Final answer:
The restrictions on same-sex marriage have involved federal laws like DOMA and state initiatives such as California's Proposition 8, leading to varied rights across states. Change came with the US Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in June 2015, legalizing same-sex marriage across the nation, setting a precedent for inclusion within the definition of monogamous relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
The restrictions for marrying a same-sex partner have varied significantly over time and by location. Initially, such unions were met with strong opposition, as seen with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman exclusively.
This federal law also allowed states to disregard same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. For example, the passage of Proposition 8 in California severely limited marriage to opposite-sex couples. The legal struggle to secure the right for same-sex couples to marry included prohibitions affecting various aspects of life, including hospital visitation, inheritance, immigration, adoption, and recognition of parental rights after separation.
In 1996, the Hawaii State Supreme Court sparked nationwide debate by ruling that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was illegal. However, this led to a backlash and the passage of laws in multiple states forbidding same-sex marriage.
Despite these challenges, the cultural and legal landscape shifted over time. In June 2015, the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges saw the US Supreme Court legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, a movement that echoed legal recognitions in other Western countries.
It's important to note the distinction between monogamous and polygamous relationships in anthropology. While monogamy denotes the union of two adults, it only more recently has included same-sex couples, reflecting changing societal norms. Today, same-sex marriage is a legally recognized union in many countries around the world, and historical evidence suggests that it has played a role in various societies throughout history.