“Governor Mark Dayton on Tuesday made Minnesota the nation’s 12th state to allow same-sex couples to marry and only the second in the Midwest, signing a bill on the steps of the state Capitol before thousands of supporters.
The Democratic governor’s signature came a day after state senators approved the bill, which made Minnesota the third state this month to approve same-sex nuptials after Rhode Island and Delaware.
The Minnesota law takes effect on August 1 and Minneapolis, the state’s biggest city, said on Tuesday that City Hall would open just after midnight on the first day same-sex couples can marry and Mayor R.T. Rybak will be on hand to officiate that night…
Iowa is the only other Midwestern state that permits same-sex couples to marry, by a state Supreme Court order in 2009.”