On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first state and sixth jurisdiction in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. As a result, opponents of same-sex marriage began tightening restrictions on marriage, with several states approving state constitutional amendments that explicitly defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. A fierce battle is taking place between these poles, with those who hope that all gays and lesbians, regardless of where they live, will soon have the right to marry, fighting against those who believe that same-sex marriage contributes to undermining heterosexual marriage, which they see as the foundation of healthy families. Chapter 27. – To the extent that marriage is the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union assimilated to marriage or the essential equivalent of marriage is valid or recognized. In a speech at the White House, President Obama praised the Supreme Court`s decision, saying it came “like lightning” after a series of battles over same-sex marriage. Most of the states that have passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage are located in the more socially conservative South and Midwest. Similarly, seven of the nine states that have legalized same-sex marriage — Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont — are in the more socially liberal Northeast. Between the coasts, only one state, Iowa, has so far recognized same-sex marriage, in this case following a court decision. On the West Coast, only Washington state has legalized same-sex marriage. (e) For the purposes of the legislation of that State, 2 persons of the same sex who are parties to a legal union other than marriage (whether a registered partnership, civil partnership or other relationship) established in another territory enjoy and are subject to the same rights, benefits and guarantees.

Responsibilities, duties and obligations accorded and imposed on married spouses (whether arising from laws, administrative rules or regulations, judicial rules, government policies, common law, judicial decisions or other provisions or sources of law, including equity) if: Article XI – Section 28. Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman. No other domestic union, however it is called, can be recognized as a marriage or have the same or substantially equivalent legal effect. Meanwhile, major Protestant churches are wrestling over whether to ordain gay clergy and hold same-sex marriage ceremonies. In fact, gay ordination and marriage is a growing rift between the social-liberal and conservative wings of Episcopalian, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches, and has led some conservative parishes — and even entire dioceses — to secede from their national churches as they open up more to gay clergy and same-sex marriage. (See Official Positions of Religious Groups on Same-Sex Marriage.) Compared to opposite-sex couples in a similar situation, same-sex couples had the following financial and legal disadvantages: Section 14-03-01. What is marriage – definition of spouse. Marriage is a personal relationship born of a civil contract between a man and a woman, for which the consent of the parties is essential. Marriage may be contracted, maintained, annulled or dissolved only in accordance with the law. A spouse refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife. Article 14-03-08.

Recognized foreign marriages – Exception. Unless residents of that State contract a marriage in another State that is prohibited by the laws of that State, all marriages contracted outside that State and valid under the laws of the State or country in which the contract was entered into are valid in that State. This article shall apply only to marriage contracted in another State or country between a man and a woman as husband and wife. A study from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health found that gay men in Massachusetts were much less likely to visit health clinics after same-sex marriage was legalized in that state. [162] Prior to 2004, same-sex marriage was not contracted or recognized in any U.S. state. Subsequently, however, they were legally recognized and recognized in various jurisdictions through laws, court decisions[8], tribal council decisions[9] and referendums. [10] [11] [12] Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized as a marriage in Kentucky. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried persons is neither valid nor recognized. Based on research, in part on the negative effects of stigma on gays and lesbians, many leading social science organizations have issued statements in favor of same-sex marriage and rejecting discrimination based on sexual orientation. These organizations include the American Psychoanalytic Association and the American Psychological Association. [153] (d) The rights of same-sex married spouses with respect to a child whose parents become one of the spouses during their marriage correspond to the rights (including the presumptions of parentage, paternity and maternity in Chapter 8 of this Title) of opposite-sex married spouses in respect of a child whose parent becomes one of the spouses during their marriage.