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State Same-Sex Marriage State Laws Map

Thirty-seven states had legalized same-sex marriage prior to the Supreme Court ruling.

March 25, 2013 • 
Mike Maciag
The gay pride parade in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood.
1/2: The gay pride parade in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood. (FlickrCC/Katie Kullen)
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In a landmark ruling issued in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution allows for same-sex marriage, effectively overturning remaining restrictions in place in states.

Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, these 37 states and the District of Columbia had legalized gay marriage:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
Most other states had enacted constitutional or statutory bans on same-sex marriage, known as "Defense of Marriage" Acts. The following map shows state laws prior to the Supreme Court ruling:

 

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Mike Maciag is Data Editor for GOVERNING.
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