The evolution of same-sex marriage
The legal roller coaster of same-sex marriage is over. In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in all 50 states. "The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of a person," Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said in the ruling, and "under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment, couples of the same sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty."
Here is how same-sex marriage has evolved in the past 15 years:
6/26/2015
Supreme Court rules
same-sex marriage legal
51*
Number of states
where same-sex
marriage is legal
6/25/2015
Number of states
where civil
unions is legal
Jumps from 10
to 36 in less than
three years
5/17/2004
Massachussetts
legalizes
same-sex
marriage
7/1/00
Vermont
legalizes
civil unions
1/1/2013
1
0
0
2000
2005
2010
2015
*Includes Washington, D.C.
6/26/2015
Supreme Court rules same-sex
marriage legal across nation
51*
Number of states where
same-sex marriage is legal
Number of states where
civil unions is legal
6/25/2015
Jumps from 10 to
36 in less than
three years
5/17/2004
Massachussetts becomes
first state to legalize
same-sex marriage
1/1/2013
7/1/2000
Vermont legalizes
civil unions
1
0
0
2000
2005
2010
2015
*Includes Washington, D.C.
6/26/2015
Supreme Court rules same-sex
marriage legal across nation
51*
Number of states where
same-sex marriage is legal
Number of states where
civil unions is legal
6/25/2015
Jumps from 10 to
36 in less than
three years
5/17/2004
Massachussetts becomes
first state to legalize
same-sex marriage
1/1/2013
7/1/2000
Vermont legalizes
civil unions
1
0
0
2000
2005
2010
2015
*Includes Washington, D.C.
6/26/2015
Supreme Court rules same-sex
marriage legal across nation
51*
Number of states where
same-sex marriage is legal
Number of states where
civil unions is legal
6/25/2015
Jumps from 10 to
36 in less than
three years
5/17/2004
Massachussetts becomes
first state to legalize
same-sex marriage
1/1/2013
7/1/2000
Vermont legalizes
civil unions
1
0
0
2000
2005
2010
2015
*Includes Washington, D.C.
6/26/2015
Supreme Court rules same-sex
marriage legal across nation
51*
Number of states where
same-sex marriage is legal
Number of states where
civil unions is legal
6/25/2015
Jumps from 10 to
36 in less than
three years
5/17/2004
Massachussetts becomes
first state to legalize
same-sex marriage
1/1/2013
7/1/2000
Vermont legalizes
civil unions
1
0
0
2000
2005
2010
2015
*Includes Washington, D.C.
Source: Times reporting.
––––––––––––
For the record:
June 26, 1:23 p.m.
An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Vermont first legalized civil unions on Jan. 1, 2000. The state legalized civil unions on July 1, 2000.
