WAD CITY

LA Times: Interactive Gay Marriage Timeline

The current map is informative, but what I found most interesting was how the map shows geographic entrenchment over time. It’s pretty much the same everywhere at first (2000): gay marriage is illegal in every state except Vermont, while Massachusetts has legalized domestic partnerships, and only Alaska has a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Over time, particularly in 2004 and 2005, you see a bunch of states go hard right. Now, 24 states have constitutional bans, 11 of which also ban, at the constitutional level, other legal rights for gay couples. On the plus side, 13 states now have some sort of legal status for gay couples. (DC isn’t included on the map).

Once again, the map shows just how major the Iowa decision is. The fight is intense here. The Iowa Family Policy Center is pushing hard (with the help of $3 million in federal funds, harumph) for a constitutional ban. One Iowa pushes back. Meanwhile, at least one town is advertising itself (via Google AdSense) as a destination spot for gay weddings, and Dan Savage gets on board with Iowan gay tourism.

Please support One Iowa. Every nickel matters.

Source: Los Angeles Times