Progress In New Jersey...Shame In Virginia

Today, New Jersey joins the growing list of communities interested in taking a step forward in the granting of equal rights to same-sex couples. Let's take a moment to recap where the various entities of the world stand on this issue...
__________________________________________________________________

Countries currently performing same-sex marriages nationwide:

Netherlands (since 2001); Belgium (2003); Spain (2005); Canada (2005); South Africa (2006); Israel* (see below).

*Due to the fact that all marriages that take place in Israel are done through religious institutions that do not currently support same sex marriage, Israel does not actually perform same-sex marriages; however, in late 2006 the Supreme Court of Israel ordered the government to recognize same-sex marriages that took place abroad.

__________________________________________________________________

Countries currently recognizing civil unions nationwide:

Denmark (since 1989); Norway (1993); Israel (1994); Sweden (1995); Greenland (1996); Hungary (1996); Iceland (1996); France (1999); Germany (2001); Portugal (2001); Finland (2002); Croatia (2003); Luxembourg (2004); Andorra (2005); New Zealand (2005); United Kingdom (2005); Czech Republic (2006); Slovenia (2006); Switzerland (2007).

__________________________________________________________________

Countries currently debating the issues of same-sex marriages and/or civil unions:

Argentina; Aruba; Australia; Austria; Brazil; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Estonia; France; Greece; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Mexico; New Zealand; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Sweden; Taiwan; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay.

__________________________________________________________________

U.S. States currently performing same-sex marriages statewide:

Massachusetts (since 2004).
__________________________________________________________________

U.S. States that have taken some form of action in either granting or moving towards granting same-sex marriages and/or civil unions:

California; Connecticut; Maryland; New York; New Jersey; Oregon; Vermont; Washington.
__________________________________________________________________

U.S. States that have given their legislative bodies the authority to ban same-sex marriage:

Hawaii (in 1998).
__________________________________________________________________

U.S. States that have banned same-sex marriage:

Alaska (since 1998); Nevada (2000/2002); Mississippi (2004); Missouri (2004); Montana (2004); Oregon (2004); Colorado (2006); Tennessee (2006).
__________________________________________________________________

U.S. States that have banned same-sex marriage AND civil unions (but not "other contracts"):

Nebraska (since 2000); Alabama (2004); Arkansas (2004); Georgia (2004); Kentucky (2004); Louisiana (2004); Michigan (2004); North Dakota (2004); Ohio (2004); Oklahoma (2004); Utah (2004); Kansas (2005); Texas (2005); Idaho (2006); South Carolina (2006); South Dakota (2006); Wisconsin (2006).
__________________________________________________________________

U.S. States that have banned same-sex marriage, civil unions, AND all "other contracts":

Virginia (in 2006).
__________________________________________________________________