2,044 events on record Subscribe September 10, 2026
Standing Record home The Standing Record A non-partisan record of US democratic norms —
and the events that erode them.

Timeline › 2004 › April

April 2004

4 entries from April 2004.

Apr 22

Oklahoma Legislature referred HB2259, a constitutional same-sex marriage ban, to voters

The Oklahoma State Senate passed HB2259 38-7 on April 15, 2004, and the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted 92-4 to concur on April 22, 2004, completing the Legislature's referral of State Question 711 — a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman only — to Oklahoma voters. The amendment barred recognition of any same-sex marriage performed in another jurisdiction and made it a misdemeanor to knowingly issue a marriage license in violation. Oklahoma voters approved SQ711 by approximately 76 percent on November 2, 2004.

Apr 21

Virginia General Assembly enacted Affirmation of Marriage Act, voiding same-sex civil unions and contractual rights

On April 21, 2004, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Affirmation of Marriage Act (HB 751), chief-patroned by Del. Robert G. Marshall, declaring that same-sex civil unions, partnership contracts, and any related contractual rights are void and unenforceable in Virginia. The enrolled bill passed the House 69–30 and the Senate 27–12 after Governor Mark Warner's recommendation to narrow the bill was rejected; it became law without the Governor's signature as Chapter 983 of the 2004 Acts of Assembly, effective July 1, 2004. The law voided not only civil unions created elsewhere but also private-contract rights — including domestic-partner benefits, hospital visitation agreements, and inheritance arrangements — that same-sex couples had established.

Apr 14

Mississippi Legislature passed HCR 56 proposing constitutional ban on same-sex marriage; enacted as Section 263-A

On April 14, 2004, the Mississippi Legislature completed passage of House Concurrent Resolution 56, enrolling a proposed constitutional amendment and referring it to the statewide ballot as Chapter 620. The resolution defined marriage as valid in Mississippi only between a man and a woman and declared same-gender marriages from other jurisdictions void and unenforceable, eventually ratified as Article XIV, Section 263-A of the Mississippi Constitution.

Apr 13

Kentucky General Assembly gave final passage to constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage recognition

On April 13, 2004, the Kentucky Senate voted 33-5 to concur in House amendments to SB 245, completing final legislative passage of a proposed constitutional amendment providing that only a marriage between one man and one woman is valid or recognized in Kentucky, and that no legal status substantially similar to marriage may be recognized for any other relationship. The Senate had initially passed the measure 33-4 on March 11, 2004, and the House passed it 85-11 on April 12, 2004. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Vernie McGaha (R-Russell Springs), was delivered to the Secretary of State as Acts Chapter 128 and placed on the November 2, 2004 general-election ballot, where voters ratified it as Constitutional Amendment 1 with approximately 75 percent in favor.