This chart summarizes U.S. state laws related to same-sex marriages.
| State |
Statutes Limiting Marriage |
Constitutional Amendments Limiting Marriage |
Constitutional Amendments Limiting Other Unions |
States Recognizing Marriage |
Statutes Recognizing Civil Unions or Domestic Partnerships |
State Supreme Court Decisions |
| Alabama |
Ala. Code § 30-1-19
|
Ala. Const. art. I, amend. 774 |
Ala. Const. art. I, amend. 774 |
|
|
|
| Alaska |
Alaska Stat. § 25.05.011. 25.05.013 |
Alaska Const. art. I, § 25 |
|
|
|
State v. Alaska Civil Liberties Union, 122 P.3d 781 (Alaska 2005) (domestic partners of homosexual public employees entitled to same benefits as spouses of heterosexual public employees).
|
| Arizona |
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 25-101 |
Ariz. Const. art. XXX (passed in 2008) |
|
|
|
|
| Arkansas |
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-11-109 |
Ark. Const. amend. 83, § 1 |
Ark. Const. amend. 83, § 2 |
|
|
|
| California |
Cal. Fam. Code § 308.5 (Voided by In re Marriage Cases, 183 P.3d 384 (Cal. 2008)) |
Cal. Const. art. 1, § 7.5 (initiative measure approved Nov. 4, 2008) |
|
No. In re Marriage Cases, 183 P.3d 384 (Cal. 2008) voided by Cal. Const. art. 1, § 7.5 approved Nov. 4, 2008. |
Cal. Fam. Code § 297 et seq. (domestic partnership) |
In re Marriage Cases, 183 P.3d 384 (Cal. 2008) (statutory provision limiting marriage to heterosexual couples found unconstitutional). Decision voided by Cal. Const. art. 1, § 7.5, approved Nov. 4, 2008.
Strauss v. Horton, S168047 (Cal. May 26, 2009) (constitutional amendment found valid) |
| Colorado |
Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 14-2-104 |
Colo. Const. art. I, § 31 |
|
|
|
|
| Connecticut |
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 45a -727a
|
|
|
Yes. Kerrigan vs. Comm'r of Pub.Health, 957 A.2d 407 (Conn. 2008)
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 45a -727a, Amended by CT 2009 SB 899 (April 2009) . |
Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 46b-38aa et seq. (civil union) |
Kerrigan vs. Comm'r of Pub.Health, 957 A.2d 407 (Conn. 2008). |
| D.C. |
|
|
|
|
D.C. Code 32-702 (domestic partnership) |
Dean v. D.C., 653 A.2d 307 (D.C. 1995) (marriage statute prohibits issuance of marriage license to same sex couples) |
| Delaware |
Del. Code Ann. tit. 13, § 101 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Florida |
Fla. Stat. Ann. § 741.212 |
Fla. Const. art. 1, § 27 (passed in 2008) |
|
|
|
|
| Georgia |
Ga. Code Ann. § 19-3-3.1 |
Ga. Const. art. I, § 4, ¶ I |
Ga. Const. art. I, § 4, ¶ I |
|
|
|
| Hawaii |
Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 572-1 |
No, but Haw. Const. art. I, § 23 authorizes legislature to ban same sex marriage. |
|
(proposed legislation allowing same sex marriage: HI 2009-2010 HB 878) |
Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 572C-1 et seq. (domestic partnership) |
Baehr v. Lewin, 852 P.2d 44 (Haw. 1993) (Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 572-1 restricts marriage to a male and a female). |
| Idaho |
Idaho Code Ann. § 32-201 |
Idaho Const. art. III, § 28 |
Idaho Const. art. III, § 28 |
|
|
|
| Illinois |
750 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/212; 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/213.1
|
|
|
(proposed legislation allowing same sex marriage: IL 2009 HB 178) |
|
|
| Indiana |
Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-1-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Iowa |
Iowa Code Ann. § 595.2 (found unconstitutional by Varnum v. Brien, 07-1499 (S. Ct. Iowa, Apr. 3, 2009))
|
|
|
Yes. Varnum v. Brien, 07-1499 (S. Ct. Iowa, Apr. 3, 2009)) |
|
Varnum v. Brien, 07-1499 (S. Ct. Iowa, Apr. 3, 2009) (statute limiting marriage to heterosexual couple found unconstitutional). |
| Kansas |
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 23-101 |
Kan. Const. art. 15, § 16 |
Kan. Const. art. 15, § 16 |
|
|
|
| Kentucky |
Ky. Rev. Stat. ann. § 402.020; Ky. Rev. Stat. ann. § 402.045 |
Ky. Const. § 233A |
Ky. Const. § 233A |
|
|
|
| Louisiana |
La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 89 |
La. Const. art. XII, § 15 |
La. Const. art. XII, § 15 |
|
|
Forum for Equality PAC v. McKeithen , 893 So.2d 715 (Found that constitutional amendment did not violate single object rule of state constitution) |
| Maine |
|
|
|
No.
