LGBTQ issues ballot measures

Issues
Measures by topic
Measures by year
Measures by state

As a state ballot measure topic, LGBTQ issues include measures regarding legal classifications and legal rights for LGBTQ people. The topic is grouped within the social issue policy area.

This page provides information on:

• upcoming ballot measures,
• historical trends, and
• a comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state.

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to LGBTQ issues certified for this year and future elections:

2026

1. Missouri Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment (2026) - On the ballot
2. Virginia Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment (2026) - Potential

History of same-sex marriage ballot measures

See also: History of same-sex marriage ballot measures

The ballot measure played a significant role in shaping the legal status of same-sex marriage in the U.S. before Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a federal constitutional right to marriage, nullifying state constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage, these amendments remain in state constitutions unless voters repeal them.

Since 1994, there were 41 statewide ballot measures related to same-sex marriage on the ballot. Out of these measures, there were 34 measures in 30 states to prohibit same-sex marriage or define marriage as between one man and one woman. Of these measures, 31 were approved and three were defeated. There were also two measures on the ballot related to civil unions, and one ballot measures that legalized same-sex marriage in Washington.

After the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges U.S. Supreme Court ruling, constitutional amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman were struck down. After 2015, four states placed initiatives on the ballot to remove amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman. All four initiatives were approved.

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to LGBTQ issues, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2026

1. Missouri Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment (2026) - On the ballot
2. Virginia Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment (2026) - Potential

2024

1. Hawaii Remove Legislature Authority to Limit Marriage to Opposite-Sex Couples Amendment (2024)
2. New York Proposal 1, Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2024)

2022

1. Nevada Question 1, Equality of Rights Amendment (2022)

2018

1. Massachusetts Question 3, Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Veto Referendum (2018)

2014

1. Illinois Right to Vote Amendment (2014)

2012

1. Maryland Same-Sex Civil Marriage Referendum, Question 6 (2012)
2. Minnesota Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2012)
3. North Carolina Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage and Prohibition of Civil Unions Amendment (May 2012)

2009

1. Maine Question 1, Same-Sex Marriage Referendum (2009)
2. Washington Referendum 71, Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Measure (2009)

2008

1. Arizona Proposition 102, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2008)
2. California Proposition 8, Same-Sex Marriage Ban Initiative (2008)
3. Florida Amendment 2, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2008)

2007

1. Alaska Constitutional Amendment on Prohibiting Public Employment Benefits to Same-Sex Partners Advisory Question (April 2007)

2006

1. Alabama Constitutional Amendment 774, Sanctity of Marriage Amendment (June 2006)
2. Colorado Referendum I, Establishment of Domestic Partnership Status Measure (2006)
3. Idaho HJR 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2006)
4. South Carolina Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage and Prohibition of Domestic Unions Amendment (2006)
5. South Dakota Amendment C, Definition of Marriage and Prohibition of Civil Unions Amendment (2006)
6. Tennessee Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2006)
7. Wisconsin Question 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2006)

2005

1. Kansas Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2005)
2. Maine Question 1, Reject Extension of Civil Rights Protections Regardless of Sexual Orientation Referendum (2005)
3. Texas Proposition 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2005)

2004

1. Arkansas Amendment 3, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)
2. Georgia Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)
3. Kentucky Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)
4. Louisiana Amendment 1, Definition and Recognition of Marriage Amendment (September 2004)
5. Michigan Proposal 04-2, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2004)
6. Mississippi Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)
7. Missouri Amendment 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (August 2004)
8. Montana CI-96, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)
9. Ohio Issue 1, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2004)
10. Oklahoma State Question 711, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)
11. Oregon Measure 36, Legally Recognized Marriage Initiative (2004)
12. Utah Amendment 3, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

2002

1. Nevada Question 2, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2002)

2000

1. Maine Question 6, Prohibit Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Measure (2000)
2. Nebraska Initiative Measure 416, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2000)
3. Nevada Question 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2000)
4. Oregon Measure 9, Prohibition of Public School Instruction on Homosexual Behaviors Initiative (2000)

1998

1. Alaska Measure 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (1998)
2. Hawaii Question 2, Legislative Power to Reserve Marriage to Opposite-Sex Couples Amendment (1998)
3. Maine Question 1, Repeal of Ban Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination Referendum (February 1998)

