A federal appeals court in California has refused to reconsider a landmark ruling that struck down the state’s voter-approved ban on gay marriage. The decision Tuesday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears the way for the case to go to the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the California appeals court […]

A Massachusetts appeals court has ruled against a U.S. marriage law that denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples. The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled Thursday that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. The 1996 law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and absolves […]

The U.S. state of Maryland is a step closer to legalizing same-sex marriage. It would join seven other states and the District of Columbia that currently allow the unions. The Maryland state Senate Thursday approved a gay marriage bill by a vote of 25-22, days after the measure passed in the state assembly. Maryland Governor […]

A bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey is now headed to state Governor Chris Christie, after the measure passed its final legislative hurdle Thursday. The state Assembly approved the bill by a vote of 42-33, days after it passed in the state Senate. But Governor Christie, an ardent opponent of gay marriage and a […]

Lawmakers in Washington state have approved a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage. The state House approved the measure Wednesday by a vote of 55-43, one week after it was narrowly approved by the state Senate. Opponents of the bill insisted passage would undermine the conventional institution of marriage as that between a man and a […]

A California appeals court has ruled that a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The three-member panel issued the ruling Tuesday in San Francisco. The vote was 2-to-1, with the two judges appointed by Democrats voting to overturn the ban, while the judge appointed by a Republican voted in favor of the ban. The […]