";
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GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","INTRO COPY","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "In 1996, the federal government passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines a marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It also permits states to deny recognizing a same-sex marriage in any state. Such laws have been passed by numerous states. Click a state to learn more.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Alabama","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Alaska","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law banned same-sex marriages. But in 1998 a state judge ruled that marriage is a fundamental right and that the law discriminated against citizens based on sex. As a result, the judge said, the state of Alaska must show a compelling reason for withholding civil marriage licenses from gay couples. Voters later ratified an amendment to the state Constitution banning gay marriages in Alaska and invalidating lawful same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Arizona","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages and prohibits the recognition of gay marriages in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: Tucson passed a law in 1997 approving the benefits. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Arkansas","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A law was passed in 1997 that bans gay marriages.
Domestic Partnership: There are no municipalities offering domestic partner benefits in Arkansas. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","California","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: Californians banned gay marriage on March 7, 2000 by approving a ballot measure that allows the state to recognize only a union between a man and woman. On Feb. 12, 2003, San Francisco's newly elected Mayor Gavin Newsome allowed the distribution of marriage licenses to same sex couples, prompting the state attorney general to file a constitutional challenge with the state Supreme Court. A ruling by the court to decide the fate of thousands of marriages performed in San Francisco under Newsome's watch is expected before the beginning of the fall 2004 legislative session.
Domestic partnership benefits: The entire state has a domestic partnership registry and in January will offer domestic partnership benefits.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Colorado","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A law was passed in 2000 that bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: Boulder and Denver offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Connecticut","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: Two attempts to ban gay marriages have failed.
Domestic partnership benefits:
Connecticut offers domestic partner benefits to state employees, but does not offer a domestic partner registry.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Washington, D.C.","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: No legislation on the issue has been introduced.
Domestic partnership benefits: There has been no marriage legislation introduced in the District of Columbia. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Delaware","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Florida","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A law passed in 1997 bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits:
At least five municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Georgia","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: An anti-gay marriage bill was adopted in 1996. The law also declares same-sex marriages from out-of-state as null and void.
Domestic partnership benefits: Atlanta offers domestic partnership benefits and a registry.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Hawaii","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: In 1999, three anti-gay marriage bills were blocked.
Domestic partnership benefits: Under the Reciprocal Beneficiaries Law, passed in July 1997, the state of Hawaii offers domestic partnership benefits to employees. The legislation gives same-sex couples the broadest package of rights and benefits ever accorded gay families in the United States. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Idaho","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law upholds an existing law against same-sex marriages in the state. The law also prohibits the recognition of gay marriages deemed lawful in other states.
Domestic Partnership: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Indiana","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1997 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: One municipality offers them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Illinois","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: Three municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Iowa","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: An anti-gay marriage bill was adopted in 1998.
Domestic partnership benefits: Iowa offers benefits.
";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Kansas","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Kentucky","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1998 law bans gay marriages and does not recognize same-sex marriages in other states.
Domestic Partnership: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Louisiana","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1999 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: New Orleans offers the benefits and a registry.
";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Maine","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1997 law bans gay marriages. The governor refused to sign the bill, saying it was unconstitutional, but he allowed it to become law rather than allow a statewide referendum, as proposed by anti-gay groups.
Domestic partnership benefits: Portland offers them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Maryland","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: In July, nine same-sex couples filed suit to overturn a law prohibiting gay marriage.
Domestic partnership benefits: Two municipalities, including Baltimore, offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Massachusetts","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A constitutional ban on gay marriages was approved by the Legislature early in 2004, but will not appear on the ballot for voter approval until 2006. Meanwhile, the federal appeals court shot down an attempt by Massachusetts conservatives to halt same-sex marriages that began in the state on May 17.
Domestic partnership benefits: Eight municipalities offer domestic partnership benefits, and Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Nantucket and Provincetown have a registry. The state also offers benefits to government employees. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Michigan","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages and prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: Four municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Minnesota","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: An anti-gay marriage bill was adopted in 1997. It prohibits same-sex couples from marrying and does not recognize lawful same-sex marriages from other states.
