LGBT States of America - The Country at a Glance

Inspired by this map produced by GLAAD:

Just how is the United States faring in terms of LGBT treatment?

Well if you want to marry your same-sex partner, you can do it in:

• Massachusetts
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Connecticut
• Iowa
• New York
• The District of Columbia

and if you want your out-of-state marriage to be recognized, then Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are good for you as well.  California briefly allowed same-sex marriage in 2008, but has been involved in a legal battle over its legitimacy since then.

If you're looking for states whose constitution bans gay marriage, then you could travel to:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Misouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Wyoming, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia all have statutes banning gay marriage.  Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, and Delaware have varying recognitions of civil unions or domestic partnerships.  Map form if you prefer.

It should also be noted that Maryland, Washington, and New Jersey all have votes on legalizing same sex marriage this year.  (The measure has already passed in Washington's senate.)  North Carolina has a vote in May on whether or not to amend the state constitution to ban same sex marriage.  New Hampshire was going to vote on repealing their legalization of same sex marriage, but the GOP decided it was not a priority and did not present the measure.

Same-sex couples actually fare a little bit better when it comes to adoption.  There are 19 states that allow same-sex couples to adopt children:

• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

Three more states that allow same-sex couples to adopt their step-children:

• Colorado
• Montana
• Pennsylvania

And only four states that ban same-sex adoptions:

• Michigan
• Ohio
• Utah
• Wisconsin

There are currently 16 states that prohibit housing discrimination based on orientation or gender identity.

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

And five more that protect solely orientation-based discrimination.

• Delaware
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Wisconsin

We have come so far since Massachusetts legalized gay marriage in 2004, but we have a long ways to go.