Same-Sex Marriage in the United States

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November 18, 2003: The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts rejects a ban on gay marriage, calling it unconstitutional, in the much-awaited landmark case Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, brought by seven gay couples who were denied marriage licenses in the state.

November 19, 2003: Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney says that in the wake of the ruling by the state Supreme Judicial Court indicating that gay couples have a right to marry under the current Massachusetts Constitution, he will support a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual unions.

January 12, 2004: The leader of Boston's Roman Catholic Archdiocese asks Catholic lawyers and judges to oppose gay marriage, saying the institutions of marriage and family are under assault.

February 4, 2004: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issues an advisory opinion requested by the legislature for clarification on a civil unions bill, ruling that anything other than the right to marry for same-sex couples is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

February 13, 2004: The Massachusetts Constitutional Convention ends with no agreement among legislators on proposed amendments relating to same-sex marriage. As a result, Goodridge v. Department of Health, the last word of the Supreme Judicial Court on the subject, essentially legalizing gay marriage, is left intact for the time being.

March 11, 2004: The Massachusetts House and Senate reconvene with a compromise in sight consisting of a constitutional amendment sponsored by Senate President Travaglini which would ban gay marriage while establishing same-sex civil unions.

April 16, 2004: Massachusetts Governor Matt Romney asks the Massachusetts legislature for special authorization to seek a stay of the ruling that would otherwise legalize same-sex marriage in Massachusetts mid-May.

April 21, 2004: The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts files a petition with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court asking for a delay of same-sex marriages until a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage can be voted on.

May 4, 2004: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Roderick Ireland rejects a last-minute application by the Massachusetts Catholic Action League for a stay of the Court's landmark gay marriage ruling.

May 10, 2004: Liberty Counsel and other conservative groups file a motion in federal court seeking to block the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts after similar attempts filed in state court failed.

May 14, 2004: US District Judge Joseph Tauro rejects an effort by conservative groups to prevent gay marriages from taking place in Massachusetts.

Also, the US Supreme Court refuses to block the first state-sanctioned gay marriages in the United states from starting in Massachusetts.

May 17, 2004: Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage.

Also, reacting to the first state-authorized same-sex marriages that began in Massachusetts, President Bush renews his call for a Constitutional amendment banning the practice.

May 21, 2004: Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly orders four clerks to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples from out-of-state.

June 2, 2004: State lawmakers in Massachusetts renew efforts to oust Supreme Judicial Court justices who signed the majority opinion that made same sex marriage legal in Massachusetts.

June 29, 2004: Federal appeals court says that the Massachusetts court acted within the US Constitution when issuing same-sex marriage decision.

November 29, 2004: The US Supreme Court declines to hear a challenge to last year's Massachusetts high court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

May 3, 2005: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court hears a bid to restrain same-sex couples from marrying until state residents can vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment banning such marriages.

June 16, 2005: Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney announces his support of a drive to put before state voters a proposed constitutional amendment to ban both same-sex marriage and civil unions.

September 14, 2005: The Massachusetts state legislature rejects a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage but allowed civil unions.

December 7, 2005: Supporters of a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts deliver 170,000 signatures to the secretary of state, moving them one step closer to putting the initiative on the ballot in 2008.

January 3, 2006: Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders file a complaint against Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, seeking to overturn Reilly's September decision to allow a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage to proceed.

March 30, 2006: The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts rules that same-sex couples from outside of Massachusetts cannot marry in the state.

July 10, 2006: The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts rules that a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage can be placed on the ballot for voter approval, if the amendment is approved by the state legislature.

November 24, 2006: Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney files a request with the state's Supreme Judicial Court to put a measure effectively banning same-sex marriage on the 2008 Massachusetts ballot if legislators fail to vote on the issue before the end of their term on January 2.

December 27, 2006: The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts rules unanimously that it could not force the state legislature to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

January 2, 2007: Massachusetts lawmakers push forward a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

February 17, 2007: NJ AG Stuart Rabner says that same-sex marriages and civil unions from out-of-state jurisdictions will be afforded "all of the rights and benefits of marriage" under New Jersey's civil unions law.