Domestic partnership benefits:
At least five municipalities offer the benefits.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Mississippi","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A same-sex marriage bill was adopted in 1997 restricting marriage to mixed-sex couples.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Missouri","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law banned gay marriages but in 1997 the state Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional. Attempts to ban gay marriages in 1999 and 2000 failed.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. St. Louis has a registry. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Montana","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1997 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Nebraska","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 2000 constituional amendment bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Nevada","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: So far Nevada has not passed any laws recognizing or banning gay marriage.
Domestic Partnership: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","New Jersey","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A bill that would ban gay marriages is pending. Three previous bills failed.
Domestic partnership benefits: New Jersey's Domestic Partnership Act went into effect in July, providing equal health care coverage, joint tax status and several other benefits for domestic partners.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","New Hampshire","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 2000 bill banning gay marriages was blocked.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","New Mexico","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: In July, the New Mexico Supreme Court threw out Sandoval County Clerk Victoria Dunlap's request to issue more marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Sandoval issued 60 licenses in February, but was forced to stop handing out licenses to same-sex couples after the court declared them illegal.
Domestic partnership benefits: New Mexico offers domestic parter benefits to employees, but not a registry.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","New York","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: The fifth bill banning gay marriage was introduced into the Senate for debate in July. The bill's introduction closely follows a June court ruling in favor of New Paltz Mayor Jason West, who received national attention after presiding at the weddings of more than two dozen same-sex couples in February.
Domestic partnership benefits: The state offers them and three municipalities - Ithaca, New York City and Rochester - have a registry.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","North Carolina","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages, and 12 counties do not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: At least six municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","North Dakota","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1997 law bans gay marriages and doesn’t recognize marriages out of state for same-sex couples.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Ohio","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A constitutional amendment will appear on the November ballot defining marriage between a man and woman if conservatives can get 323,000 signatures by Aug. 4.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Oklahoma","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages and prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states. It also bans gay couples from adopting children or caring for foster children.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Oregon","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: In July, Oregon's Defense of Marriage Coalition collected more than 244,000 signatures in support of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. Oregon's Multnomah County sparked a statewide controversy when it began marrying same-sex couples in March.
Domestic partnership benefits: Oregon offers domestic partner benefits to employees, but not a registry. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Pennsylvania","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages and does not recognize same-sex marriages in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: Two municipalities offer them, and Philadelphia has a registry. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Rhode Island","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: In June, the state appeals court ruled in favor of gay marriages, upholding a November 2003 decision that entitled same-sex couples to wed.
Domestic partnership benefits: Rhode Island offers domestic partner benefits to employees, but not a registry. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","South Carolina","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages and prohibits the recognition of gay marriages in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","South Dakota","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages and a House bill passed in 2000 restricts recognition of out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Tennessee","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1996 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Texas","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A bill to ban gay marriage was blocked in 1999.
Domestic partnership benefits: Travis County offers non-health benefits and a registry. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Utah","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 1995 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic Partnership: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Vermont","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: Civil unions allowed.
Domestic partnership: Vermont offers domestic partner benefits to employees, but not a registry.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Virginia","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A law was passed in 1997 banning gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: Arlington County offers the benefits. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Washington","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A law was passed in 1998 that bans same-sex marriages and prohibits the recognition of gay marriages deemed lawful in other states.
Domestic partnership benefits: Washington offers domestic parter benefits to employees and Seattle offers a domestic partner registry.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","West Virginia","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: A 2000 law bans gay marriages.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them.";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Wisconsin","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: In 2000 a bill banning gay marriages was blocked.
Domestic partnership benefits: Some six municipalities offer domestic partnership benefits and one has a registry. ";
GayMarriage_SBS[i++] = new Array("","Wyoming","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
GayMarriage_SBS[i-1].body = "
Marriage law: Two attempts to ban gay marriages have failed.
Domestic partnership benefits: No municipalities offer them. "; // END editorial data