Same-Sex Couples Now Account for 1 in 3 MN Marriage Licenses

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Same-sex couples have obtained nearly 1 of every 3 marriage licenses issued in Minnesota since they got the legal right to wed.

That's the finding of a statewide survey by The Associated Press of the earliest impact of the new gay marriage law. It shows that at least 1,640 gay couples plan to get married.

The AP got information from 83 of 87 counties. Three of every four licenses for gay couples were issued in the state's two most populous counties, Hennepin and Ramsey.

In 29 counties that responded, no gay couples sought licenses.

Although Twin Cities-area counties led the way, gay-marriage applications popped up in every corner of the state. That includes in 40 counties where a majority of voters last fall supported a ban on gay marriage.

The state became the 12th to allow same-sex marriage beginning Aug. 1 and some 1,640 couples so far have obtained a license that allow them to wed over the ensuing six months.