Gay Marriage States and Other LGBT Relationship Recognition in the USA

The following are states with gay marriage (or gay marriage states). There are those who are against gay marriage, but anti-same sex arguments are not as effective as they once were. Of course, those same sex couples who have gay marriages in these states have gay marriage support.

States with full marriage equality (5 states + DC)

Massachusetts (2004); Connecticut (2008); Iowa (2009); Vermont (2009)1; New Hampshire (2009); District of Columbia (2010) 2

“1 = VT will honor existing civil unions, but will not issue new licenses. Civil unions will not automatically convert to marriages.”

“2 = DC will continue to honor and issue domestic partner licenses and will convert domestic partnerships to marriages for those who wish.”

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States which recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states (4 states)
New York (2008); Maryland (2010); Rhode Island, New Mexico (2011)

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States with broad relationship recognition laws (9 states)

“A ‘broad relationship recognition law’ is one that extends to same-sex couples all or nearly all the rights and responsibilities extended to married couples under state law, whether titled a ‘civil union’ or ‘domestic partnership’ law. Other relationship recognition laws offer more limited rights and protections.”

Civil unions: Vermont (2000); New Jersey (2006); Illinois (2011) [2], Hawaii, Delaware (2012) [2]
Domestic partnerships: California (2005)4; Oregon (2007); Washington (2007[2]/2008); Nevada (2009);

“4 = CA recognizes same-sex marriages legally registered in or out of CA prior to Nov. 5, 2008 as marriages, and those registered out of CA on or after Nov. 5, 2008 as domestic partnerships.”

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States with limited relationship recognition laws (6 states)

Designated beneficiaries: Colorado (2009)
Domestic partnerships: Rhode Island (2001); Maine (2004); Maryland; (2008)3; Wisconsin (2009);
Reciprocal beneficiaries: Hawaii (1997)

“3 = In 2008, MD created domestic partnerships, but does not maintain a registry. In 2010, the attorney general determined that out-of-state marriages should be recognized.”

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STATE GRAND TOTAL: 24 states (plus DC)


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References:

[1] = Relationship Recognition for Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. (2011-04-01)
(Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references are of no. [1])
http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/issue_maps/rel_recog_4_11_color.pdf

Relationship Map home: 
http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/relationship_recognition



[2] = Relationship_Recognition_Laws_Map (2011-05--27 via HRC) 
http://www.hrc.org/documents/Relationship_Recognition_Laws_Map.pdf

Relationship Map home
http://www.hrc.org/issues/marriage.asp