So I'll start off by saying I'm well aware that the Supreme Court may just strike down every SSM ban in the country soon with the Utah case. God knows Kennedy wants it, if he didn't I can't imagine why he would've voted with the minority to say Prop 8 had standing given his record.
With that said, however, we need to be prepared to continue the fights without any courts, should the Supremes hamstring the federal judiciary's ability to spread Equality. We need legislatures and ballot initiatives to pass. Legislatures are fights we're obviously ALREADY going to fight, so I'll let someone else make a diary about top targets for that.
Instead, I'll just list what states I think are some ripe opportunities for ballot initiatives. This has benefits for our legislature races, too, since it'll give our voters a reason to turn out in 2014/2016, even if the initiatives don't pass. So follow me below the orange squiggle!
Random note; I'll post a few states I think are top-tier targets, then I can update the diary with whatever info is given in the comments on various states. Or just leave it in the comments. And no, my own state (Georgia) is nowhere within reach for it - In august of last year, 38% of Georgians supported marriage equality, 60% opposed, 2% unsure. We aren't winning that hand.
Without further stalling, I'll start with a somewhat unexpected state for me. Arizona (Thanks and props to Buddabelly for pointing out I was wrong about it being impossible there). The ban there only passed 56%-44% in 2008. As early as 2011, 44% of the state supported SSM, 45% opposed, 12% unsure (That doesn't add up to 100%, I know, but that's what the freaking PPP poll said). In April 2013, it was 55% support, 35% oppose, 10% unsure. Which means we've rolled more than enough voters over to our side to at least repeal the ban there, if not pass full-on marriage equality.
Next on the list, Colorado which in December clocked in at 53% support, 39% oppose, 8% unsure. This state DID recently pass a civil union law, so I'm not certain if we can stack full marriage up on that this quickly. But we can certainly try!
The shaky third and last on my list is Florida. They passed an amendment in 2008 with 62% of the vote to ban EVERYTHING, from unions to marriages, between same-sex couples. However, a PPP poll in December found 47% of Floridians support gay marriage, 44% oppose. This isn't anywhere near enough to get the 60% for a new Constitutional Amendment, but the numbers are likely MUCH higher for civil unions than marriage - So we may be able to just start there in Florida.
This is not a complete list in any way. If you have issues with any of my picks, say so in the comments, and feel free to add your own targets for SSM in 2014/2016 ballot initiatives. Sorry if this diary was bad, it's my first one and I'll get better as I post more.
On a personal note, I feel the victories mean more and could have higher implications when they're done by voters than courts. Legislatures doing it risks vulnerable seats in low-turnout years, courts doing it risks pissing off and further energizing the other side and fence-sitters (They're a minority, yes, but one we have to be careful about). Initiatives that pass have almost no repercussions, and they help get first-time voters that care out there, so maybe they'll be repeat voters.