Same-Sex Laws...A National Overview

In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman amongst other stipulations. As of May 2007, twenty-six states have passed constitutional amendments explicitly barring the recognition of same-sex marriage., eighteen of which prohibit the legal recognition of any same-sex union. Nineteen additional states have legal statutes that define "marriage" as a union of two persons of the opposite-sex. The territory of Puerto Rico ratified a similar statute in 1998. Nonetheless, some states are beginning to offer legal recognition to same-sex couples, whether in the form of marriage or as civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Currently, Massachusetts, Connecticut,  Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Maine have legalized gay marriage.  New Jersy offers civil unions. Also, California and Oregon and the District of Columbia have domestic partnership laws that grant all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage. Washington, and the Hawaii grant certain limited benefits through domestic partnerships, or reciprocal beneficiary laws.

National Map Shows Graphical Representaiton of Same-Sex Union Rights By State Courtesy of Human Rights Campaign

Also visit www.hrc.org and download their informational PDF "Relationship Recognition In The U.S." for the most up to date information regarding Same-Sex Union Options and Marriage Rights.