In Louisiana, gay marriage is currently illegal. In fact, Louisiana enacted the Defense of Marriage act like many other states that sought to define marriage in legal terms. In Louisiana, marriage is only legally recognized if it is a union between a man and a woman due to the language in DOMA. In addition, Louisiana passed legislation that banned gay marriage and civil unions from being recognized by the state, regardless of where they were performed. 

However, A judge overturned the legislation based on the fact that it covers same sex marriages and civil unions in unison. That ruling in currently being challenged in court. Currently, the legality of domestic partnership is not being questioned. Currently, in Louisiana, marriage is only recognized if it is a union between an opposite sex couple.

In Louisiana, gay rights are in serious decline. At one time, Louisiana had discrimination laws in place to protect the LGBT community. However, those protections were allowed to expire and the state currently offers no protections against discrimination in the LGBT community. Louisiana does currently cover sexual orientation under the hate crime laws, however gender identity is not covered by the Louisiana law.

In addition, Louisiana does not recognize same sex marriages that took place in another state. Same sex couples are afforded no legal rights or responsibilities because of their relationship. In Louisiana, gay rights seem to lacking the attention that they deserve. While the south is traditionally known for being more conservative, they should still strive to provide all citizens with equal rights.

In Louisiana, marriage or any form of a legally recognized same sex relationships, is legally forbidden. In fact, the laws are clearly discriminatory in Louisiana. Gay couples are offered no legal rights due to their relationship and in fact, they are offered no protection against discrimination. In Louisiana, Gay couples and individuals are fighting a battle to obtain the most basic rights afforded to the general public. 

While the LGBT is currently not protected from discrimination, one cannot expect that they will receive equal rights. In Louisiana, marriage may always be an issue for the gay community. In fact, the struggle for equal rights appears to be far from over in Louisiana. Marriage is a basic right but LGBT citizens need to fight for even the most basic rights in Louisiana, and many other states as well.

Currently,
Indiana prohibits legal recognition for same sex marriage or for any
relationship between same sex couples. In fact, Indiana passed the Defense of
Marriage Act, which bans same sex unions through the use of language, without
explicitly forbidding it. While the state does have a statute that bans Indiana
gay marriages, they do not yet have an amendment in place that bans same sex
marriage. In fact, those supporting gay marriage rights argue that the
amendment will violate their constitutional rights. By attempting to pass the
amendment, the state opens itself to lawsuits that challenge equal rights for the
state’s citizens.

In Iowa,
gay marriage is legally recognized as of April, 2009. While there are many that
favor the gay marriage pros rather than focusing on the cons, many other states
still fail to legally recognize gay marriage. Iowa is similar to other states
because it had originally adopted DOMA. The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted
to protect the sanctity of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. 

In 1993, the State Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay
marriage in Hawaii. However, the Supreme court was overruled by an amendment
that stated the Supreme court did not have that decision making authority. Gay
marriage in Hawaii was quickly made illegal by the legislature. However, Hawaii
does allow for some rights as they relate to domestic partnership. In 1997,
Hawaii began to offer reciprocal beneficiary registration. Gay marriage in
Hawaii is not legal, but same sex couples can be afforded the same rights as
married couples. In Hawaii, gay marriage is only illegal by definition. In
fact, same sex couples in Hawaii are afforded more rights that in most states.

In Hawaii, gay marriage is not legally recognized. However, couples can enter
into an agreement that affords them many rights in regards to their
relationship. Reciprocal beneficiary registration allows couples to be entitled
to some rights that are usually obtained through a legal marriage. For
instance, couples acquire inheritance rights and the right to acquire health
insurance through their partner. 

One benefit that many individuals feel is vital,
is the right to make decisions regarding health care. In fact, many LGBT
couples in the United States, are unable to make those decisions as they relate
to their partner. In fact, when a partner in hospitalized, the other partner is
often unable to get information regarding their partners condition because they
are not considered family.  

In addition to these rights, couples are
entitled to pensions and the right to own property jointly. Like marriage,
individuals can not enter into more than one reciprocal beneficiary
registration. While gay marriage in Hawaii is still illegal, couples can
benefit from the rights that the state affords individuals in a reciprocal
beneficiary registration.

In Hawaii, gay marriage is not technically legal. However, Hawaii affords
couples the opportunity to enter into a written agreement that will offer them
the opportunity to enjoy rights that are only usually afforded to married
couples. Gay marriage in Hawaii is simply not legally recognized because of the
definition of marriage. 

