UPDATE: Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state, putting it on the road to become the 12th state in the nation to do so.

The vote came at about 3 p.m. Thursday, May 9, about three hours after the bill was introduced. This is about honoring difference," bill sponsor Karen Clark said. "I respect the other point of view. But there is something about being able to marry the love of your life."

Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, recognized her partner of 26 years in the assembly's audience. The vote came nearly six months to the day after a 2012 vote on a Republican-sponsored amendment item defining marriage as a union between man and woman. That, of course, was defeated on Election Day.

"Minnesota has been a national leader on issues of human rights and equality over the years. Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives carried on that tradition with its vote for Minnesota to recognize the marriages of all loving people," said DFL Party chair Ken Martin. "In any social movement, there comes a seminal moment when people can choose to either be on the right side or wrong side of history. Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives chose to be on the right side of history." A companion bill is set to go in the Minnesota Senate on Monday, May 13. The DFL holds a majority in that branch of the legislature and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said he believes he has the votes to pass the bill as early as Monday afternoon.

Original story: As crowds supporting both sides of the issue demonstrated outside of the Minnesota House of Representatives chambers, the march toward legalizing same sex marriages in the state began today with the presentation of House File 1054 to the floor.

Rep. Karen Clark of Minneapolis, one of the house's openly gay members, is sponsor of the bill.

WATCH: Minnesota House of Representatives debates H.F. 1054 - Legalizing Same Sex Marriages The eventual vote on the house floor comes just six months after a constitutional amendment to never allow the performance of same sex marriages in the state.