Marriage Protection Amendments

It has become increasingly important to recognize the threat to Family Values and the roles that mothers and fathers play in raising their children both as an intact family and broken family following divorce, which is implied by same-sex unions and marriage.

A study done by the The Traditional Values Coalition:
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=3450

gives a breakdown of marriage values in all fifty states:

SPECIAL REPORT: 50-State Survey Of Marriage Protection Amendments
UPDATED REPORT, November 2008

At this writing, 30 states have constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. Forty-one states have laws banning same-sex marriage either by statute or by amendment.

TVC supports constitutional amendments that ban both homosexual marriage and homosexual civil unions—which provide the same legal benefits to homosexuals as married couples under the law. It is clear that much work needs to be done to defend marriage not only at the state level but at the national level through a constitutional amendment. A federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) protects states from being forced to recognize out-of-state homosexual marriages.


Alabama: A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was approved in June, 2006.

Alaska: Defense of Marriage Act is law and part of the state constitution. ACLU is suing to force the state to grant marriage benefits to unmarried couples.

Arizona: Voters passed a marriage amendment on November 4, 2008

Arkansas: On Nov. 2, 2004, voters passed a constitutional amendment that bans homosexual marriage and forbids any civil unions or other unmarried arrangements synonymous to homosexual marriage. Vote was 75% to 25%.

California: Voters passed Proposition 8 on November 4, 2008 that defines marriage as a one-man, one-woman union in the California state constitution.

Colorado: Voters approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2006.

Connecticut: The Connecticut Supreme Court mandated homosexual marriage in October 2008.

Delaware: DOMA as state law; no constitutional amendment.

Florida: Voters passed a marriage amendment to the Florida constitution on November 4, 2008.

Georgia: On Nov. 2, 2004, voters passed a marriage amendment by a 76% margin and bans civil unions. It is being challenged by homosexuals.

Hawaii: Constitutional amendment bans same-sex marriage but state grants limited benefits to same-sex partners.

Idaho: Voters approved a marriage amendment in 2006.

Illinois: DOMA enacted but constitutional amendment failed.

Indiana: State law prohibits same-sex marriage.

Iowa: DOMA as state law. Senate voted down constitutional amendment protecting marriage. A new marriage amendment has been submitted.

Kansas: Voters on April 5, 2005 passed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a one man, one woman union. It passed by a 70% margin.

Kentucky: Voters on Nov. 2, 2004 passed a marriage amendment by a 75% margin. It bans homosexual marriage and civil unions.

Louisiana: DOMA as state law. Voters approved constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions by 4-to-1 margin. Vote overturned by liberal judge on Oct. 5, 2004. The case is in now in court awaiting a decision.

Maine: DOMA as state law. Constitutional amendment failed in House and Senate.

Maryland: State law prohibits same-sex marriage.

Massachusetts: In 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered the legislature to enact a law granting marriage to homosexuals. In July, 2008, the Massachusetts legislature voted to remove residency requirement for out-of-state homosexual marriages.

Michigan: On Nov. 2, 2004, voters passed an amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions by a 59% margin.

Minnesota: DOMA as state law but constitutional amendment failed when legislature ad- journed in May without voting on it. A marriage amendment is under consideration in 2005.

Mississippi: On Nov. 2, 2004, voters passed an amendment by an 86% margin. It bans same-sex marriage and does not recognize homosexual marriages from other states. Does not ban civil unions.

Missouri: DOMA as state law and written into the state constitution.

Montana: On Nov. 2, 2004, voters passed an amendment banning same-sex marriage by a 67% margin. ACLU is suing for spousal benefits for homosexuals. Does not ban civil unions.

Nebraska: DOMA is in the state constitution. ACLU sued to overturn amendment. In May, 2005, a federal judge declared DOMA unconstitutional. He was overruled in 2006 and the amendment was reinstituted.

Nevada: DOMA written into the state constitution.

New Hampshire: State law bans same-sex marriage.

New Jersey: In 2006, Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill permitting homosexuals to enter into civil unions.

New Mexico: Legislature killed marriage amendment in 2005.

New York: No DOMA. Bills recognizing or banning same-sex marriage have been intro- duced but none have passed yet. ACLU and Lambda Legal are suing for “right” to marry homosexuals.

North Carolina: An amendment was submitted in 2005.

North Dakota: 73% of the voters on Nov. 2, 2004 chose to amend the constitution to ban homosexual marriage and any other counterfeit of marriage, including civil unions.

Ohio: 62% of the voters on Nov. 2, 2004, voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Oklahoma: 76% of the voters on Nov. 2, 2004, voted to protect marriage. The amend- ment bans any homosexual marriage/civil unions. Homosexuals are suing to overturn federal DOMA.

Oregon: 57% of the voters on Nov. 2, 2004, passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Does not ban civil unions.

Pennsylvania: DOMA as state law; constitutional amendment to be introduced.

Rhode Island: No DOMA. State Attorney General says state constitution mandates ho- mosexual marriage.

South Carolina: Voters passed marriage amendment in 2006.

South Dakota: Voters passed a marriage amendment in 2006.

Tennessee: Voters passed a marriage amendment in 2006.

Texas: Voters passed an amendment protecting traditional marriage in November 2005.

Utah: 66% of the voters on Nov. 2, 2004, voted to protect marriage by banning homosexual marriage and civil unions.

Vermont: Homosexual civil unions are legal in this state. No DOMA has passed.

Virginia: Marriage amendment was passed in 2006.

Washington: DOMA as state law.

West Virginia: DOMA as state law. Law challenged by ACLU but it is upheld by state Supreme Court.

Wisconsin: Voters passed a marriage amendment in 2006.

Wyoming: Wyoming has a statute protecting marriage. The legislature killed an amendment effort in 2005.