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The evolution of same-sex marriage

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The legal roller coaster of same-sex marriage is over. In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in all 50 states. "The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of a person," Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said in the ruling, and "under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment, couples of the same sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty."

Here is how same-sex marriage has evolved in the past 15 years:

6/26/2015

Supreme Court rules

same-sex marriage legal

51*

Number of states

where same-sex

marriage is legal

6/25/2015

Number of states

where civil

unions is legal

 

Jumps from 10

to 36 in less than

three years

5/17/2004

Massachussetts

legalizes

same-sex

marriage

7/1/00

Vermont

legalizes

civil unions

1/1/2013

1

0

0

2000

2005

2010

2015

*Includes Washington, D.C.

6/26/2015

Supreme Court rules same-sex

marriage legal across nation

51*

Number of states where

same-sex marriage is legal

Number of states where

civil unions is legal

6/25/2015

Jumps from 10 to

36 in less than

three years

5/17/2004

Massachussetts becomes

first state to legalize

same-sex marriage

1/1/2013

7/1/2000

Vermont legalizes

civil unions

1

0

0

2000

2005

2010

2015

*Includes Washington, D.C.

6/26/2015

Supreme Court rules same-sex

marriage legal across nation

51*

Number of states where

same-sex marriage is legal

Number of states where

civil unions is legal

6/25/2015

Jumps from 10 to

36 in less than

three years

5/17/2004

Massachussetts becomes

first state to legalize

same-sex marriage

1/1/2013

7/1/2000

Vermont legalizes

civil unions

1

0

0

2000

2005

2010

2015

*Includes Washington, D.C.

6/26/2015

Supreme Court rules same-sex

marriage legal across nation

51*

Number of states where

same-sex marriage is legal

Number of states where

civil unions is legal

6/25/2015

Jumps from 10 to

36 in less than

three years

5/17/2004

Massachussetts becomes

first state to legalize

same-sex marriage

1/1/2013

7/1/2000

Vermont legalizes

civil unions

1

0

0

2000

2005

2010

2015

*Includes Washington, D.C.

6/26/2015

Supreme Court rules same-sex

marriage legal across nation

51*

Number of states where

same-sex marriage is legal

Number of states where

civil unions is legal

6/25/2015

Jumps from 10 to

36 in less than

three years

5/17/2004

Massachussetts becomes

first state to legalize

same-sex marriage

1/1/2013

7/1/2000

Vermont legalizes

civil unions

1

0

0

2000

2005

2010

2015

*Includes Washington, D.C.

Source: Times reporting.

@latimesgraphics


––––––––––––

For the record:
June 26, 1:23 p.m.
An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Vermont first legalized civil unions on Jan. 1, 2000. The state legalized civil unions on July 1, 2000.

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