In the Hodges case, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and no state has the right to refuse to recognize a same-sex marriage concluded in another state. This means that, according to the law of the United States, all married couples in California, including same-sex couples, must be treated by the federal government as married, on equal terms and with respect. The California legislature also created Family Code 308, which recognized same-sex marriages created outside of California, provided that they were valid in the state in which the marriage was created or contracted. The history of same-sex marriage in Los Angeles County, California is a long and winding one. In 2004, then-San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples, even though it was illegal at the time.
This sparked a national debate on same-sex marriage and eventually led to a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Today, same-sex marriage is legal in Los Angeles County, California. All married couples in Los Angeles County are treated equally under the law and have access to all of the rights and privileges afforded to married couples. This includes access to health care benefits, tax benefits, and other legal protections. It is important to note that while same-sex marriage is legal in Los Angeles County, there are still some restrictions on who can marry. For example, individuals under 18 years of age cannot legally marry without parental consent.
Additionally, individuals who are already married cannot legally marry someone else without first obtaining a divorce. The legalization of same-sex marriage in Los Angeles County has been a long and arduous process. It began with Gavin Newsom's bold move in 2004 and culminated with the Supreme Court's ruling in 2015. Today, same-sex couples in Los Angeles County can enjoy all of the rights and privileges afforded to married couples under the law.
