Tuesday, October 22, 2013

MARRIAGE EQUALITY: What Five States Are Next?

Supreme_Court_decision_day_insert_c_Washington_Blade_by_Michael_Key Well, couples in New Jersey are waking up this morning with wedding rings, slight hang overs and tuxes spread out all over the floor. Marriage equality becomes a reality in the Garden State.

No one expected the situation to move so rapidly in New Jersey but that is the situation with same sex marriage in America. All over the country, at any moment, the courts could rule in our favor and suddenly we have a new marriage equality state.

Knowing that this issue is like a wildfire and just can't be predicted or (thankfully) contained it is hard to know exactly what state will be next. What are the likely next five states where we will see marriage equality over the next year? Here are some good hunches.

1. New Mexico: The State Supreme Court is going to rule if the counties that have been issuing marriage licenses in the state can do so.
2. Hawaii: The Attorney General has just ruled that the state legislature indeed does have the power to repeal the ban on marriage equality. Expect the Governor to call a special session and repeal it.
3. Illinois: This state should have been done months ago but it is hanging in limbo. Supposedly it is to come up in a special session. At the same time there is a court case proceeding in the state.
4. Michigan: A Michigan court has agreed to hear a case on marriage in February. Indications are that we could obtain a good ruling from the Michigan courts.
5. Virginia: This is my pick as the 'surprise state' next year. There is strong court cases proceeding in the state. Now 56% of the residents of the state support marriage equality. This is a long shot but it is my hunch.

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