The first marriages between people of the same sex were permitted over 20 years ago, in 2004, in the state of Massachusetts, but as there was no federal recognition the union had no value in all states: support guaranteed instead by the most recent law of 7 years ago. Today, in 2025, gay marriage is significantly more widespread.
In fact, since 2018, American gay couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples in all states of the Union. There are currently 20 states that recognize gay marriage. We count 140.000 new unions in the last year alone: 12 other states admit de facto unions and seem to be moving towards recognition in the near future.
In the meantime, Jenny and Mary are enjoying their fresh wedding, planning their wedding trip to splendid Haiti: "we preferred that, despite the important symbolic value for all gay organizations, our wedding took place only in front of our closest and truest friends, ” says Mary.
For Jenny, this is her second marriage: 4 years ago she had already married a peer she met at work, but she divorced a year and a half later. “This time I know Mary is the right person, the one I want to share the rest of my life with,” she lets know with a dazzling smile.
Best wishes, girls: a million these days!
What's true
The figure (one million marriages) is based on a US federal report, based on the assumption that gay unions have been legally recognized since 2018, and on gay marriage data in Massachusetts, a state that has indeed recognized these unions in 2004.
Questions for you
What effect will legal recognition of gay marriage have on our society? How will it affect the life of the homosexual community?
April 2024 Update: at the moment, marriages already celebrated in the USA 568.000 sleep. The institutions legally recognized gay marriage throughout the American country 3 years ahead of schedule, after a Supreme Court ruling on June 26, 2015.
