( CNN ) -- Vermont 's House and Senate voted Tuesday to override the governor 's veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state . Demonstrators in Iowa celebrate that state 's approval of same-sex marriage on Friday . The Senate voted 23-5 to override Gov . Jim Douglas ' veto , according to the Senate office . Shortly afterward , the House overrode the veto on a 100-49 vote . The votes surpassed the number needed -- two-thirds of those present -- to override the veto . The action makes Vermont the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriages . The others are Massachusetts , Connecticut and , as of last week , Iowa . Douglas vetoed the bill Monday . `` Vermont 's civil union law has afforded the same state rights , responsibilities and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples , '' the governor wrote in a letter to David Gibson , secretary of the Senate . `` Our civil union law serves Vermont well , and I would support congressional action to extend those benefits at the federal level to states that recognize same-sex unions . But I believe that marriage should remain between a man and a woman . '' Tuesday 's votes end a 10-year battle to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont despite a court ruling legalizing civil unions , according to CNN affiliate WPTZ-TV . Same-sex marriages will become legal on September 1 . Following the House vote , corridors of the legislative building filled with jubilant supporters , some embracing and others talking on cell phones to spread the news , WPTZ said . `` We have n't decided who 's going to propose to who yet , '' said one man , standing with his partner . The couple told WPTZ they will have been together 25 years in September . The Human Rights Campaign , which describes itself as the nation 's largest lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender civil rights organization , issued a statement applauding the votes , noting Vermont is the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through the legislative process . `` This historic vote in the Vermont Legislature reminds us of the incredible progress being made toward equality , '' said Joe Solmonese , Human Rights Campaign president , in the statement . `` Less than five years ago , lesbian and gay couples began marrying in Massachusetts . Now , with the Iowa court decision last Friday and today 's vote in Vermont , there will be four states recognizing the right to marry for loving , committed lesbian and gay couples . '' Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin was quoted in the statement as saying , `` The struggle for equal rights is never easy . I was proud to be president of the Senate nine years ago when Vermont created civil unions . Today we have overridden the governor 's veto . I have never felt more proud of Vermont as we become the first state in the country to enact marriage equality , not as the result of a court order , but because it is the right thing to do . '' Vermont 's neighboring state , New Hampshire , also has taken steps toward legalizing same-sex marriages . On March 26 , the New Hampshire House passed a bill by seven votes that would legalize same-sex marriage , sending it to the Senate , according to the Concord Monitor newspaper . New Hampshire Gov . John Lynch has said he opposes same-sex marriage but has not said whether he will veto a bill legalizing it . Like Vermont , New Hampshire allows civil unions for same-sex couples . `` The civil unions bill [ Lynch ] signed into law prevents discrimination and provides the same legal protections to all New Hampshire families to the extent that is possible under federal law , '' Lynch spokesman Colin Manning told the Monitor . On Friday , the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a state law banning same-sex marriage . The decision upheld a 2007 ruling by a lower court that struck down Iowa 's 1998 law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples . Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson found that the law violated the state constitution 's guarantee of equal protection and hurt gay and lesbian couples `` in numerous tangible and intangible '' ways .
Senate and Vermont House voted September 1 to override governor 's veto of bill . Same-sex marriages will become legal in Vermont on Tuesday . Vermont becomes first state to legalize same-sex marriage . Jubilant supporters of the bill throng legislative building after the override votes .