Same-sex marriage has been legal in California since June 28, 2013. The State of California first issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples from June 16, 2008 to November 5, 2008, as a result of the Supreme Court of California finding in the case of In re Marriage Cases that barring same-sex couples from marriage violated the Constitution of California. The issuance of such licenses was halted from November 5, 2008 through June 27, 2013 due to the passage of Proposition 8—a state constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriages. In 2024, the passage of Proposition 3 repealed Proposition 8. The granting of same-sex marriages resumed following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which restored the effect of a federal district court ruling that overturned Proposition 8 as unconstitutional.
California becomes the second U.S. state after Massachusetts in 2004 to legalize same-sex marriage after the state's own Supreme Court rules a previous ban unconstitutional.
On May 15, in the year 2008, California becomes the second U.S. state after Massachusetts in 2004 to legalize same-sex marriage after the state's own Supreme Court rules a previous ban unconstitutional. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of May 15, a notable event in this corner of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on May 15, 2008 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 6 Wikipedia articles.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 3 February 2026.
On This Date in History
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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