GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Appendix

STATE MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIP RECOGNITION LAWS

MARRIAGE

Connecticut
District of Columbia
Iowa
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Vermont

STATES THAT FORMALLY RECOGNIZE MARRIAGES PERFORMED ELSEWHERE

Maryland
New York

CIVIL UNIONS

New Jersey

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

California*
District of Columbia
Nevada
Oregon
Washington
* Gay couples married in California between June 16-Nov. 4, 2008 are recognized as married under state law.

STATES PROVIDING LIMITED LEGAL PROTECTIONS

Colorado
Hawaii
Maryland
Wisconsin

STATE NON-DISCRIMINATION LAWS (EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING & PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS)

SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS

California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Hawaii*
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Minnesota
New Jersey
New Mexico
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
* Hawaii's non-discrimination laws include gender identity protections in public accommodations and housing but not employment.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION PROTECTIONS ONLY

Connecticut
Delaware
Maryland
Massachusetts
Nevada*
New Hampshire
New York
Wisconsin
* Nevada's non-discrimination law protects only to employtment, not to housing or public accommodations

FEDERAL HATE CRIME LAW

SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS

Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

STATE HATE CRIME LAWS

SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS

California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Maryland
Minnesota
Missouri
New Jersey
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington
Vermont

SEXUAL ORIENTATION PROTECTIONS ONLY

Arizona
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin

FEDERAL ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BAN

Defense of Marriage Act

STATE ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BANS (CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT)

Alabama*
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas*
California
Colorado
Florida*
Georgia*
Kansas
Idaho*
Kentucky
Louisiana*
Michigan*
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska*
Nevada
North Dakota*
Ohio*
Oklahoma*
Oregon
South Carolina*
South Dakota*
Tennessee
Texas*
Utah*
Virginia*
Wisconsin*
* Also bans gay couples from legal protections via civil unions, domestic partnerships or other forms of relationship recognition.

STATE ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BANS (STATUTE)

Delaware
Hawaii
Illinois
Hawaii
Indiana
Maryland
Minnesota
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming

STATE LAWS BANNING ADOPTION BY GAY COUPLES

Arkansas*
Florida**
Mississippi
Utah
* This ban, enacted in 2008, was struck down by a state circuit court judge in April 2010. The decision may be appealed.
** The statute was struck down by a state circuit judge in November 2008.
The state appealed the ruling, and the case is pending a decision from the state's Third District Court of Appeals.