Here’s the status of gay marriage in every state

Gay marriage bans were overturned in Pennsylvania and Oregon this week, and multiple states have appealed previous decisions by the courts. Where does gay marriage stand by state, and what’s next?

Gay couples can legally marry in nineteen states and the District of Columbia (represented in blue in the above map). Most recently were Oregon and Pennsylvania on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Officials from both states have said they will not appeal the decision by a federal judge to overturn the states’ gay marriage ban.

Three states — Nevada, Colorado and Wisconsin — haven’t legalized gay marriage, but recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships, affording couples some rights.

In nine states (represented by yellow on the map), gay marriage bans have been overturned, but the ruling has been stayed pending the outcome of an appeal.

In Utah, officials were ordered on Monday to recognize more than 1,000 same-sex marriages that took place in the state after its gay marriage ban was overturned Dec. 20 and before the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency stay.

Gay marriage remains illegal by either constitutional amendment, state law or both in 22 states, 19 of which don’t allow civil unions or domestic partnerships. Four of those states have been ordered by federal judges to recognize out-of-state marriages: Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

There are only two states in which gay marriage bans aren’t currently being challenged in state or federal court: North Dakota and South Dakota. Montana saw its first challenge on Wednesday, when four couples filed a federal lawsuit against the state over its same-sex marriage ban.

Contact Stephanie Grimes at sgrimes@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @stephgrimes