New Hampshire became the sixth U.S. state to legalize gay marriage today after Gov. John Lynch signed the measure into law, even though he says he personally opposes the practice.

After rallies outside the Statehouse by both opponents and backers of the law in the morning, the last of three bills in the package went to the Senate, which approved it 14-10 this afternoon.

Cheers from the gallery greeted the key vote in the House of Representative, which passed it 198-176. Surrounded by gay marriage supporters, Lynch signed the bill about an hour later.