However, same sex couples are free to enjoy the many
benefits and responsibilities of marriage without having the designation of
marriage. There are few states that offer same sex couples the opportunity to
enjoy those rights. In Hawaii, gay marriage is likely to be legally recognized
sooner than in many other states. In fact, in Hawaii, gay marriage is allowed
contractually through reciprocal beneficiary registration.

In Idaho,
gay rights are severely lacking. In fact, those for gay marriage have encounter
a large opposition form the population. Like many states, Idaho has a Defense
of Marriage Act. The Act defines marriage as a union between opposite sex
partners. In addition, the state banned same sex marriage in 2006. In fact, the
Amendment passed with over 70 percent of votes. In Idaho, gay marriage was
banned, thereby forbidding many rights for same sex couples.  The
Amendment banned same sex marriage as well as any legal recognition for any
types of relationships between same sex individuals.

The Defense of marriage Act has been approved by many states. By defining
marriage as a union between a man and a woman, states effectively forbid gay
marriage. However, many states have also begun to pass laws that strictly
forbid gay marriage in addition to the Defense of Marriage Act. Those that are for
gay marriage, believe that these Acts are unconstitutional and prevent
individuals from having equal rights. By preventing access to equal rights,
states are discriminating against individuals based on their sexual orientation
or gender identity.

In Idaho, gay couples have no rights regarding their relationship. For example,
one partner may not make any decisions regarding the health care of the other
partner. In fact, they may not even have hospital visitation rights because
they are not related. In addition, same sex couples have no rights regarding
property or inheritance. Those that are for gay marriage, believe that laws
that forbid gay marriage, are unconstitutional because they prevent couples
from attaining rights that afforded to other couples.

In Idaho, gay marriage was banned by an overwhelming percentage of the
population. Those for gay marriage, encountered a large opposition. In fact,
individuals for gay marriage are not likely to see any change in the immediate
future. In Idaho, gay rights have been taken away because of the LGBT
communities  inability to have their relationship legally recognized in
any form.

In Illinois,
gay rights are receiving some consideration by the courts. There are currently
no laws in Illinois that pertain to civil unions. In fact, civil unions are
neither legal or illegal. Several times, there were bills that were meant to
legalize civil unions but they were never put to a vote, so no one is sure how
the courts feel about gay marriage law in Illinois. 

In Georgia,
gay marriage is not legally recognized. In 2004, Georgia passed the Defence of
Marriage Act which has also been passed by many other states. The Act defines
marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, the act was challenged
in court in 2006 and was struck down in  May of that year. Yet, the courts
reinstated the Act in July of 2006. For two months the Act was not in effect.

However, that was not ample time to effect any change in the state of Georgia.
According to the Georgia Code Title 19, marriage may be entered into by a man
and a woman and there are no rights granted to same sex relationships. In fact,
no rights regarding divorce or alimony shall be granted to same sex marriage.
In Georgia, gay rights are not granted because the state does not legally
recognize same sex relationships.

The Judge that originally overturned the Act banning gay marriage stated
that Georgia was effectively taking away individual, Constitutional rights of
members of the LGBT community. Because the ban covered gay marriage, civil
unions and domestic partnerships, the Judge ruled that it was unjust. The Judge
stated that the LGBT community must be entitled to some sort of legal
recognition of their relationship, even if it was not called marriage. However,
the Act was reinstated 2 months later. In Georgia, gay marriage is still
explicitly illegal. In fact the legal recognition of any same sex relationship
is strictly forbidden.

Many people prefer to focus on the positive aspects associated with same sex
marriage. One of the gay marriage pros is the acquisition of rights granted to
marriages. However, Georgia does not legally recognize any of those benefits or
responsibilities. Many advocates in the LGBT community are the voice of the
many other gay marriage pros. For instance, gay marriage pros include the
ability to make decisions about a partners health care, as a basic right. In
addition, gay marriage pros include the right to mutual estate planning and the
right to inherit a partners property. One of the largest gay marriage pros is
the psychological and health benefits found among married couples.

In Georgia, gay rights have been violated on several fronts. For instance,
there is no legally recognizable term for same sex relationships. In fact, same
sex partners are not entitled to any legal rights that would result from their
relationship. In Georgia, gay marriage is not likely to be recognized in the
immediate future. While there are many gay marriage pros, many state
governments tend to focus on the cons and claim that gay marriage infringes on
the rights afforded to marriage between opposite sex couples.