New Hampshire has become the sixth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, after a bill enacted by both the state House and Senate was signed into law by Governor John Lynch.

"Today we're standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear they will receive the same rights, responsibilities and respect under New Hampshire law," Lynch said before signing the bill. Lynch said it was a New Hampshire tradition "to come down on the side of individual liberties and protections and that tradition continues today."

Same-gender marriage is now legal in six U.S. states -- Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, all of the new England states, except Rhode Island -- and in Iowa.