Washington (ECN) -  By a vote of 100-49 the Vermont House of Representatives in Vermont has overridden Gov. Jim Douglas' veto allowing same-sex marriage in the state.

Just the fourth state to approve same-sex marriage, Vermont is the first to do so legislatively, rather than by judicial fiat.

California's legislature approved same-sex marriage twice, but was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Vermont’s vote comes just four days after Iowa’s Supreme Court struck down  a decade-old law preventing gays from marrying to make that state the first in the U.S. heartland to allow same-sex marriages.

“It’s a great day for equality,” said Margaret Cheney, a democrat and state representative from Norwich, Vt. “People saw this as an equality issue, and we’re proud that Vermont has led the way without a court order to provide equal benefits.”