Dabble Post: Gay State Update: Marriage Equality

this is a good summary of the status of marriage as to its, personally I think NJ will move forward this year. NY is not out of the picture yet a lot of work is being done to move the state senate.

Dabble Post: Gay State Update: Marriage Equality

Marriage Pending

California - the CA Supreme Court will rule on the validity of Proposition 8 by June 4, 2009, likely earlier; common wisdom is that the 18 000 marriages already performed will remain legal but that Proposition 8 will be upheld

New Hampshire - legislation legalizing same-sex marriage narrowly passed the House and has been sent to the Senate; it seems hopeful that the legislation will pass the Senate as well (Democrats hold a 14-9 majority though Republican leaders have vowed a fight); it is unclear whether Governor John Lynch, a Democrat, will veto (he opposes same-sex marriage but signed a civil union bill in 2007)


On The Radar

Washington, DC - a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage will likely be introduced in the DC Council in the coming weeks/months; the Council is expected to overwhelmingly pass the bill and Mayor Adrian Fenty has said he would sign it; the bill will become law unless the US Congress and President Barack Obama approve a joint resolution overturning it

Maine - a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage is working its way through the legislature and will likely come up for a vote later in the year; Democrats control both chambers and the governor's mansion; a tough fight is expected

Rhode Island - a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage is working its way through the legislature and will likely come up for a vote later in the year; Democrats control both chambers but a Republican holds the governor's mansion; passage in the legislature seems hopeful but a veto by Governor Donald Carcieri seems likely; because of term limits, Carcieri will be unable to run for re-election in 2010

New Jersey - a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage has been introduced in the legislature; Democrats control both chambers and the governor's mansion; the leadership of both chambers support marriage equality as does Governor Jon Corzine; with gubernatorial and legislative elections coming up in November 2009, however, it seems unlikely that the bill will be taken up this session; both chambers are likely to retain their Democratic majorities but Corzine is facing a tough re-election; the leading Republican challenger for governor, Chris Christie, has said he would veto marriage legislation

New York - same-sex marriages performed in other states are recognized as valid; a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York itself has not been introduced in the current legislative session; Democrats control both chambers of the legislature and the governor's mansion; the leadership of both chambers support marriage equality as does Governor David Patterson; with a slim and tenuous Democratic majority in the Senate, however, it seems unlikely that a bill will be taken up this session

Maryland - two bills that would legalize same-sex marriage, one in the House and one in the Senate, are stuck in committee; the current legislative session ends on April 13, 2009; it appears unlikely that the bills will come up for a vote

Washington - a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage has been introduced in the legislature but there are no indications that it will be taken up this session; legislators are instead focusing on expanding current domestic partnership laws

Minnesota - a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage has been introduced in the legislature but there are no indications that it will be taken up this session; it would face a tough fight in the legislature and an almost certain veto by Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty

Colorado - an initiative that would legalize same-sex marriage is in the early stages of approval for the 2010 ballot; voters in 2006 passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage by 56%


Marriage Won

Massachusetts - effective May 17, 2004

Connecticut - effective November 12, 2008

Iowa - effective April 24, 2009

Vermont - effective September 1, 2009
Posted by Dabble Post at 11:49 AM
Labels: Marriage Equality