2001-2002: “Civil union”? What’s that?

In 2001, an Illinois court refuses to recognize those newfangled Vermont civil unions.

The Goodridge families

On the flipside, in April, The Netherlands becomes the first nation to grant legal marriage to same-sex couples.

In the same month, a case is filed on behalf of seven couples: Goodridge v. the Massachusetts Department Of Public Health.

In 2002, courts in Georgia, Connecticut and West Virginia are faced with whether to recognize those Vermont civil unions. Two of them say no and one says yes.

And we have two new cases, Lewis v. Harris in New Jersey, and Morrison v. O’Bannon in Indiana.

Timeline key: progress (green), no progress (red), pending court cases (purple),
events that are neutral, not directly related, or with both positive and negative effects (black)