The Minnesota House on Thursday afternoon approved legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, moving the state one step closer to embracing marriage equality.

The state House voted 75-59 to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples with just two weeks left in the 2012 legislative session. The state Senate is expected to pass the bill on Monday, and Gov. Mark Dayton (D) said he will sign the bill into law.

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Minnesota would be the first in the Midwest to approve legislation that allowed same-sex couples to officially tie the knot. Another state in the Midwest, Iowa, permits same-sex marriage due to a court ruling.

Delaware and Rhode Island have also approved same-sex marriage in the past week.

Minnesota voters in November rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman.

The YouTube account for the Minnesota House uploaded video on Thursday highlighting the history of the legislation. Watch below:

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[Same sex marriage via Shutterstock]