After Many Votes And Additional Language, Gay Marriage Legal In New Hampshire
Today, the New Hampshire House and Senate both approved additional language Governor John Lynch last week requested be added to the gay marriage bill they had already approved weeks earlier. The Governor said he would veto the bill if they did not include his language in the bill. The Senate voted 14-10, and the House, passing the bill after three rounds of votes. Gay rights groups have said they are satisfied with the bill’s protections of religious institutions, adding it does not inhibit their rights to be married.
Much attention has been drawn to the passage of this bill, which makes New Hampshire the sixth state in the nation, and the fifth state in the Northeast, to legalize same-sex marriage. Many had thought the Governor, whom newspapers said might not take a stance either way on the bill and let it slide into law, might have done just that as days then weeks went by after the bill had passed the legislature. However, for reasons yet revealed, the bill was never delivered to the Governor, and he spent much of that time reportedly speaking with groups on all sides. The Governor has five days in which to sign or veto a bill, but only after it has been delivered by the Secretary of State, to his office.
A majority, 55%, of New Hampshire residents favor same-sex marriage, while only 39% oppose. The Governor last week, said, “We can and we must treat both same-sex couples and people of certain religious traditions with respect and dignity.†Previously, noting his opposition to marriage equality, Lynch said,
“I still believe the fundamental issue is about providing the same rights and protections to same-sex couples as are available to heterosexual couples. This was accomplished through the passage of the civil unions law two years ago. To achieve further real progress, the federal government would need to take action to recognize New Hampshire civil unions.â€