Introduction
The Human Rights Campaign is working closely with state leaders across the nation on marriage initiatives.
Currently, same-sex couples are entitled to all of the state-level rights and benefits of marriage in Massachusetts. In addition, same-sex couples in New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut are able to enter into state-level civil unions, and there are broad domestic partnership laws in California and Oregon. In New York, after a 2008 court ruling, valid out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples must be legally recognized.
Visit our Maps of State Laws & Policies for a snapshot of the status of marriage laws across the country.
Civil Unions
Find out about the few states that offer civil unions — a form of relationship recognition that gives same-sex couples some state-level benefits of marriage.
Domestic Partners
Find out more about the domestic partnership laws that provide same-sex couples in some states with health care benefits and/or other protections.
