Gay Marriage
In recent years, the debate over same-sex marriage has grown from an issue that occasionally arose in a few states to a nationwide controversy. Indeed, in the last five years, the debate over gay marriage has been heard in the halls of the U.S. Congress, at the White House, in dozens of state legislatures and courtrooms, and in the rhetoric of election campaigns at both the national and state levels. Moreover, the battle over whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to wed shows no signs of abating. In the last year alone, three states have banned same-sex marriage and four states have legalized the practice. As the debate rages on, the American religious community remains deeply divided over the issue.
July 9, 2009
Special Report: The Same-Sex Marriage Debate
This report gives an overview of the gay marriage
debate in America, analyzes the constitutional dimensions of the debate and
looks at public opinion trends on gay marriage and civil unions.
| Gay Marriage and the Law The constitutional dimensions of the same-sex marriage debate. |
Public Opinion on Gay Marriage Americans continue to oppose gay marriage, but most support civil unions. See also: Oct. 2009 report on civil unions and gay marriage |
| Graphic: State Policies on Same-Sex Marriage A total of 6 states allow the practice while 29 states ban it through a constitutional amendment. |
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Religious Groups' Official Positions on Gay Marriage A breakdown of 16 major religious groups' views on gay marriage and the ordination of gay clergy. |
| Gay Marriage Around the World In December 2000, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. |
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A Clash of Rights? Gay Marriage and the Free Exercise of Religion A Q&A with Robert Tuttle and Ira "Chip" Lupu about the conflict between the legalization of gay marriage and the free exercise of religion. |
Photo Credits: Gay marriage ceremony: Martin Ruetschi/Keystone/Corbis; Justice statue: Phil O'Connor/Corbis; Religious symbols: Sébastien Désarmaux/Corbis