Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges will officiate the wedding of two South Dakota women who hope to overturn that state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Nancy Robrahn and Jennie Rosenkranz have been together for 27 years and they have four children and six grandchildren. But the Rapid City couple are denied the basic protections afforded by marriage because South Dakota voters decided in 2006 to add the following to their constitution: “Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in South Dakota. The uniting of two or more persons in a civil union, domestic partnership, or other quasi-marital relationship shall not be valid or recognized in South Dakota.”

That amendment passed with only 52 percent of the vote.

The couple tried to obtain a marriage license in South Dakota but were denied, as TheColu.mn reported in March.

“We already consider ourselves married; this is a rededication of that marriage,” said Robrahn said in a statement on Thursday. “We are approaching the time when end of life decisions and plans need to be made. There are many federal protections that will become available to us through this Minnesota marriage. We hope to see the day when couples like us don’t have to travel out of South Dakota to marry.”

The couple, along with two other South Dakota couples, will be represented by Joshua Newville of Madia Law LLC. Madia Law was founded by Ashwin Madia, an Iraq War veteran who ran for Congress in 2008. His platform was pro-LGBT rights, and he was a vocal critic of the US Armed Forces Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

“South Dakota has failed to treat all of its citizens with the dignity and respect deserved by all people. With the filing of this lawsuit, we will lead South Dakota down a better path,” said Newville said in a statement.

The couple will be married at 1pm by Mayor Hodges at a private ceremony at the Community of Christ Church in North Minneapolis.