Summary: 2005-2006

The 18 months ending in 2006 saw the final resolution of nine court cases involving same-sex couples. Most of the cases were decided conclusively against them, declaring that same-sex couples – unlike opposite-sex couples – do not have a fundamental civil right to marry. The most disappointing of the rulings came from New York (Hernandez) and Washington State (the Andersen and Castle cases). But in New Jersey, same-sex couples are deemed to have an equal protection claim to all the rights of marriage – except marriage.
	Couples and families, plaintiffs in Andersen v. King County	The Castle/Bauers

Norman Rockwell-esque painting of a male couple getting a marriage license

Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, the court said that if other states discriminated against same-sex couples, it was fine to follow suit and prevent them from marrying in Massachusetts. But the court did allow same-sex couples from one state, Rhode Island, to marry in Massachusetts. South Africa became the fifth nation to allow same-sex couples to marry. And the state legislature in California passed a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry. Unfortunately it was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

And, continuing the trend, there were nine new state constitutional amendments. But bucking the trend, one state – Arizona – was the first to vote down its proposed amendment.

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)