User:Mimich/Sandbox 1

     Laws permitting civil unions or domestic partnerships
     Same sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships prohibited]]

 M?  Same sex marriage allowed soon ?
 U  Civil Union when same sex marriage not allowed
 P  Domestic partnership when same sex marriage not allowed
     No state law banning same sex marriage (however, judicial or executive rulings prevent same sex marriage)
     State law banning same sex marriage
     State law banning same sex marriage and civil unions
     Amendment bans same-sex marriage
     Amendment bans same-sex marriage and civil unions
     Bans gay marriage, civil unions, and any marriage-like contract between unmarried persons]]

Same-sex unions have been on the political radar in the United States since the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that denying licenses to same-sex partners violated the Hawaii constitution unless there is a "compelling state interest." In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas paved the way for same-sex marriage to emerge as a hot-button political issue. Since Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, other states have rushed to either restrict or liberalize their own marriage laws.

This article tracks the status of those laws. It is intended only as a resource for the bottom line current legal status of same-sex unions right now regardless of pending litigation. See same-sex marriage legislation in the United States for the outcome of specific legislation and same-sex marriage legislation in the United States by state for detailed descriptions.

Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman in at least 42 states. Currently, 27 states have added defense of marriage amendments to their constitutions. There is one state that recognizes same-sex marriages, and a total of six (plus the District of Columbia) that recognize some form of same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships.

State-by-state listing

Below is the status of the law in each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. AS OF 23 April 2007‎ !

• The Marriage Defined column tells whether that state contains any statutes or constitutional language that defines marriage as between a man and a woman or otherwise bans same-sex marriages.
  • The Constitution sub-column gives links to the constitutionnal amendment story, if existing.
  • The Statute leads to the corresponding section of Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States by state to afford full legislation about constitution and statutes. (Under construction, if not afforded, see HRC and Domawatch links below that page).
• The other links (licences - Civil unions status - domestic partnership status - provides for appropriate page denominations according to marriage - civil unions - domeptic partnership and shows the existing pages if the link is active. Civil unions denomination is left in the plural form because it is the rule used for other countries (see Category:Marriage, unions and partnerships by country below )
  • The details for the marriage recognition (Recogn.) are to be find with the marriage licence link when active. Since a constitutionnal ban is potentially for a quite long term, I have merged the marriage licence and recognition in such case for relevant states.
  • Def. means constitutionnal definition amendment for the corresponding unions or partnership. When it happens to be the same constitutionnal definition amendment as the link in the Marriage Defined - Constitution column, I have merged the Def. and Status column. Otherwise another link is proposed to the other relevant amendment in the Def. column in relevant cases.
• The blue squares show what is allowed and green ones, potential changes in nearby future.
• The notes column gives better detail and recent possibilities.

