National Organization for Marriage

Alabama is one of 42 states with a statutory definition of marriage, having adopted a state “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) in 1998. In 2006, Alabama residents overwhelmingly (81.2%) approved a state constitutional amendment defining marriage and protecting its unique status in the law, making Alabama one of 30 states with such an amendment.

Marriage Amendment

AMENDMENT CITATION

Alabama Const. Art. I, § 36.03 (2006)

AMENDMENT TEXT

1. This amendment shall be known and may be cited as the Sanctity of Marriage Amendment.
2. Marriage is inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman. As a matter of public policy, this state has a special interest in encouraging, supporting, and protecting this unique relationship in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society and its children. A marriage contracted between individuals of the same sex is invalid in this state.
3. Marriage is a sacred covenant, solemnized between a man and a woman, which, when the legal capacity and consent of both parties is present, establishes their relationship as husband and wife, and which is recognized by the state as a civil contract.
4. No marriage license shall be issued in the State of Alabama to parties of the same sex.
5. The State of Alabama shall not recognize as valid any marriage of parties of the same sex that occurred or was alleged to have occurred as a result of the law of any jurisdiction regardless of whether a marriage license was issued.
6. The State of Alabama shall not recognize as valid any common law marriage of parties of the same sex.
7. A union replicating marriage of or between persons of the same sex in the State of Alabama or in any other jurisdiction shall be considered and treated in all respects as having no legal force or effect in this state and shall not be recognized by this state as a marriage or other union replicating marriage.

ELECTION RESULTS

Year	Votes In Favor	Votes In Favor %	Votes Against	Votes Against %
2006	735057	81.24	169777	18.76

STATUTE

Act 98-500, p. 1077, §§ 1, 2.

§ 30-1-19. Marriage, recognition thereof, between persons of the same sex prohibited.

• This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Alabama Marriage Protection Act."

• Marriage is inherently a unique relationship between a man and a woman. As a matter of public policy, this state has a special interest in encouraging, supporting, and protecting the unique relationship in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society and its children. A marriage contracted between individuals of the same sex is invalid in this state.

• Marriage is a sacred covenant, solemnized between a man and a woman, which, when the legal capacity and consent of both parties is present, establishes their relationship as husband and wife, and which is recognized by the state as a civil contract.

• No marriage license shall be issued in the State of Alabama to parties of the same sex.

• The State of Alabama shall not recognize as valid any marriage of parties of the same sex that occurred or was alleged to have occurred as a result of the law of any jurisdiction regardless of whether a marriage license was issued.

Same-Sex Marriage

There is no additional data regarding same-sex marriage in Alabama at this time.

Domestic Partnerships

There is no additional data regarding domestic partnerships in Alabama at this time.

Civil Unions

There is no additional data regarding civil unions in Alabama at this time.