Rhode Island has became the 10th American state to legalise same-sex marriage.
Following a 16-year effort to extend marriage rights in a heavily Roman Catholic state, Rhode Island became the 10th American state to legalise same-sex marriage. The bill was signed into law by Governor Lincoln Chafee on the Statehouse steps on the evening of Thursday 3 May 2013, following a final 56-15 vote in the House of Representatives.
Rhode Island is the final state in the New England region to legalise same-sex marriage and triumphant cheers of hundreds of gays, lesbians, their families and friends carried far and wide. “Now, at long last, you are free to marry the person that you love,” Chafee told the crowd.
Hot on the tail of Rhode Island, was the state of Deleware, with their Senate passing the marriage equality bill with a 12-9 vote on Tuesday 7 May 2013.
Delaware’s Senate passed marriage equality with a 12-9 vote on Tuesday late afternoon. The first marriages will be July 1.
Minnesota’s Senate is preparing to send their own marriage equality bill off for debate, and it could be voted on as soon as this week.