State	Marriage					Same-sex unions				Notes
	Defined		Result			Civil Unions		Domestic Partnership
	Constitution	Statute	Licenses	Recogn.		Def.	Status	Def.	Status
Alabama	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Alaska	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None	Petitions are made to start a ban ballot on civil unions too.
Arizona	Rejected	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Constitutional amendment narrowly rejected by voters
Arkansas	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
California	No	Yes (°)	Not legal*	Not legal		No	None but sort of	No	Legal	Main article: Same-sex marriage in California* ° Attempts to pass marriage is vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. ° A Supreme Court decision is expected. ° Petitions are made to start a ban ballot. Originally granting only hospital visitation rights, the scope of domestic partnerships was gradually expanded over a three-year period. Taking effect on January 1, 2005, A.B. 205 extended to domestic partnerships virtually all the legal rights and responsibilities of marriage in California. Thus, domestic partnership in California has been effectively transformed into a civil union status.
Colorado	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	NO!	Rejected	On November 2006 ballot, Colorado banned marriage but rejected a referendum to allow a "civil union"-like domestic partnership, sustained by a constitutionnal amendment. See also this table
Connecticut	No	Yes	Not legal but bill proposed*	Not legal		No	Legal	?	?	Main article: Same-sex marriage in Connecticut* Does not award marriage licenses to same-sex couples but the civil unions confer "all of the state-level spousal rights and responsibilities." A proposition occured beginning 2007 to allow the marriage.
Delaware	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None
District of Columbia	No	No	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	Legal*	Main article: Domestic partnership in District of Columbia* Enacted 1992; implemented 2002; expanded 2006
State	Marriage					Same-sex unions				Notes
	Defined		Result			Civil Unions		Domestic Partnership
	Constitution	Statute	Licenses	Recogn.		Def.	Status	Def.	Status
Florida	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Petitions are made to start a ban ballot.
Georgia	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Hawaii	Yes	Yes	Ban permitted Not legal.	Not legal		No	None (proposed)	No	Legal*	Minimal benefits, available to all adults, including relatives; official terminology is reciprocal beneficiary relationship*. Bill proposed to afford civil unions but killed in Judiciary Committee.
Idaho	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None
Illinois	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None but proposed	No	None	Petitions are made to start a ban ballot. Marriage or civil union proposition, heading rather to civil unions.
Indiana	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Legislative initiative to start a ban ballot.
Iowa	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Idem (see above link).
Kansas	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Kentucky	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Louisiana	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Maine	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	Legal*	Main article: Domestic partnership in Maine* The Maine Domestic Partnership act came into effect on July 30, 2004.
Maryland	No	Yes	Not legal*	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Main article: Same-sex marriage in Maryland* "The first state law defining marriage as a union between a man and woman was adopted by Maryland in 1973."
Massachusetts	No	No	Legal* by Supreme Court decision	Yes.		No	None	No	None	Main article: Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts*
State	Marriage					Same-sex unions				Notes
	Defined		Result			Civil Unions		Domestic Partnership
	Constitution	Statute	Licenses	Recogn.		Def.	Status	Def.	Status
Michigan	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Minnesota	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Legislative initiative and petitions are made to start a ban ballot.
Mississippi	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None
Missouri	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None
Montana	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None
Nebraska	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		Banned		EVERYTHING IS BANNED !
Nevada	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None
New Hampshire	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None but proposed	No	None	State law pre-dates DOMA. Proposals to introduce civil unions passed the House and OK for governor.
New Jersey	Proposal rejected	No*	None	As civil unions		No	Legal	No	No more but present valid ones allowed.	Main article: Same-sex marriage in New Jersey* The state of New Jersey has neither allowed nor recognized marriages between couples of the same-sex. However, the New Jersey Supreme Court, in Lewis v. Harris, required the New Jersey Legislature to change state law by April 24, 2007 to afford same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. A bill now allows civil unions that will supersede domestic partnerships. These are no more applied but may remain for the present ones.
New Mexico	No	No	None	None		No	None	No	None	Does not contain any public policy explicitly banning same-sex marriage nor defining marriage as between a man and a woman (effectively making the state neutral).
New York	No	No	Not allowed by court*	None		No	None	No	None	Main article: Same-sex marriage in New York*
State	Marriage					Same-sex unions				Notes
	Defined		Result			Civil Unions		Domestic Partnership
	Constitution	Statute	Licenses	Recogn.		Def.	Status	Def.	Status
North Carolina	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Legislative initiative to start a ban ballot.
North Dakota	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Ohio	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Oklahoma	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Oregon	Yes	No	Banned*			No	None but proposed	No	None	Main article: Same-sex marriage in Oregon* Bill proposed to afford "civil union"-like legal package.
Pennsylvania	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Petitions are made to start a ban ballot.
Rhode Island	No	No	None	Yes		No	None	No	None	Does not contain any public policy explicitly banning same-sex marriage nor defining marriage as between a man and a woman (effectively making the state neutral). Does not award marriage licenses, but does extend limited rights to same-sex couples.. Now this is the basis on which RI will recognize the same-sex couples married in Massachussetts according to the Attorney General.
South Carolina	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		Yes	OK for them
South Dakota	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		Banned		EVERYTHING IS BANNED !
Tennessee	Yes	Yes	Banned			No	None	No	None
Texas	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Utah	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Vermont	No	Yes	Not legal but proposed	Not legal		No	Legal	No	None	Vermont civil unions provide same-sex couples access to state-level marriage benefits. Parties to a civil union are entitled to all of the state-level spousal rights and responsibilities and only for couples who live in the state of Vermont. A proposition is made to legalize marriage.
Virginia	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		Banned		EVERYTHING IS BANNED !
Washington	No	Yes	Not legal *	Not legal		No	None	No	Legal	Main article: Same-sex marriage in Washington *
West Virginia	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	Petitions are made to start a ban ballot.
Wisconsin	Yes	Yes	Banned			Banned		No	None
Wyoming	No	Yes	Not legal	Not legal		No	None	No	None	State law pre-dates DOMA.
State	Marriage					Same-sex unions				Notes
	Defined		Result			Civil Unions		Domestic Partnership
	Constitution	Statute	Licenses	Recogn.		Def.	Status	Def.	Status

