How Did We Get Here? A Same-Sex Marriage Timeline

[Opinion]

Isa Jones

At first, Colorado had no law making gay marriage legal. Unfortunately, due to legal jargon, this meant it was illegal by default. This terrible idea was solidified by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which became a law in 1996. That law federally defined marriage as between a man and woman (boo) and Section 3 of the law denied any federal rights to gay partners that are otherwise granted to heterosexual spouses. In 2013, the Supreme Court became true American heroes and struck down Section 3 following a court case related to it. This ruling put gay marriage in the hands of the state since now any married couple (straight or gay) would be recognized federally. This brave and amazing decision was crucial because not only did it put the legality of gay marriage in the hands of the states, all state laws regarding marriage were now able to be challenged, because in the court system, federal law overrules any state law.

Timeline of Gay Marriage in Colorado:

2006: Long before DOMA became unconstitutional, anti-gay assholes succeeded in passing a law excluding same-sex couples from marriage. Gay marriage was already illegal by default, but now it was super illegal, like in writing nailed to the town hall door illegally.

2009: Designated Beneficiaries Agreement Act of 2009 became a law. It’s a big old thick law full of confusing words but basically, it allowed same-sex couples to receive benefits. Long before the federal courts were debating DOMA, Colorado was already giving gay couples more rights than most states. This was a big victory, especially considering the tragic and harmful law passed just three years earlier.

2013: Civil Unions become legal in Colorado. While this still seperates gay couples and hetereosexual couples, and hardly has the same connotation or amazing weddings that marriage allows, it creates a “marriage-like” status that allows couples even more benefits and rights.

July 9, 2014: A district judge who is truly the best district judge there ever was, strikes down Colorado’s gay marriage ban as part of a case with two other states. While there is still no federal precedent, for the moment, gay marriage is legal in Colorado.

October 6, 2014: The Supreme Court decides against ruling on two federal gay marriage cases. When the Supreme Court decides not to take a case, the existing ruling on that case stands, which luckily, in this case, was that gay marriage was legal. Suddenly gay marriage becomes legal in multiple states, and the ruling that gay marriage in Colorado is legal stands.

Current Status: Go get married you lovebirds. It’s your right.