Gay Marriage 2015: U.S. Supreme Court to Settle Issues in June
The U.S. Supreme Court has included gay marriage cases in its list for argumentation next year, the Associated Press reported. The media outlet indicated that issues will be decided come late June, while the addition of same-sex marriage in the justices' calendar term might be made earliest on Jan. 9.
Accordingly, majority of the cases bound for review in the middle of January will be argued by late April. Gay couples venturing into the idea of marriage may mark these months on their calendars, as long as everything sticks to their respective schedules.
Lawyers of same-sex couples in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee have been working double-time to get legal papers ready for the January conference, wrote CBS Detroit.
In October, the Washington Blade noted that legal observers looked forward to the end of 2015 as the time when a "nationwide answer" is finally provided. At the time of reporting, the Supreme Court has refused to consider rulings in favor of marriage equality from three different circuit courts. The result came as a surprise for those who had been expecting otherwise.
As told by the Associated Press, four appeals courts have already ruled in favor of gay (and lesbian) couples. These courts are situated in Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia.
Gaymarriage.procon.org wrote in November that 35 states have adopted the practice of legal gay marriage. The outlet listed these states below:
By Court Decision
Alaska (Oct. 17, 2014)
Arizona (Oct. 17, 2014)
California (June 28, 2013)
Colorado (Oct. 7, 2014)
Connecticut (Nov. 12, 2008)
Idaho (Oct. 13, 2014)
Indiana (Oct. 6, 2014)
Iowa (Apr. 24, 2009)
Kansas (Nov. 12, 2014)
Massachusetts (May 17, 2004)
Montana (Nov. 19, 2014)
Nevada (Oct. 9, 2014)
New Jersey (Oct. 21, 2013)
New Mexico (Dec. 19, 2013)
North Carolina (Oct. 10, 2014)
Oklahoma (Oct. 6, 2014)
Oregon (May 19, 2014)
Pennsylvania (May 20, 2014)
South Carolina (Nov. 20, 2014)
Utah (Oct. 6, 2014)
Virginia (Oct. 6, 2014)
West Virginia (Oct. 9, 2014)
Wisconsin (Oct. 6, 2014)
Wyoming (Oct. 21, 2014)
By State Legislature
Delaware (July 1, 2013)
Hawaii (Dec. 2, 2013)
Illinois (June 1, 2014)
Minnesota (Aug. 1, 2013)
New Hampshire (Jan. 1, 2010)
New York (July 24, 2011)
Rhode Island (Aug. 1, 2013)
Vermont (Sep. 1, 2009)
By Popular Vote
Maine (Dec. 29, 2012)
Maryland (Jan. 1, 2013)
Washington (Dec. 9, 2012)
Below are states that banned gay marriage (as of Nov. 2014):
By Constitutional Amendment and State Law
Alabama (2006, 1998)
Arkansas (2004, 1997)
Florida (2008, 1997)
Georgia (2004, 1996)
Kentucky (2004, 1998)
Louisiana (2004, 1999)
Michigan (2004, 1996)
Mississippi (2004, 1997)
Missouri (2004, 1996)
North Dakota (2004, 1997)
Ohio (2004, 2004)
South Dakota (2006, 1996)
Tennessee (2006, 1996)
Texas (2005, 1997)
By Constitutional Amendment Only
Nebraska (2000)
Freedom to Marry president and founder Evan Wolfson said (via Los Angeles Times), "2014 is the year that it became unquestionable that all of America will have the freedom to marry. The only question is whether 2015 will be the year that it gets done."
What's you personal stance about same-sex marriage?
Watch how kids react to the issue (via TheFineBros) below.