February 21, 2007: Rhode Island recognizes same-sex marriages of state employees performed in Massachusetts.

February 24, 2007: US District Judge Mark Wolf dismisses a lawsuit against a MA town that allows its public school system to teach children about same-sex marriage brought by two families of elementary school students arguing that the school's actions violated their right to free exercise of religion.

April 3, 2007: Gov. Patrick directs the MA Dept. of Public Health to register the same-sex marriages of 26 couples from outside the state who were married by four MA towns despite an order by former Gov. Romney not to marry out-of-state same-sex couples.

May 16, 2007: Suffolk County Superior Court holds as valid the marriages of same-sex couples from NY who married in MA before the NY Court of Appeals upheld a ban on New York same-sex marriage.

June 14, 2007: The MA legislature votes against allowing a statewide vote on a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

July 26, 2007: The MA Registry of Vital Records says that because the New Mexico government has not explicitly banned same-sex marriage, MA may issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples from that state.

May 15, 2008: The Supreme Court of California overturns a state ban on same-sex marriage, ruling 4-3 in In re Marriage Cases.

May 23, 2008: Alliance Defense Fund petitions the Supreme Court of CA to stay its decision overturning a ban on same-sex marriage.

May 29, 2008: NY Governor David Paterson orders all state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages from other states as legal marriages for purposes of NY law.

Also, CA Deputy State Registrar Janet McKee issues a memorandum setting June 17 as the start date for issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

May 31, 2008: Ten US state attorneys general petition the Supreme Court of CA to postpone implementation of its decision legalizing same-sex marriages until after state elections in November.

June 3, 2008: California Secretary of State Debra Bowen announces that a ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage will appear on the November ballot.

June 4, 2008: The Supreme Court of CA denies bids by two conservative groups to stay the Court's decision overturning a ban on same-sex marriage in the state.

June 17, 2008: The Supreme Court of CA ruling which overturned a state ban on same-sex marriage takes effect.

June 18, 2008: The CA First District Court of Appeal rejects a petition by an anti-same-sex marriage group to block the issuance of sex-neutral marriages licenses.

July 12, 2008: The MA Supreme Judicial Court rules that couples married after the court's decision legalizing same-sex marriage cannot make claims for benefits they would have received had they been allowed to marry sooner.

July 16, 2008: The MA Senate passes a bill to repeal a law which bars people from marrying in MA if their own state would not recognize such a union.

July 17, 2008: The CA Supreme Court rejects a challenge seeking to remove a November ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in the state.

July 30, 2008: The MA House of Representatives votes in favor of a bill to repeal a law barring people from marrying in MA if their own state would not recognize such a union.

Also, the New York Civil Liberties Union announces that health insurance company BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York has agreed to extend health-care benefits to spouses in validly married same-sex couples.

August 15, 2008: The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules that Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury did not violate the constitutional rights of voters who signed a petition to hold a referendum on a state law establishing same-sex domestic partnerships when he struck over 200 signatures.

September 3, 2008: The New York State Supreme Court dismisses a lawsuit challenging the decision made by NY Governor David Paterson recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages.

October 10, 2008: The Connecticut Supreme Court rules that the Connecticut Constitution requires that same-sex couples be allowed to marry.

October 27, 2008: A pending California ballot initiative to eliminate same-sex marriage in the state generates more than $60 million in contributions to committees representing both sides.

November 5, 2008: A constitutional amendment in California and similar measures in Arizona and Florida ban same-sex marriages in those states.

November 6, 2008: Rights groups file a writ petition seeking to invalidate California’s state constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.

November 9, 2008: Demonstrators in San Diego and Los Angeles protest the passage of Proposition 8, California’s constitutional amendment making same-sex marriages illegal.

November 13, 2008: Connecticut Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert signs a final order allowing same-sex marriage in the state.

November 18, 2008: California AG Jerry Brown urges the state Supreme Court to review the petitions regarding the recent passage of Proposition 8.

December 20, 2008: CA AG Edmund Brown Jr. urges the Supreme Court of California to declare Proposition 8 unconstitutional.