PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge threw out Oregon's same-sex marriage ban Monday, marking the 13th legal victory for gay marriage advocates since the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned part of a federal ban.State officials earlier refused to defend Oregon’s voter-approved ban and said they wouldn’t appeal.The National Organization for Marriage sought to intervene, but both U.S. District Judge Michael McShane in Eugene and a federal appeals court rejected its attempts to argue in favor of the ban.Many county clerks in Oregon began carrying out same-sex marriages almost immediately after Monday’s ruling, as jubilant couples rushed to tie the knot.Here's a closer look at where things stand across the country:HOW MANY STATES ALLOW SAME-SEX MARRIAGE?: Gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in 17 states and the District of Columbia. The two most recent states to make the unions legal were New Mexico and Hawaii, both of which did so in late 2013. Oregon's ruling is not expected to be challenged, which would make it the 18th state where gay marriage is legal.IS GAY MARRIAGE GETTING CLOSE TO BECOMING LEGAL IN OTHER STATES?: In 11 states, federal or state judges recently have overturned same-sex marriage bans or ordered states to recognize out-of-state marriages.