This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2005.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Vermont since September 1,2009. Vermont was the first state to introduce civil unions on July 1,2000,and the first state to introduce same-sex marriage by enacting a statute without being required to do so by a court decision. Same-sex marriage became legal earlier as the result of court decisions,not legislation,in four states:Massachusetts,California,Connecticut,and Iowa.
Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in New Jersey since October 21,2013,the effective date of a trial court ruling invalidating the state's restriction of marriage to persons of different sexes. In September 2013,Mary C. Jacobson,Assignment Judge of the Mercer Vicinage of the Superior Court,ruled that as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor,the Constitution of New Jersey requires the state to recognize same-sex marriages. The Windsor decision held that the federal government was required to provide the same benefits to same-sex couples who were married under state law as to other married couples. Therefore,the state court reasoned in Garden State Equality v. Dow that,because same-sex couples in New Jersey were limited to civil unions,which are not recognized as marriages under federal law,the state must permit civil marriage for same-sex couples. This ruling,in turn,relied on the 2006 decision of the New Jersey Supreme Court in Lewis v. Harris that the state was constitutionally required to afford the rights and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. The Supreme Court had ordered the New Jersey Legislature to correct the constitutional violation,by permitting either same-sex marriage or civil unions with all the rights and benefits of marriage,within 180 days. In response,the Legislature passed a bill to legalize civil unions on December 21,2006,which became effective on February 19,2007.
The rights of lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of Utah have significantly evolved in the 21st century. Protective laws have become increasingly enacted since 2014,despite the state's reputation as socially conservative and highly religious. Same-sex marriage has been legal since the state's ban was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts in 2014. In addition,statewide anti-discrimination laws now cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing,and the use of conversion therapy on minors is prohibited. In spite of this,there are still a few differences between the treatment of LGBT people and the rest of the population,and the rights of transgender youth are restricted.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Hawaii since December 2,2013. The Hawaii State Legislature held a special session beginning on October 28,2013,and passed the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act legalizing same-sex marriage. Governor Neil Abercrombie signed the legislation on November 13,and same-sex couples began marrying on December 2. Hawaii also allows both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to formalize their relationships legally in the form of civil unions and reciprocal beneficiary relationships. Civil unions provide the same rights,benefits,and obligations of marriage at the state level,while reciprocal beneficiary relationships provide a more limited set of rights.
Equality California (EQCA) is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California. It is the largest statewide LGBT organization in the United States and the largest member of the Equality Federation. The organization is based in Los Angeles.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of New Hampshire enjoy the same rights as non-LGBT residents,with most advances in LGBT rights occurring in the state within the past two decades. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in New Hampshire,and the state began offering same-sex couples the option of forming a civil union on January 1,2008. Civil unions offered most of the same protections as marriages with respect to state law,but not the federal benefits of marriage. Same-sex marriage in New Hampshire has been legally allowed since January 1,2010,and one year later New Hampshire's civil unions expired,with all such unions converted to marriages. New Hampshire law has also protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation since 1998 and gender identity since 2018. Additionally,a conversion therapy ban on minors became effective in the state in January 2019. Effective from January 1,2024,the archaic common-law "gay panic defence" will formally be abolished - by legislation implemented within August 2023.
Equality Maryland (EQMD) is a non-profit organization formerly headquartered in Silver Spring,Maryland,now based in Baltimore. It is the largest organization in Maryland whose activities focus on advocacy and education with regard to LGBT social and political movements. Its mission includes:the passage of laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation,gender expression,and gender identity;the expansion of Maryland's hate-crimes statute;the increase of domestic partner benefits;the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Maryland and laws banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors.
This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 2009.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Nevada enjoy the same rights as non-LGBT Nevadans. Same-sex marriage has been legal since October 8,2014,due to the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Sevcik v. Sandoval. Same-sex couples may also enter a domestic partnership status that provides many of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage. However,domestic partners lack the same rights to medical coverage as their married counterparts and their parental rights are not as well defined. Same-sex couples are also allowed to adopt,and state law prohibits unfair discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,among other categories,in employment,housing and public accommodations. In addition,conversion therapy on minors is outlawed in the state.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Louisiana may face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Louisiana as a result of the US Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas,although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy laws. Same-sex marriage has been recognized in the state since June 2015 as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of West Virginia face legal challenges not faced by non-LGBT persons. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1976,and same-sex marriage has been recognized since October 2014. West Virginia statutes do not address discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity;however,the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County established that employment discrimination against LGBT people is illegal.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Delaware enjoy the same legal protections as non-LGBT persons. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Delaware since January 1,1973. On January 1,2012,civil unions became available to same-sex couples,granting them the "rights,benefits,protections,and responsibilities" of married persons. Delaware legalized same-sex marriage on July 1,2013.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in New Jersey have the same rights as non-LGBT people. LGBT persons in New Jersey enjoy strong protections from discrimination,and have had the right to marry since October 21,2013.
California is seen as one of the most liberal states in the U.S. in regard to lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender (LGBT) rights,which have received nationwide recognition since the 1970s. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the state since 1976. Discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression were adopted statewide in 2003. Transgender people are also permitted to change their legal gender on official documents without any medical interventions,and mental health providers are prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy on minors.
The establishment of lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) rights in the U.S. state of Vermont is a recent occurrence,with most progress having taken place in the late 20th and the early 21st centuries. Vermont was one of 37 U.S. states,along with the District of Columbia,that issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the landmark Supreme Court ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges, establishing equal marriage rights for same-sex couples nationwide.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Hawaii enjoy the same rights as non-LGBT people. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1973;Hawaii being one of the first six states to legalize it. In 1993,a ruling by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court made Hawaii the first state to consider legalizing same-sex marriage. Following the approval of the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act in November 2013,same-sex couples have been allowed to marry on the islands. Additionally,Hawaii law prohibits discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity,and the use of conversion therapy on minors has been banned since July 2018. Gay and lesbian couples enjoy the same rights,benefits and treatment as opposite-sex couples,including the right to marry and adopt.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. commonwealth of Kentucky still face some legal challenges not experienced by other people. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Kentucky,although the state legislature has not repealed its sodomy statute for same-sex couples. Same sex-marriage is legal in the Kentucky under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. The decision,which struck down Kentucky's statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriages,and all other same sex marriage bans elsewhere in the country,was handed down on June 26,2015.
The Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013 is legislation passed by the Hawaii State Legislature as Senate Bill 1 (SB1) and signed by Governor Neil Abercrombie which legalized same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Prior to the bill's enactment,same-sex couples in the state of Hawaii were allowed to form civil unions or reciprocal beneficiary relationships;however,civil unions are both legally limited to civil officials in their performance and unrecognized by the federal government,and RBRs are even more limited by the rights and privileges accorded.
The Marriage Equality Act is a 2009 Vermont state law which legalized the officiating of marriages between same-sex couples in the state. The law went into effect on September 1,2009. Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage,the first to do so by legislation rather than a court ruling.
