I don't have much time to write today, so I thought I'd share a few encouraging graphics in honor of Pride. What better way to gauge our progress in the area of LGBT equality under the law than with charts! Starting with this pie chart from the Chicago Sun-Times showing the percentages of U.S. population living in states with marriage equality vs. states with stayed marriage equality vs. states with challenges to their marriage bans. You'll notice that the percentage of people living in states with unchallenged marriage bans is 0 percent.
19 states and Washington D.C. currently allow same-sex marriage licenses. 9 states have had their bans overruled, but a judge issued a stay while the decision is contested. 22 states have a same-sex marriage ban currently being contested in court. There are no states whose same-sex marriage ban is going unchallenged. This chart shows what percentage of the United States’ population lives in which of the three categories. The map changed as recently as this week, when a judge issued a stay against same-sex marriage in Indiana. Those who married since Wednesday’s ruling striking down the state’s gay marriage ban are in limbo.
It's pretty breathtaking that 65.1 percent of Americans now live in a state with same-sex marriages either allowed or pending a stay. A map to visualize that:
Just as the number of states with standing bans on marriage equality has drastically shrunk,
so has the number of marriage equality opponents, as you know.
It's a good year for Pride. Still a long way to go--especially in the area of employment non-discrimination--but we can raise our glasses to an incredible year for the LGBT community.
Today, as you may know, is the 45th anniversary of the start of the Stonewall Riots, which sparked the modern gay liberation movement. We've come a long way, baby.
Happy Pride, one and all!
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