gay marriage in new hampshire
New Hampshire has taken another step towards becoming the fifth state to offer marriage rights to gays and lesbians with State Senate passage of a bill legalizing the institution. It is only the second state—after neighboring Vermont—to establish gay marriage through legislative action. The other three states—Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa—did so through the courts.
The 13-11 vote broke down roughly on party lines: all ten Republican senators opposed the measure, while one Democrat joined them. The bill only achieved its narrow passage with an amendment from the version passed previously by the State House, allowing for the gendered designations of “bride” and “groom.” Previously the bill only allowed parties to a marriage to be designated as “spouses.” The State House will be required to approve the changes.
Democratic Governor John Lynch has said in the past he believes the word “marriage” should be reserved only for heterosexual couples. It is unclear whether he will sign or veto the measure. New Hampshire already allows for civil unions between same-sex couples; if the bill is passed these unions will be renamed “marriages.” Passage of the bill would also make gay marriage legal in a majority of New England states—only Maine and Rhode Island still exclude gays from marriage protections.
One other state—California—legalized gay marriage through the courts only to see the rights stripped by approval of a controversial 2008 ballot initiative. New Hampshire’s bill is still a compromise: couples, both gay and straight, will choose between “religious” or “civil” tiers of marriage.
