Marriage Equality

Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or gender identity. Legal recognition of same-sex marriage is sometimes referred to as marriage equality, particularly by advocates and supporters.

Since 2000, eleven countries (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden) have legalized same-sex marriage, as have parts of Brazil and Mexico. In 2013, bills to legalize same-sex marriage were passed in Uruguay, New Zealand and France, although those laws have not yet taken effect.

In the United States, same-sex marriage is legal in nine states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington), and in the District of Columbia. (Same-sex marriage will become legal in Delaware on July 1, 2013, and in Rhode Island on August 1, 2013.)

Archives | Mentions:

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Gov. Pat Quinn (D-Ill.)

Ill. governor to House lawmakers: ‘It’s time to vote’ on marriage equality bill

Friday, May 10, 2013
SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday called on state lawmakers in the House to send him the bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, and said they have had enough time to consider the pending legislation. [ Read more → ]
Charlie Crist

Former Fla. governor Charlie Crist says he supports same-sex marriage

Thursday, May 9, 2013
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Former Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist has declared his support for same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]
Minnesota

BREAKING: Minn. House approves same-sex marriage bill

Thursday, May 9, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A pivotal vote Thursday in the Minnesota House positioned that state to become the 12th in the country to allow gay marriages and the first in the Midwest to pass such a law out of its Legislature. [ Read more → ]
LGBT-rights-file

Poll finds growing acceptance of gay rights, marriage equality

Thursday, May 9, 2013
A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds further public acceptance of gay rights in the United States, in areas ranging from the professional basketball court to the Boy Scouts, as well as the institution of marriage. [ Read more → ]
MN-Marriage-supporters

Crowd of demonstrators grows at Minn. capitol ahead of marriage vote

Thursday, May 9, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds of people on both sides of the gay marriage issue are expressing their viewpoints at the Minnesota Capitol where the House is expected to cast a historic vote on legislation legalizing same-gender unions. [ Read more → ]
Rachel Ford cheers during a rally supporting a same-sex marriage bill in Minnesota on the steps of the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday May 8, 2013. The Minnesota House is scheduled to debate and vote Thursday on a measure that would make the state the 12th in the country to allow gay marriage. Photo: Andy Clayton King, AP

UPDATED: Minnesota House stands ready to vote on same-sex marriage bill

Thursday, May 9, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A gay Minnesota lawmaker leading the push to legalize same-sex weddings in the state told colleagues Thursday that gay couples "contribute to the same Minnesota system as everyone else" and deserve the right to be married. [ Read more → ]
Jim Mone, AP

Proposed change in Minn. gay marriage bill could encourage GOP support

Wednesday, May 8, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The leader of the group lobbying to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota said Wednesday he supports a proposed change to the bill that could make it easier for Republicans to support. [ Read more → ]
Minnesota

Minnesota appears poised to be next state to legalize same-sex marriage

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota appears poised to legalize same-sex marriage, as the Democratic speaker of the state House said Tuesday that a marriage equality bill endorsed by the governor and likely to pass in the state Senate also now has enough backing in his chamber. [ Read more → ]
Karen Peterson-200

Delaware state lawmaker comes out as gay during marriage equality hearing

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
DOVER, Del. -- A Delaware state Senator came out as gay on Tuesday while giving an impassioned speech on the Senate floor moments before the chamber voted to legalize same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signs the marriage equality bill on the steps of Legislative Hall in Dover, Del. on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, after it was approved by the Delaware Senate earlier that afternoon.Photo: Daniel Sato, The Wilmington News-Journal, AP

Delaware becomes 11th U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
DOVER, Del. -- The Delaware state Senate just moments ago voted 12-9 to approve a marriage equality bill, less than 30 days after the bill was first introduced in the state legislature. [ Read more → ]
Uruguay-marriage-vote

Uruguay’s president signs marriage equality bill into law

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguay's President Jose Mujica’s has signed the country's marriage equality bill into law, making the South American country the 12th nation in the world and third in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]
Delaware-flag

Delaware senate to consider marriage equality bill Tuesday

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
DOVER, Del. -- The Delaware state Senate on Tuesday will consider a marriage equality bill in a bid to make Delaware the the eleventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. [ Read more → ]
Minnesota-state-capitol

UPDATED: Marriage equality bill on the move again at Minn. state capitol

Monday, May 6, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The second-to-last week of Minnesota's legislative session started Monday with attention growing around the definition of marriage, as the bill to open it up to same-sex couples headed into what could be a pivotal week at the Capitol. [ Read more → ]
Brigitte Van Nice

Ex-Iowa official guilty of fraud in issuing marriage license to Fla. couple

Monday, May 6, 2013
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- A former rural Iowa court official pleaded guilty Monday to forgery for filing false documents to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple from central Florida, in the first case of its kind in Iowa. [ Read more → ]
Tim Faust

Another previously undecided Minn. lawmaker says he’ll support marriage equality bill

Monday, May 6, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Democratic state representative, who's also a Lutheran pastor, says he'll vote to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota. [ Read more → ]
Minnesota-Flag

Minn. House panel to review impact of marriage bill on state’s general fund

Monday, May 6, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The bill to make same-sex marriage legal in Minnesota is getting a last-minute committee hearing in the Minnesota House. [ Read more → ]
Newt Gingrich

Gingrich claims religious rights are being ‘outlawed’ by marriage equality

Sunday, May 5, 2013
Former U.S. House Speaker, and failed GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," falsely claimed that Catholic adoption agencies are being "outlawed" in some states where marriage equality laws take effect. [ Read more → ]
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin

R.I. bishop warns Catholics against attending ‘immoral’ gay weddings

Saturday, May 4, 2013
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin issued a warning to Catholics this week that are not free to “endorse or ignore immoral or destructive behavior,” and advised against attending any gay weddings now that same-sex marriage has been legalized in Rhode Island. [ Read more → ]
Maryland

With marriage now legal, Md. to end partner benefits for gay state workers

Saturday, May 4, 2013
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Governor of Maryland has notified state employees that shared benefits for domestic partners will end on December 31, and if they want to continue their health insurance coverage, they'll have to get married. [ Read more → ]
Texas-flag-licensed

Texas AG’s opinion on same-sex partner benefits doesn’t worry cities, counties

Friday, May 3, 2013
EL PASO, Texas -- Cities and counties that offer same-sex partner health benefits don't anticipate altering their policies after the Texas attorney general called the practice unconstitutional, though his opinion does serve as fuel for litigation against entities providing benefits to gay couples. [ Read more → ]
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