See also

In General

• Same-sex marriage
• Timeline of same-sex marriage

In USA

• Same-sex marriage in the United States
• Same-sex marriage in the United States public opinion
• Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States
• Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States by state
• Same-sex marriage status in the United States by state !!!!!!!! effacer lien dans la page définitive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• List of benefits of marriage in the United States
• Defense of Marriage Act
• Marriage Protection Act
• Defense of marriage amendment
• Federal Marriage Amendment
• Domestic partnerships in the United States
• Freedom to Marry Coalition

References

For the checking purpose proposed above the table,
type : Category:Marriage, unions and partnerships by country
instead of
Same-sex_marriage_legislation_in_the_United_States_by_state
(this sentence avoids this sandbox to be in the category page - in the real page the category link will be done correctly)

Timetable of same-sex marriage enforcements

Same-sex marriage has been legally in force since:

• April 1 2001 : Netherlands - 1st Nation to allow it nationwide
• June 1 2003 : Belgium - 2nd Nation to allow it nationwide
  • June 10 , 2003 : Canada - province of Ontario
  • July 8, 2003 : Canada - province of British Columbia
  • March 19, 2004 : Canada - province of Quebec since
  • May 17, 2004 : USA - Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • July 14, 2004 : Canada - Yukon territory
  • September 16, 2004 : Canada - province of Manitoba
  • September 24, 2004 : Canada - province of Nova Scotia
  • November 5, 2004 : Canada - province of Saskatchewan
  • December 21, 2004 : Canada - province of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • June 23 , 2005 : Canada - province of New Brunswick
• July 3, 2005 : Spain - 3rd Nation to allow it nationwide
• July 20, 2005 : Canada - 4th Nation to allow it nationwide
  • => July 20, 2005 Canada - province of Alberta
  • => July 20, 2005 Canada - province of Prince Edward Island
  • => July 20, 2005 Canada - Nunavut territory
  • => July 20, 2005 Canada - Northwest Territories
• December 1, 2006 : South Africa - 5th Nation to allow it nationwide

Date	Country Name	Juridiction Name	Nation	Juridiction
April 1 2001	Netherlands	Nationwide	1st	1st
June 1 2003	Belgium	Nationwide	2nd	2nd
June 10 , 2003	Canada	province of Ontario		3rd
July 8, 2003	Canada	province of British Columbia		4th
March 19, 2004	Canada	province of Quebec		5th
May 17, 2004	USA	Commonwealth of Massachusetts		6th
July 14, 2004	Canada	Yukon territory		7th
September 16, 2004	Canada	province of Manitoba		8th
September 24, 2004	Canada	province of Nova Scotia		9th
November 5, 2004	Canada	province of Saskatchewan		10th
December 21, 2004	Canada	province of Newfoundland and Labrador		11th
June 23 , 2005	Canada	province of New Brunswick		12th
July 3, 2005	Spain	Nationwide	3rd	13 th
July 20, 2005	Canada	Nationwide	4th	14th
July 20, 2005	Canada	province of Alberta		14th
July 20, 2005	Canada	province of Prince Edward Island		14th
July 20, 2005	Canada	Nunavut territory		14th
July 20, 2005	Canada	Northwest Territories		14th
December 1, 2006	South Africa	Nationwide	5th	18th

