The biggest news of the year? The fight in Congress and the ultimate vote in the Senate to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. True, it's only peripherally related to marriage equality, but it makes the argument against a person being able to marry the one they love that much weaker. "You mean he/she can die for his country but you won't let him/her get married??"
Runner up would have to be all events surrounding Proposition 8, from the trial in January to the uplifting decision and subsequent crushing stay issued in August, to the hearing before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just weeks ago.
Across the world, more countries instituted marriage equality, while in the United States, the November election brought both good news and bad in the state-by-state march for equal rights.
Enjoy a month by month timeline covering many of the events that affected the fight for marriage equality world wide this year.
January
The New Jersey Senate voted against marriage equality. When the New York Senate voted down marriage equality in December of 2009, no one expected this vote to succeed, but some were still hoping for a miracle.
The trial in the lawsuit Perry v. Schwarzenegger was held. We were unable to watch (thanks, Supreme Court!) as the plaintiffs described what it meant not to be able to be married, and the defense witnesses made fools of themselves.
February
An ABC News/Washington Post poll shows that 47% of Americans think it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to get married, one of the the highest percentages yet recorded.
Albania passes a broad anti-discrimination law, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation, among many other things.
March
Washington D.C. began performing same-sex marriages. Despite the predictions of the Catholic Church and NOM, Washington D.C. is no more a wretched hive of scum and villainy now, nine months later, than it ever was. Various lawsuits attempting to force a referendum on this issue were turned back. One lawsuit on whether such a referendum can be held despite the City's Human Rights Ordinance is now (as of December) being evaluated for possible consideration by the United States Supreme Court.
Mexico City began performing same-sex marriages. Later court rulings upheld their right to do so and made marriages so-performed legally recognized throughout Mexico.
The New Hampshire legislature voted down an attempt to undo its new marriage equality law, despite the oratorical power of one legislator who declaimed that "A potato is not a turnip!" as the centerpiece of his argument for repeal.
April
The Hawaii legislature passed an 'everything but marriage' civil unions law which went to the Governor to sign or veto.
May
Portugal legalizes same-sex marriages, becoming the eighth country worldwide to do so. The law becomes effective in June.
June
Iceland legalizes same-sex marriage, becoming the ninth country in the world to do so. The Prime Minister of Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, became the first leader of a country to participate in a same-sex marriage ceremony, marrying Jónína Leósdóttir.
New Jersey Supreme Court refuses to hear a direct challenge to the state's civil unions law in lieu of marriage equality, demanding that any lawsuit go through the trial court system first.
July
The Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, vetoes the 'everything but marriage' civil unions bill passed back in April.
Argentina legalizes same-sex marriage, becoming the tenth country worldwide to do so.
August
A CNN poll records 50% of the American population believing that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to get married.
Judge Vaughn Walker, a Federal District Court judge in California, rules that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issues a stay of his decision and a schedule for an expedited hearing, including oral arguments in December.
Judge Joseph Tauro, a Federal District Court judge in Massachusetts finds the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional in two different but related cases, one brought by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one brought by private citizens of Massachusetts. The rulings are stayed pending appeal. The appeal by the Justice Department takes place in October as expected; briefs and replies are due early in 2011.
Ken Mehlman, a White House staffer for George Bush the latter and the Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007 'comes out' and starts advocating for equal marriage rights.
September
Carly Fiorina, a Republican Senate candidate in California, uses as her defense of her position against marriage equality the claim that "My position is consistent with... the President." Which is true, and depressing.
October
Florida abandons any attempt to defend its anti-gay adoption laws, which have been ruled unconstitutional. Adoption by same-sex couples in Florida is now legal.
November
The election produces both wins and losses for marriage equality.
- In Hawaii and Illinois, the election of Democratic Governors brings new hope for a civil unions law.
- In Rhode Island, Independent Lincoln Chafee winning the Governorship brings hope of a vote for marriage equality in the legislature in 2011.
- In Minnesota, disaster strikes as Republicans seize control of both houses of the legislature, killing any hope for a vote on equality for the foreseeable future.
- Maine elects a Republican governor, also killing hopes for a new stab at a bill legalizing same-sex marriage.
- In New York, Republicans took control of the Senate, leaving another vote on marriage equality up in the air.
- In New Hampshire, the world is turned upside down as Republicans seize veto-proof majorities in both Houses of their legislature, despite re-electing a Democratic governor. Votes are expected on repeal of New Hampshire's marriage equality law in 2011.
- In Iowa, three Supreme Court judges are ousted in a (non)retention vote because of their decision back in 2009 declaring that marriage in Iowa was a fundamental right and could not be denied to same-sex couples.
The President declares that his position "is evolving" on same-sex marriage. We all encourage the President to sunbathe often on his Hawaiian vacation so that he absorbs more cosmic rays to speed up the process.
The French constitutional court agrees to hear a case demanding marriage equality,
December
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Perry v Schwarzenegger, both on the issue of standing and on the merits of the case. The proceedings are televised, and LGBT folk everywhere watch Cooper, the attorney for the defendant-intervenors, argue that procreation is the be all and end all of marriage, while the judges make mincemeat of Imperial County's attorney on the issue of standing.
The Illinois legislature passes an 'everything but marriage' civil unions bill. The bill, which the Governor has not yet signed but will in early January, takes effect in July of 2011.
Reports out of Maryland indicate than an attempt will be made to pass marriage equality legislation in 2011. If so, this could lead to a referendum on the issue in 2012.
Oral arguments are heard by Federal District Court judge Jeffrey White in California in Golinski, another case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act.
Eight couples in the UK file suit, demanding equal access for all couples to both marriage and civil unions.
Sarah Palin announces that she is divorcing Todd, moving to Massachusetts, and marrying Martha Coakley. They plan to move back to Alaska as soon as DOMA is declared unconstitutional by the USSC. (Just seeing if you are still reading...)
Legislation leading to the eventual repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is signed into law by President Obama.
The President against declares that his position is "evolving" on same-sex marriage. The Vice President indicates that he believes there will eventually be a national consensus on same-sex marriage rights.
Looking ahead
Looking forward to 2011, statewide legislative battles will be happening in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maryland, Hawaii, New York and possibly Delaware. Battles to put anti-equality initiatives on the ballot may occur in Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina.
Worldwide, that I am aware of, there is potential for legislative or judicial action in the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Slovenia, Nepal, Australia, Luxembourg, Cuba and Uruguay.
The arc continues to bend.
(A similar review diary for 2009.)