Maine and Maryland made history tonight by becoming the first states to legalize same-sex marriage by popular votes.

Though same-sex marriage is currently legal in six states — MA, IA, NH, NY, CT, and VT — and Washington D.C., it had never before been approved by the voting public. According to the Associated Press, same-sex marriage had previously been defeated in each of the thirty times it appeared on state ballots.

A marriage equality measure is also expected to pass in Washington state, and a proposal to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota is expected to fail.

[photo via AP]