New Zealand lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill allowing same-sex marriage Wednesday, all but assuring that it will soon become law, according to the Associated Press.

New Zealand already has same-sex civil union laws that confer many legal rights to gay couples, but this would extend the legalities of marriage to all people. Of interesting note, even “though polls indicate about two-thirds of New Zealanders support gay marriage, the bill was given impetus last year by President Obama’s public support of the issue.”

When the president came in support of gay marriage last May, there was a lot of speculation at how far-reaching an impact that would have. Clearly, it was more than many realized.

While many churches in New Zealand still oppose changing the legal definition of marriage, the law still passed.

Is the tide turning?