In the US, the question of equal marriage rights for gay couples continues to be is a major issue, having been legalized in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont and now Maine. With the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, however, a marriage is explicitly defined as a union of one man and one woman for the purposes of federal law.
WHERE MARRIAGE STANDS TODAY
Twelve states plus Washington, D.C. have laws providing at least some form of state-level relationship recognition for same-sex couples. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont (as of September 1, 2009), and Maine (as of mid-September 2009, pending possible repeal effort) recognize marriage for same-sex couples under state law. Five states—California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington (as of July 26, 2009, pending possible repeal effort)—plus Washington, D.C. provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Hawaii provides same-sex couples with limited rights and benefits. New York recognizes marriages by same-sex couples validly entered into outside of New York. Legislatures in New Hampshire and New York are considering marriage legislation that would permit same-sex couples to marry in those states, and the D.C. Council has passed legislation that would recognize marriages by same-sex couples legally entered into in other jurisdictions (that legislation is going through a Congressional review period). Source: HRC.
MASSACHUSSETTS
The Massachussetts Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to allow only opposite-sex couples to marry. Marriage licenses for same-sex couples began on May 17, 2004, the first state in the USA to legalize gay marriage.
CALIFORNIA
On May 15 2008, the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on same-sex marriage and became the second state in the USA to allow gay couples to marry. The California constitutional rights are now under fire with the passage of Proposition 8 on November 4 2008, which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry. On May 26 2009, California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, eliminating the right to marry for same-sex couples. See more in California and San Francisco.
CONNECTICUT
With the furor over California's Prop 8 and anti-gay marriage lobbies, Connecticut quietly passed its own same-sex marriage law. The Supreme Court ruled that denying gays the right to marry was against the equality and liberty rules in the Connecticut Constitution. Equal marriage rights began on November 12, 2008.
IOWA
America's heartland accepted gay marriage on April 27, 2009. It was a major victory for the gay rights movement proving the traditionally narrow-minded interior wasn't so narrow-minded after all.
VERMONT
Vermont will allow same-sex marriage starting September 1, 2009. Vermont was the first state to introduce civil unions, and will be the first state to recognize same-sex marriage as the result of a bill passed in the legislature and not due to a judicial ruling. After September 1, 2009, no further civil unions will be created. Civil unions created prior to this date will retain their status, but these couples will have the option of entering a marriage.
MAINE
"Article I in the Maine Constitution states that 'no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person's civil rights or be discriminated against," Governor Baldacci said. Maine became the fifth state in the US to legalize gay marriage on May 5, 2009. Gay marriages will begin to be performed on September 14th.