After 2013's SCOTUS ruling that struck down parts of the discriminatory "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), 2014 saw great advancement for marriage equality in the United States as fifteen more states became places where same-sex couples can legally marry. Read more about the states that made marriage equality the law of the land this year below.
Alaska
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess ruled Alaska's ban on marriage equality unconstitutional on October 12. Despite attempts by Alaskan Gov. Sean Parnell to challenge the ruling, the Supreme Court denied request for a stay on the ruling, ending a temporary stay that had been granted by the 9th Circuit Court, and allowing for same-sex couples to marry.
Arizona
U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick ruled Arizona's ban on marriage equality unconstitutional on October 17. No appeal was filed against the ruling, which made marriage equality effective immediately.
Colorado
After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals to favorable marriage equality rulings from other states in the 10th Circuit, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced on October 6 that his state would be taking the High Court's lead and allowing for legal marriages of same-sex couples.
Idaho
On October 7, a three judge panel with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling of the district court in Idaho saying that the state's ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. On October 13, the 9th Circuit lifted a stay that had been placed on the earlier decision, and marriage equality went into effect on October 15.
Indiana
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a federal case in which a federal judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit found that denying marriage equality in Indiana is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's denial resulted in immediate marriage equality in Indiana on October 6.
Nevada
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on October 7 that Nevada's ban on marriage equality was unconstitutional, and the state began issuing marriage licenses two days later.
North Carolina
Same-sex couples in North Carolina began legally marrying on October 13, after a federal judge in the state decided on October 10 that a ruling from the 4th Circuit declaring bans on marriage equality to be unconstitutional also applied to North Carolina's Amendment 1.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that found bans on marriage equality to be unconstitutional.
Oregon
U.S. District Judge Michael McShane struck down Oregon's constitutional amendment banning marriage equality on May 19, allowing same-sex couples to begin legally marrying immediately. The ruling came despite the efforts to defend the ban by the anti-LGBT National Organization for Marriage (NOM).
Pennsylvania
On May 20, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III stuck down Pennsylvania's 1996 statute banning marriage equality. Pennsylvania's Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, and Gov. Tom Corbett both declined to appeal the ruling, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry in the state.
Utah
On October 6, the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of a ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that found Utah's ban on marriage equality unconstitutional, allowing same-sex couples in the state to begin marrying immediately.
Virginia
Marriage equality became effective in Virginia after the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of 4th Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling that found the state's ban on marriage equality to be unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court's denial ended the stay it had previously placed on the 4th Circuit's decision.
West Virginia
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced on October 9 that they would no longer defend the state's marriage equality ban, following a ruling from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that found bans on marriage equality to be unconstitutional.
Wisconsin
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on October 6 to review a ruling that declared Wisconsin's ban on marriage equality unconstitutional. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker agreed to implement the Supreme Court's decision, after previously defending the ban.
Wyoming
U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl ruled on October 17 that Wyoming's amendment banning marriage equality was unconstitutional. Marriage for same-sex couples became legal on October 21.
Find out more about the state of marriage equality in the U.S. at www.glaad.org/marriage.