CIVIL RIGHTS

MAP: Where Is Same-Sex Marriage Legal?

By Kenneth Chamberlain

Updated: May 11, 2012 | 4:27 p.m.
May 9, 2012 | 3:57 p.m.

While California's prohibition against same-sex marriage languishes in the judicial-appellate process, Washington state and Maryland earlier in the year became the latest states to legalize same-sex marriage, although neither law will come into effect until later this year.

Where else is gay marriage legal? Or domestic partnerships? And which states give unmarried couples spousal rights? Below is a map, based on data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, that outlines the policies of states that have moved to relax prohibitions on these issues. Also included are the two states that have so far this year scheduled ballot initiatives defining "marriage" as being between a man and a woman.

Click on a state to read details of a state's policy; click on the green arrows to the side of the "Layers" menu to hide the menu; and click on the "Legend" box at the bottom for the map's legend.