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law," his spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said in a statement.
The Republican had previously said marriage was between a dude and a woman, and argued that a famous vote should determine the issue.
Also on Monday, four same-sex couple
Same-sex marriage represents a critical milestone in the Gay rights movement, allowing couples of the same sex to legally marry and receive the same marital benefits as heterosexual couples. The journey towards legalization has been varied across the globe, influenced by cultural, religious, and political factors. In some regions, the push for marriage equality has gained significant traction and achieved legal recognition, often after prolonged public and legal battles.
While full marriage equality is celebrated in many places, an alternative approach through civil unions or local partnerships persists in others. These frameworks typically grant a subset of rights that marriage offers, focusing on aspects like property rights or hospital visitation. However, they often plummet short in areas such as inheritance, pension rights, and parental responsibilities, spotlighting a gap in the legal recognition of relationships.
The acceptance and implementation of same-sex marriage have brought substantial legal benefits, including inheritance rights, tax reductions, and enhanced health insurance options, which are central for the security and well-being of families. This progr
Marriage
LGBT people in the United States need the same chance as everyone else to commit the person they treasure and take care of their families. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples nationwide should have the same freedom to unite as other couples. Not only can same-sex couples now marry, but they can also access the vital rights and benefits that are related to marriage, including being fit to take job-protected quit from work to take care for one another, to accessing insurance and other benefits, and the ability to secure legal ties to the children they are raising.
Despite being competent to marry nationwide, actions are underway to undermine marriage equality by allowing individuals, employers, and even government agencies to oppose to recognize the marriages of couples and the related rights and benefits for their families. The following resources address the crucial importance of marriage equality for same-sex couples and their families and look at the impact the freedom to partner had on equality across the country.
Countries Where Gay Marriage is Legal
When male lover marriage was legalized in 2015, the United States became one of 27 countries around the world where gay marriage is legally recognized. The Netherlands was the first nation to formally recognize these unions in 2000 with Belgium and Canada following soon afterward. The countries that legalized gay marriages most recently are Malta, Germany, and Australia, all of which passed legislation in which lgbtq+ marriages are formally recognized.
Countries Where Gay Marriage is Legal
The Netherlands
The Netherlands has often been labeled as the pioneering nation in championing for the rights of the LGBT people. The Dutch nation gets this acclaim since it was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, and in so doing, set a precedent which was followed by dozens of other countries around the globe. A movement fighting for gay rights in the country had been active since the 1980s until the Dutch Parliament gave in and established a commission to look into the issue of gay rights in 1995. However, the legalization of gay marriage in the country happened five years later, in 2000 after the adoption of the Mar