Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decisions on DOMA and Prop8, I wanted to take a moment and honor the states (and a couple of countries*) that laid the groundwork to get us to this point in the nation’s history.
Over the last decade, thousands upon thousands of Americans have sacrificed their time, money, privacy and sanity to get same-sex marriage legalized in their respective home states. Their goal of obtaining full rights for LGBT couples and families was not easily fought, and it’s upon their shoulders we will stand equal to the rest of the country, whether it’s now or in the future. I’m rooting for now…my fridge is running out of space.
Surprising no one, The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, November 2001.
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Massachusetts, May 17, 2004. Who knew Red Sox fans could be so cool?
Don’t Blame Canada. Our northern neighbor becomes the first non-European country to legalize same-sex marriage, July 20, 2005.
Connecticut, November 5, 2008. Way to go, Nutmeggers!
California legalizes same-sex marriage from June 16 until November 5, 2008. Supported by The Governator, overturned by Prop8.
UPDATE! Un-overturned (?) by SCOTUS, June 26, 2013 — marriage legal again in California!
Iowa, April 27, 2009. Cue nationwide “WTF?” (Magnet courtesy of Kristin Stork)
Vermont, September 1, 2009. Ben & Jerry can now legally wed.
Never to be outdone by Vermont… New Hampshire, January 1, 2010
The District of Columbia, March 9, 2010. In January 2013, Washington National Cathedral announced it will perform same-sex weddings. Giddy wedding planners can be heard as far away as West Virginia.
New York ♥s same-sex marriage, July 24, 2011.
Double espressos all around! Washington, December 6, 2012
Maine, December 29, 2012 (Magnet courtesy of Carrie Lutz & Holly Francis)
Maryland, January 1, 2013 (Read about the night legislation passed in my home state)
Rhode Island, legislation passed May 2, 2013. Becomes legal August 1, 2013
(Magnet courtesy of… well, I don’t actually remember. Will the generous soul who sent this let me know?)
Delaware, legislation passed May 7, 2013. Becomes legal July 1, 2013. Gay dolphin magnets available July 2.
Minnesota, legislation passed May 15, 2013. Becomes legal August 1, 2013. Minneapolis & St. Paul can now legally wed.
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*No offense to Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Mexico City, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay, New Zealand, Brazil and France. These were the only foreign magnets I had. If you happen to have a magnet from any of the countries that have legalized same-sex marriage, send me a pic and I’ll add it to this post!
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UPDATES:
Sweden (May 2009), Denmark (June 2012), Norway (January 2009) Denmark was the first country to legally recognize same-sex couples through registered partnerships in 1989. (Magnets courtesy of Bo Johansson)
New Zealand (August 2013) Lord of the [Wedding] Rings! (Magnet courtesy of Marc Fabris)