Thirty-two states that either allow same-sex marriage or have banned it asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to settle the issue once and for all.

Fifteen states that allow same-sex marriage, led by Massachusetts, filed a brief asking the justices to take up three cases from Virginia, Utah and Oklahoma and overturn bans. And 17 other states, led by Colorado, that have banned the practice asked the court to hear cases from Utah and Oklahoma to clear up a “morass” of lawsuits, but didn’t urge the court to rule one way or another.

The experience of Massachusetts — the first state to legalize same-sex marriage — shows that allowing same-sex couples to wed has only benefited families and strengthened the institution of marriage, said Attorney General Martha Coakley.

“Laws that bar same-sex couples from marrying are discriminatory and unconstitutional,” she said. “The time has come for this critical issue to be resolved.”

Massachusetts was joined by California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington.

Colorado’s brief argued that the definition of marriage faces legal challenges only the Supreme Court can resolve, and that without a Supreme Court decision, states defending bans could be liable for huge legal bills from future lawsuits if they are overturned.

It was written by Daniel D. Domenico, the state’s solicitor general, and Michael Lee Francisco, assistant solicitor general.

Colorado was joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/09/3...e-and-for-all/

• Blue: Marriage equality
• Gold: Ban down, but appealed
• Red: Constitutional ban
• Blue stripes: Marriage ban down, but has civil unions
• Ohio: Constitutional ban, but successful pro-gay case only dealt with recognition of outside marriages

With states knocking down bans all over the place and Circuit Courts agreeing, could this be our Beyonce era? 2015 Grammy sweep?

I think the people in each state should decide what's best for them not some one-size-fits-all solution.

It's happening, definitely, but even I would be shocked if it happened in the next year. I think once it finally happens, no one will protest when they realize it doesn't hurt or harm anyone.

It's marriage, it should be equal across all boards and should be recognized across the entire country. This is one of those one-size-fits-all deals that should fit all.
It would suck for someone who lives near the border of California who can't get married, but their friend who is 20 minutes away could easily get married.

There will be protests, I imagine we'll have to have government outside registries in Mississippi just like they went to Little Rock in the 60s Joking. Either in 2015 or 2016, things will swing one way or another. Way too much momentum, it's already 3/4 of the population living in a state that allows marriage/had their ban taken down.

The protests will die down after a week or two. They'll happen but like the other southern/Midwestern states that made a big fuss about it once it passed, they'll simply move on because it doesn't bother them economically or socially in the long run.

Happened to my uncle. Married in California, got a job offer in Las Vegas and now the best he can get is a civil union that doesn't even cover everything. Luckily, Nevada has dropped their appeal and once the 9th Circuit rules later this season he'll be able to marry and I'll take a special photo for you guys

True that. Imagine Westboro's head exploding but they hate everyone who's not part of their church, not just gays

You have a certain logic but the same thing happens with many other laws though. Why wouldn't they just drive 20 minutes? state autonomy.

Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Hampshire your asses passed marriage equality - why are not joining the pro-brief?

That's awesome! I love hearing cases like this.

The highly religious people in my old little state Louisiana gonna be outraged though.

They better come through!

If we'd waited for all the states to come together on interracial marriage, it probably still wouldn't be legal in some states, even today.

This is a civil rights issue. We shouldn't have to wait for bigots and zealots to come around.

Most states with a ban don't just ban getting married, they forbid recognizing that marriage. So my uncle who married in California isn't married in Nevada for example and he has a job and home there now so he shouldn't have to move back home. With no recognition there may be no hospital visitation rights, no inheritance, no property rights for both people, the list goes on and on.

Because one state may recognize the marriage while another either recognizes it as a civil union or as nothing at all. State autonomy should be about the state. Marriage (and those who want to marry) has nothing to do with the government and it's the way religion is sneaking into the government to control what laws are prohibited and allowed.

Did you know that there are states allow zoophilia but don't allow gay marriage? Tell me how gay marriage is worse than zoophilia (or how zoophilia is better)?

It was either Louisiana or a neighbor that allowed necrophilia and some states allow first cousins to marry yet they say no UNRELATED gays can marry

Honestly, if you take the time to look at some of the ridiculous things that states allow, it will make you wonder how they defend it.

I support gay marriage though