Jurisdictions that license marriage for same-sex couples: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont
States that recognize marriages of same-sex couples in whole or in part: all of the above, and California, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island
States with civil unions or registered domestic partnerships providing a separate “equivalent’’ relationship: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington
States with limited statewide protections for same-sex couples: Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Wisconsin
States with November ballot measures allowing the freedom for same-sex couples to marry: Maine, Maryland, Washington
States with cases seeking the freedom to marry in state courts: New Jersey
States with cases seeking the freedom to marry in federal court: California, Hawaii, Indiana, Nevada
States with November ballot measures to forbid same-sex marriage: Minnesota
Most recent state to forbid any form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples by constitutional amendment: North Carolina (May 2012)