PL 2009, c. 82, authorizing same-sex marriage, was repealed by referendum on 11/3/09. |
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, § 2710 et seq. (domestic partnership) |
|
| Maryland |
Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law § 2-201 |
|
|
(proposed legislation allowing same sex marriage: MD 2009 SB 565) |
|
Conaway v. Deane, 932 A.2d 571 (Md. 2007) (Upheld statute prohibiting same-sex marriage) |
| Massachusetts |
|
|
|
Yes. Goodridge v. Dept. Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003) |
|
Goodridge v. Dept. Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003)(Limitation of benefits of marriage to heterosexuals violated state constitutional equal protection principles)
In re Opinions of the Justices to the Senate, 802 N.E.2d 565 (Mass. 2004) (Proposed bill granting same sex couples status under a civil union but not marriage found to violate state constitutional due process and equal protection provisions)
|
| Michigan |
Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 551.1 |
Mich. Const. art. I, § 25 |
Mich. Const. art. I, § 25 |
|
|
National Pride at Work, Inc. v. Governor, 748 N.W.2d 524 (Mich 2008) (Constitutional amendment on marriage prohibits public employers from providing health insurance benefits to non-married couples) |
| Minnesota |
Minn. Stat. Ann. § 517.01; Minn. Stat. Ann. § 517.03
|
|
|
(proposed legislation allowing same sex marriage: MN 2009-2010 SB 2145) |
|
Baker v. Nelson, 191 N.W.2d 185 (Minn. 1971) (Marriage statute does not authorize marriage between same sex couples) |
| Mississippi |
Miss. Code. Ann. § 93-1-1 |
Miss. Const. art. XIV, § 263A |
|
|
|
|
| Missouri |
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 451.022 |
Mo. Const. art. I, § 33 |
|
|
|
|
| Montana |
Mont. Code Ann. § 40-1-401 |
Mont. Const. art. XIII, § 7 |
|
|
|
|
| Nebraska |
|
Neb. Const. art. I, § 29; But Citizens for Equal Protection, Inc. v. Bruning, 368 F.Supp.2d 980 (2005) (Held art. I, § 29 unconstitutional) |
Neb. Const. art. I, § 29 |
|
|
|
| Nevada |
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 122.020 |
Nev. Const. art. I, § 21 |
|
|
NV 2009 SB 283 (Enrolled June 1, 2009, effective October 1, 2009) |
|
| New Hampshire |
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 457:1 et seq. |
|
|
|
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 457-A:1 et seq. (civil union) |
|
| New Jersey |
|
|
|
|
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 37:1-28 et seq. (civil union), N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:8A-1 et seq. (domestic partnership) |
Lewis v. Harris, 908 A.2d 196 (N.J. 2006) (Requires legislature to provide
same-sex couples the same rights and benefits enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples) |
| New Mexico |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New York |
|
|
|
|
|
Hernandez v. Robles, 855 N.E.2d 1 (N.Y. 2006) (found interpretation of marriage statute as prohibiting same sex marriage valid and constitutional) |
| North Carolina |
N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 51-1; N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 51-1.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| North Dakota |
N.D. Cent. Code § 14-03-01 |
N.D. Const. art. XI, § 28 |
N.D. Const. art. XI, § 28 |
|
|
|
| Ohio |
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3101.01 |
Ohio Const. art. XV, § 11 (held unconstitutional by Phelps v. Johnson, No. DV05 305642, 2005 WL 4651081 (Ohio Com.Pl. 2005) |
Ohio Const. art. XV, § 11 |
|
|
|
| Oklahoma |
Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 43, § 3.1 |
Okla. Const. art. 2, § 35 |
Okla. Const. art. 2, § 35 |
|
|
|
| Oregon |
|
Or. Const. art. XV, §5a |
|
|
Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 107.615 (domestic partnership) |
Li v. State, 110 P.3d 91 (Or. 2005) (Marriage limited to opposite sex couples) |
| Pennsylvania |
23 Pa Cons. Stat. Ann. § 1704 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rhode Island |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| South Carolina |
S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-15 |
S.C. Const. art. XVII, § 15 |
S.C. Const. art. XVII, § 15 |
|
|
|
| South Dakota |
S.D. Codified Laws § 25-1-38 |
S.D. Const. art. XXI, § 9 |
S.D. Const. art. XXI, § 9 |
|
|
|
| Tennessee |
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-113 |
Tenn. Const. art. XI, § 18 |
|
|
|
|
| Texas |
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 2.001 |
Tex. Const. art. I, § 32 |
Tex. Const. art. I, § 32 |
|
|
|
| Utah |
Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-4.1; Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-2 |
Utah Const. art. I, § 29 |
Utah Const. art. I, § 29 |
|
|
|
| Vermont |
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, § 8 |
|
|
Yes. S. 115, recognizing civil marriage between same sex couples, enacted April 7, 2009 |
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, § 1201 et seq.; Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 5160 et seq.
(civil union) |
Baker v. State, 744 A.2d 864 (Vt. 1999) (Exclusion of same-sex couples from benefits of marriage violated state constitution's common benefits clause) |
| Virginia |
Va. Code Ann. § 20-45.2; Va. Code Ann. § 20-45.3 |
Va. Const. art. I, § 15-A |
Va. Const. art. I, § 15-A |
|
|
|
| Washington |
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 26.04.020
|
|
|
(Proposed legislation allowing same-sex marriage: 2009 WA HB 1745) |
Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 26.60.010 et seq. (domestic partnership)
(Proposed legislation repealing domestic partnership: 2009 WA HB 1980) |
Anderson v. King Cnty, 138 P.3d 963 (Wash. 2006) (Upheld statute prohibiting same-sex marriage) |
| West Virginia |
W. Va. Code Ann. § 48-2-603 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Wisconsin |
Wis. Stat. ann. § 765.04 |
Wis. Const. art. XIII, § 13 |
Wis. Const. art. XIII, § 13 |
|
|
|
| Wyoming |
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-1-101 |
|
|
|
|
|
If you have trouble accessing this page or need to request an alternate format, please email the Moritz Law Webmaster
PDF files in this site require Adobe Reader to view (link opens in NEW window) | View Site Map