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Minnesota governor signs same-sex marriage bill into law

Minnesota became the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriages after Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, signed a bill giving same-sex couples the right to marry.
gay marriage

(CNN) — Minnesota became the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriages Tuesday after Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, signed a bill giving same-sex couples the right to marry.

“It’s history,” his Twitter account read, along with a photo of him signing the bill on the Capitol steps. The state Senate on Monday voted 37-30 in favor of approving the legislation.

The bill follows a failed attempt last year to define marriage as between one man and one woman with an amendment to the state constitution.

The Minnesota House approved the measure on Thursday.

The divisive issue drew crowds to Washington earlier this year when the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on a federal and state marriage law. The court heard challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, and to California’s Proposition 8, a ban on same-sex marriage approved by voters.

The 11th state to legalize same-sex marriage, Delaware, did so last week.

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