Minnesota might be poised to become the 12th state in the nation to legalize gay marriage, as House leaders prepare for a floor vote Thursday, May 9.

House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, said he believes the 73-member DFL majority has the 68 votes needed to pass the bill allowing same-sex couples to wed, even without a single Republican vote.

As of late Tuesday, no GOP House members have said publicly they would vote “yes.”

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leaders say they also have the votes to pass a same-sex marriage bill, and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he’ll sign it.

Richard Carlbom, executive director of Minnesotans United for All Families, the main organization advocating for same-sex marriage rights, called the votes historic, ones “that will be remembered for the next 100 years.”

He said attitudes toward gay marriage have shifted dramatically in the past decade because people understand that marriage, regardless of whom you are, is about the commitment two people share.

“More and more people realize that same-sex couples marry for the same reasons as anyone else,” Carlbom said. “They want to marry the person they love.”

However, a spokeswoman for Minnesota for Marriage, the main organization opposing same-sex marriage, said her side remained confident that it would prevail.

“Nothing’s really inevitable until after it happens,” said Autumn Leva. “Things happen on the floor, and we’ll see what happens.”

Both sides have intensified their lobbying efforts this week, putting more pressure on lawmakers who have not publicly revealed how they will vote.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislators control the House and Senate. But there are 17 non-metro DFLers seen as swing votes because their party favors legalizing gay marriage but they represent districts that voted for a constitutional amendment to limit marriages to heterosexual couples. The measure was defeated by Minnesota voters last fall.

“We’re still having conversations, but I think we have the votes,” Thissen said.

“This hasn’t been something we’ve been twisting people’s arms on. It’s about talking to people, hearing from constituents and those undecided legislators ultimately listening to their hearts.”

Without any GOP support, House leaders would need at least 12 of those 17 DFLers to vote “yes” to pass the bill.

None of the 21 GOP House members who represent districts that rejected the amendment last fall have said they would vote in favor of the gay-marriage bill.

“No one has committed to us that they’re going to vote yes for it,” Carlbom said. “We’re still having conversations and trying.”

Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, whose district saw 53 percent of voters reject the constitutional amendment, hasn’t changed his mind: He’ll vote “no” on Thursday.

“Marriage is marriage,” McNamara, who supports civil unions for same-sex couples, said Tuesday. “I’ve thought about it over and over, and ultimately I’m confident with my decision.”

Seven swing-district DFLers have told the Pioneer Press they will vote for the bill; two said they’ll vote “no.”

Democratic Reps. Jeanne Poppe of Austin and David Dill of Crane Lake both said Tuesday they were leaning toward voting “yes.” However, Dill said he might have to miss Thursday’s vote for medical reasons.

Dill did not vote in 2011 when the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage was on the House floor.

The six other DFLers from swing districts haven’t committed or commented on their vote.

The Senate bill passed the Finance Committee on a voice vote Tuesday morning. It’s not expected to reach the floor before Saturday.

Meanwhile, Delaware became the 11th state to legalize gay marriage Tuesday when Democratic Gov. Jack Markell signed a bill approved by that state’s Senate less than an hour earlier. Rhode Island became the 10th state last week.

Maine, Maryland and Washington voters approved gay marriages Nov. 6, the same day Minnesota voters defeated, by 52-47 percent, the proposed marriage constitutional amendment.

Doug Belden contributed to this report. Megan Boldt can be reached at 651-228-5495. Follow her at twitter.com/ MeganBoldt and facebook.com/PioneerPressPolitics.