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(Image source: The Star Tribune)
BY JOHN O'CONNOR
Minnesota and Rhode Island have become the latest U.S. states to recognize same-sex marriage
after their recently passed laws went into effect early Thursday morning.
"At the stroke of midnight, one of Minnesota's first same-sex marriages was held in the chapel
of love at the Mall of America. 13 states and D.C. now recognize same sex marriage."
(Via HLN)
With the addition of Minnesota and Rhode Island to the states recognizing same-sex partnerships,
it's estimated "30% of the U.S. population now lives in places where gay marriage is
legal." (Via ABC)
Minnesota is now the second and largest midwestern state after Iowa to enact legislation legalizing
same-sex marriage.
And according to KTSP, more than 42 couples lined up at Minneapolis' City Hall to married
by Mayor R.T. Rybak early Thursday morning. (Via CNN)
But for many in the state, the day comes as a complete shock. NPR explains when a gay
marriage ban was on the ballot last fall, 75 of Minnesota's 87 counties supported it.
"Most rural counties supported the idea of banning gay marriage by margins of 3-to-2,
or even 3-to-1. [But] they were outvoted statewide by the urban centers."
And in May, the state's Democratic Governor Mark Dayton signed the bill allowing same-sex
weddings in front of thousands of supporters. (Via KSTP)
CBS explains Rhode Island faced a similar split, becoming the last of the New England
states to legalize gay marriage.
"Lawmakers in the heavily Catholic state [finally] passed the marriage law this spring, after
more than 16 years of efforts by same-sex marriage supporters."
Both Minnesota and Rhode Island will automatically recognize marriages performed in other states.