• Gay marriage, or same-sex marriage, refers to the legal, social, or religiously recognized matrimonial union of a couple who are of the same gender. Due to the controversy surrounding same sex couples, such unions are often called "civil unions" in legal context.

    With Governor John Lynch's signature, New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage on June 3, 2009. The new law is a revision of a bill that failed to pass the state legislature weeks earlier. The bill signed by Lynch contains legal protections for religious groups that are opposed to gay unions.New York Times: New Hampshire Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

  • Nevada Gay Marriage

    On May 31, 2009, the Nevada state senate voted a bill into law that would give same-sex and unmarried couples partnership rights similar to those granted by the state to married couples. The Nevada state senate was able to muster enough votes to override a veto by the state's Republican Governor Jim Gibbons.New York Times: Nevada Partnership Bill Now Law (June 1, 2009)

  • New Hampshire Gay Marriage

    On May 19, 2009, a bill that would have made the state of New Hampshire the sixth state to allow gay marriage was rejected by a slim vote of 188-186 in the state house of representatives.Reuters: NY legislature considers gay marriage (May 20, 2009) However, a revised bill was passed and promptly signed by Governor John Lynch on June 3. The revision provides legal protections for religious groups opposed to gay marriage.

  • Iowa Gay Marriage

    On April 3, 2009, Iowa's Supreme Court unanimously decided that "limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution." Gay marriage will be legal in Iowa beginning on April 24, 2009.DesMoinesRegister.com: Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one.... (April 3, 2009)

  • Vermont Gay Marriage

    On April 7, 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Vermont's Senate voted to override Governor Jim Douglas' veto of the gay marriage legislation.Burlington Free Press: Gay Marriage Legalized in Vermont (April 7 2009)

  • Maine Gay Marriage

    On May 6, 2009, Maine Governor John Baldacci signed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage less than an hour after the state legislature had given their approval. As long as it is not overturned during a 30-day Congressional review period, the law is to take effect in mid-September 2009.CNN: Maine Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (May 6, 2009)

  • Civil Unions

    A civil union is a legal partnership similar to a marriage. Because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, civil unions, domestic partnerships, and same-sex couples do not have the same rights that a married couple has under federal law. As of 2008, the following U.S. states had civil union or domestic partnership rights similar to marriage: Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Oregon.

    The Washington State legislature passed a bill to expand benefits for same-sex and unmarried senior couples on April 15, 2009. The bill expands rights and benefits in a variety of ways, but stops short of granting marriage to same-sex couples. The bill passed on a vote of 62-35 and is expected to be signed in to law by Washington state governor Chris Gregoire.Star Tribune: Washington Legislature approves measure expanding benefits (April 15, 2009)

  • Federal Legislation

    Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders in Boston, Massachusetts filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit against the federal government on March 3, 2009, saying that the federal Defense of Marriage Act makes married homosexual couples ineligible to file joint tax returns and results in same-sex couples paying more in taxes than heterosexual married couples. The group also contends that the Defense of Marriage Act is discriminatory because it denies married same-sex couple benefits such as health insurance and pensions.Huffington Post: Married Same-Sex Couples... (March 3, 2009)

  • Dick Cheney

    During a speech at the National Press Club on June 1, 2009, former Vice President Dick Cheney said that he supports the legalization of gay marriage, providing it is decided by individual states rather than the federal government.WashingtonPost.com: Cheney Comes Out for Gay Marriage, State-by-State

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