Fifth of US population now in states with ‘stayed’ marriage bans
A fifth of the US population now lives in states where decisions striking down same-sex marriage bans have been stayed, pending appeal.
According to the research by the Chicago Sun-Times, 21.5% of the total US population now lives in the states with stayed bans – where bans have been struck down, but left in place while an appeal works its way through the courts.
43.6% of the population live in the 19 states (and DC) where same-sex marriage is legal, and 34.9% in the states where bans have yet to be struck down.
The states with stayed bans include Indiana, Arkansas, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas.
If the Supreme Court ultimately rules in favour of marriage equality in those appeals, as it is expected to, this would leave at least 67.8% of the population in states with same-sex marriage.
Indiana is the latest state to have a stayed ban, after US District Judge Richard Young declared that the Indiana Defence of Marriage Act unconstitutional, striking it down on Wednesday.
