Gay World Tour - United States

Gay in America

Same-Sex Marriage:

LGBT people in the U.S. are fighting for equal protection under the law, including legal gay marriage. The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996 denies federal recognition of gay marriages and gives each state the right to refuse recognition of same-sex marriage. Some lawmakers have proposed a Constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and woman. The measure has been unsuccessful thus far.

• U.S. states that recognize gay marriage:
  
  • Massachusetts
    On May 17, 2004 Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.
  
  
  • New Jersey
    On October 25, 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that New Jersey must allow same-sex couples to marry.


• U.S. States that allow same-sex partnerships or civil unions:
  
  • California
    California provides domestic partnership benefits. The state legislature successfully voted in favor of legal gay marriage in California, only to be vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In March, 2005, a San Francisco judge ruled that the law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
  
  
  • Connecticut
    Although Connecticut defines marriage as between a man and woman, it became the second U.S. state to grant same-sex civil unions in April, 2005.
  
  
  • New Hampshere
    In April of 2007, the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a civil unions bill that give gay couples nearly the same rights as married couples. The Senate is expected to sign the bill and the Governor has agreed to sign it into law.
  
  
  • Oregon
    The State House and Senate passed a domestic partnership law that grants same-sex couples many of the rights of marriage as well as a bill that protects gays and lesbians against discrimination.
  
  
  • Vermont
    The first U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions in 2000. Learn about Vermont civil unions.
  
  
  • Washington
    In April of 2007, the Washington State legislature passed a domestic partnership bill providing legal benefits to same-sex couples. read more


• U.S. States that ban same-sex unions:
  The States that prohibit same-sex marriage are Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Same-Sex Adoption:

Here are the different types of adoption and a state-by-state index of adoption laws in the U.S.

HIV in the States:

About.com HIV/AIDS gives an in-depth report on HIV in the U.S.