1995

1. Maine Question 1, Limiting Protected Classifications Measure (1995)

1994

1. Idaho Initiative 1, State Policies Regarding Homosexuality Initiative (1994)
2. Oregon Measure 13, Prohibit Homosexuality Classifications and Approval by Government Initiative (1994)

1992

1. Colorado Amendment 2, No Protected Status for Sexual Orientation Initiative (1992)
2. Oregon Measure 9, Government to Discourage Homosexuality Initiative (1992)

1988

1. Oregon Measure 8, Revoke Governor's Authority to Ban Sexual Orientation Discrimination Initiative (1988)

1978

1. California Proposition 6, Ban on Lesbian and Gay Teachers Initiative (1978)

Alabama

1. Alabama Constitutional Amendment 774, Sanctity of Marriage Amendment (June 2006)

Alaska

1. Alaska Constitutional Amendment on Prohibiting Public Employment Benefits to Same-Sex Partners Advisory Question (April 2007)
2. Alaska Measure 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (1998)

Arizona

1. Arizona Proposition 102, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2008)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Amendment 3, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

California

1. California Proposition 6, Ban on Lesbian and Gay Teachers Initiative (1978)
2. California Proposition 8, Same-Sex Marriage Ban Initiative (2008)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment 2, No Protected Status for Sexual Orientation Initiative (1992)
2. Colorado Referendum I, Establishment of Domestic Partnership Status Measure (2006)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 2, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2008)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

Hawaii

1. Hawaii Question 2, Legislative Power to Reserve Marriage to Opposite-Sex Couples Amendment (1998)
2. Hawaii Remove Legislature Authority to Limit Marriage to Opposite-Sex Couples Amendment (2024)

Idaho

1. Idaho HJR 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2006)
2. Idaho Initiative 1, State Policies Regarding Homosexuality Initiative (1994)

Illinois

1. Illinois Right to Vote Amendment (2014)

Kansas

1. Kansas Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2005)

Kentucky

1. Kentucky Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

Louisiana

1. Louisiana Amendment 1, Definition and Recognition of Marriage Amendment (September 2004)

Maine

1. Maine Question 1, Limiting Protected Classifications Measure (1995)
2. Maine Question 1, Reject Extension of Civil Rights Protections Regardless of Sexual Orientation Referendum (2005)
3. Maine Question 1, Repeal of Ban Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination Referendum (February 1998)
4. Maine Question 1, Same-Sex Marriage Referendum (2009)
5. Maine Question 6, Prohibit Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Measure (2000)

Maryland

1. Maryland Same-Sex Civil Marriage Referendum, Question 6 (2012)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 3, Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Veto Referendum (2018)

Michigan

1. Michigan Proposal 04-2, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2004)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2012)

Mississippi

1. Mississippi Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (August 2004)
2. Missouri Prohibit Abortion and Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Amendment (2026) - On the ballot

Montana

1. Montana CI-96, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Initiative Measure 416, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2000)

Nevada

1. Nevada Question 1, Equality of Rights Amendment (2022)
2. Nevada Question 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2000)
3. Nevada Question 2, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2002)

New York

1. New York Proposal 1, Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2024)

North Carolina

1. North Carolina Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage and Prohibition of Civil Unions Amendment (May 2012)

Ohio

1. Ohio Issue 1, Definition of Marriage Initiative (2004)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 711, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 13, Prohibit Homosexuality Classifications and Approval by Government Initiative (1994)
2. Oregon Measure 36, Legally Recognized Marriage Initiative (2004)
3. Oregon Measure 8, Revoke Governor's Authority to Ban Sexual Orientation Discrimination Initiative (1988)
4. Oregon Measure 9, Government to Discourage Homosexuality Initiative (1992)
5. Oregon Measure 9, Prohibition of Public School Instruction on Homosexual Behaviors Initiative (2000)

South Carolina

1. South Carolina Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage and Prohibition of Domestic Unions Amendment (2006)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Amendment C, Definition of Marriage and Prohibition of Civil Unions Amendment (2006)

Tennessee

1. Tennessee Amendment 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2006)

Texas

1. Texas Proposition 2, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2005)

Utah

1. Utah Amendment 3, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2004)

Virginia

1. Virginia Remove Constitutional Same-Sex Marriage Ban Amendment (2026) - Potential

Washington

1. Washington Referendum 71, Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Measure (2009)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 1, Definition of Marriage Amendment (2006)

See also

• List of ballot measures by topic