Federalism: Same Sex Marriage
2008
-California supreme court overturns ban on same sex marriage -California votes approve ban on same sex marriage (Prop 8)
1996
-Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) -It defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman -Spouse is defined as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife -That definition affects 1049 federal laws, rights, and privileges that are only afforded to heterosexual couples
1987
-First mass same sex marriage ceremony (not legalized) -7000 people in attendance -2000 marriages took place
2011
-U.S. president Barack Obama declares DOMA unconstitutional -Directs Department of Justice to stop defending defending the law in court
2004
11 states pass initiatives to ban same sex marriage
2013
DOMA gets struck down
1973
Maryland becomes to first state to pass a statute banning same sex marriage
2001
Netherlands becomes the first country in the world to legalize same sex marriage
1989
Same sex couples living together for at least 10 years can be considered family in New York
June 26th 2015
Same sex marriage is legalized nationwide
2003
State court decision in Massachusetts becomes first state to legalize same sex marriage
1970
Two university of Minnesota students apply for a marriage license. They're denied.
2012
US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules California's Prop 8 Unconstitutional
1995
Utah Governor Mike Levitt signs first "defense of marriage" statute declaring that Utah does not have to recognize out-of-state same sex marriages
2006
Voters in 7 states approve ban on same sex marriage
