Recently, same sex couples from Massachusetts have celebrated their first anniversary. On May 17, 2004 gay marriage law took effect in their state. The anniversary celebrations also came at a time when some political pundits have attributed the gay marriage controversy with provoking 13 states into passing constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage in 2004 and prompting at least a dozen more states to consider similar amendments this year.
Now there are 17 states that have passed constitutional bans on gay marriage, and in some cases, civil unions.
