It's been a historic year for marriage equality, and the final few months of 2012 present key turning points — across the states, in the courts, and via the presidential election.
In the final months of the year, we'll face some of the biggest turning points yet in the fight to secure marriage equality. Check out our new infographic charting these critical next few months: www.hrc.org/blog/entry/2012-the-year-of-marriage .
This fall, the Supreme Court will decide whether to take up key marriage equality cases — including Perry v. Brown, the challenge to Prop 8 in California; and Gill v. OPM, the Massachusetts case challenging the federal government's inability to recognize married same-sex couples because of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA.)
In the states, voters in Washington and Maryland will head to the polls to affirm marriage equality legislation passed by their state legislatures. In Maine, we are looking at the first chance to proactively pass marriage at the ballot. And in Minnesota, voters can vote no on a proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. Heading into 2013, we're also looking at possible marriage bills in states like Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Of course, the presidential election also will be a turning point in the fight for marriage. President Obama supports full marriage equality — and is the first president to do so while in office. He's also directed the Justice Department to stop defending DOMA. Mitt Romney presents an alarming contrast — he doesn't support relationship recognition for same-sex couples (even George W. Bush supported civil unions), he's vowed to defend DOMA, and he's even pledged to support a constitutional amendment banning committed, loving same-sex couples from marrying.
Learn more about marriage laws across the country at www.hrc.org/marriage-center .
