New Jersey's Rainbow Constitution

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled the state constitution requires that the state treat gays and lesbians equal in the matter of marriage benefits. The legislature has six months to make the benefits of marriage available for all via same-sex marriage or to come up with a plan for an equivalent framework.

The remaining states have laws or constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage, except:

California
• Extensive Domestic Parners laws
• Marriages performed in San Francisco were nullified by the State Supreme Court because the Mayor Gavin Newsome overstepped his authority
• Appeals court ruled that the state constitution requires equal treatment of all citizens, including marriage, opening possibility of same-sex marriage
• Senate and Assembly passed marriage law in 2005; Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed
• State Supreme Court still to rule on same-sex marriage; Massachusetts and New Jersey have given them political cover to do so.

Connecticut
• Legislature constructing framework for civil partnerships
• Same-sex marriage banned

Massachusetts
• Full marriage equality for same-sex couples in 2004.

New Mexico
• Sandoval County issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004
• State's Attorney General halts marriages
• State does not recognize same-sex marriage, but doesn't ban it either

New York
• State Supreme Court rules the state constitution does not require recognition of same-sex marriage, but doesn't preclude it either
• State does not recognize same-sex marriage, but doesn't ban it either

Oregon
• Multnomah County begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples
• State referendum passed banning same-sex marriage in 2004
• State Supreme Court annulled marriage licensed issued in Multnomah County

Vermont
• Civil Unions law passed in 2000

At the federal level, neocons are still trying to inject their religious views into the U.S. Constitution with an amendment banning same-sex marriage. Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate but they have not passed. Some congress people say this is the number one issue facing the country. Excuse me, have you heard of Iraq?