Timetable of same-sex unions enforcements

Date	Country Name	Juridiction Name	Legislation Name	Nation	Juridiction
October 1, 1989	Denmark	Nationwide	Registreret partnerskab (registered partnership)
August 1, 1993	Norway	Nationwide	Registrert partnerskap (registered partnership)
(1994)	Israel 1	Nationwide
January 1, 1995	Sweden (June 23, 1994)	Nationwide	Registrerat partnerskap (registered partnership)
(1996)	Denmark	Greenland	Registreret partnerskab (registered partnership)
(1996)	Hungary 1	Nationwide
(1996)	Iceland	Nationwide	Staðfesta samvist (confirmed cohabitation)
(1999)	France	Nationwide	Pacte civil de solidarité (civil solidarity pact)
(2001)	Germany	Nationwide	Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft (registered life partnership)
(2001)	Portugal	Nationwide	União de facto (De facto union)
(2002)	Finland	Nationwide	Rekisteröity parisuhde (registered partnership)
(2003)	Croatia 1	Nationwide
(2003)	Austria 1	Nationwide
(2004)	Luxembourg	Nationwide	Partenariat enregistré/eingetragene partnerschaft (registered partnership)
(2005)	New Zealand	Nationwide	Civil union
(2005)	United Kingdom	Nationwide	Civil partnership
(2005)	Andorra	Nationwide	Unio estable de parella (stable union of pairs)
July 1, 2006	Czech Republic	Nationwide	Registrované partnerství (registered partnership)
July 23, 2006	Slovenia (July 2005)	Nationwide	Registrirana istospolna partnerska skupnost
(2007)	Switzerland	Nationwide	Partenariat enregistré/Eingetragene Partnerschaft (registered partnership)

RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATURE

House Bill No.5356 {LC775/1} by Crowley (D), Coderre E (D), Shanley (D), Lally (D), Jackson (D) = C.U. Anti-M
ENTITLED : AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- CIVIL UNIONS
(create a law to authorize civil unions including the requirements, procedures and dissolution thereof) Marriage = man + woman !!
February 07 2007 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

House Bill No.5643 {LC1995/1} by McManus (R), Ajello (D), Story (R) = C.U. paraM
ENTITLED : AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS
(provide for civil unions in Rhode Island)
February 28 2007 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

House Bill No.6081 {LC709/1} by Handy (D), Fox (D), Ajello (D), Gemma (D), Almeida (D) = Pro-M
ENTITLED : AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO MARRY
(broaden the definition of persons eligible to marry to include persons of the same gender/also provide that members of the clergy would not be required to officiate at any particular marriage)
March 01 2007 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

House Bill No.6159 {LC2610/1} by San Bento (D), Corvese (D), Palumbo (D), Brien (D), Melo (D) = Anti-M
ENTITLED : AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO MARRY
March 14 2007 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

District	Representative	Party	Residence	C.U. Anti-M Feb.7	C.U. paraM Feb.28	Pro-M Mar.1	Anti-M Mar.14
33	Donald J. Lally, Jr.	D	Narragansett	X
35	John P. Shanley, Jr.	D	South Kingstown	X
60	Elaine A. Coderre	D	Pawtucket	X
73	J. Russell Jackson	D	Newport	X
75	Paul W. Crowley	D	Newport	X
46	William J. McManus	R	Lincoln		X
66	Susan Story	R	Barrington		X
3	Edith H. Ajello	D	Providence		X	X
4	Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox	D	Providence			X
12	Joseph S. Almeida	D	Providence			X
18	Arthur Handy	D	Cranston			X
20	Al Gemma	D	Warwick			X
16	Peter G. Palumbo	D	Cranston				X
50	Todd R. Brien	D	Woonsocket				X
55	Arthur J. Corvese	D	North Providence				X
58	William San Bento, Jr.	D	Pawtucket				X
64	Helio Melo	D	East Providence				X