---
"title": "Same-Sex Marriage, State by State"
"description": "In June of 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry nationwide. This timeline highlights the changes in state policies leading up to that ruling."
"date": "2015-06-26"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "No Author"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/2015/06/26/same-sex-marriage-state-by-state-1/"
"categories":
  - "Religion & Social Values"
  - "Same-Sex Marriage"
  - "Same-Sex Marriage"
  - "State & Local Government"
---

# Same-Sex Marriage, State by State

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry nationwide. This timeline highlights the changes in state policies leading up to that ruling, starting in 1995 – when Utah became the first state to enact a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage following a ruling by the state’s highest court in 2003.

Drag the pointer or click on the timeline above the map to explore all 50 states’ changes over time.

*[Interactive Feature: same-sex-marriage-map]*