N.H. House passes
civil unions
Lawmakers vote to
extend rights, 243-129
By ERIC MOSKOWITZ,
Concord Monitor Online, April 6, 2007
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DAN HABIB / Monitor staff
State
House gallery yesterday. Although many in the crowd pictured
opposed the bill, the front Trooper Chris Laporte walks through a
packed row included supporters of civil unions, including state
Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley (at left) and two clergy from
the South Congregational Church, UCC, in Concord, the Rev. Carlos
Jauhola-Straight (on the aisle) and, to his right, the Rev. Frank
Irvine. |
In what lawmakers called a victory
for fairness and equality, the House voted by a nearly 2-to-1 margin yesterday
to endorse creating civil unions for same-sex couples.
The 243-129 vote gave supporters hope that the bill will pass the Senate this
spring and be signed into law by Gov. John Lynch, to take effect Jan. 1.
That would make New Hampshire the fourth state to adopt civil unions, after
Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey. Only Massachusetts allows legal
marriage for same-sex couples.
"It is definitely a historic moment. I don't think anybody can deny that
it's a historic moment," said Rep. David Pierce, an Etna Democrat who is openly
gay, after the vote. Pierce, who spoke in support of the bill on the House
floor, said he was pleased by the 114-vote margin and the presence of 27
Republicans in the majority.
"Most people thought it was just the right thing to do," he said.
Senate President Sylvia Larsen, a Concord Democrat, said she was impressed by
the bipartisan House vote and thought the bill would be received favorably in
the Senate. "We haven't done a head count on the bill, but I think many of
the senators recognize through this discussion that we need to extend the same
civil rights to all our citizens," she said.
Lynch, though, has not said whether he would sign the bill, veto it or let it
become law without his signature. "I am opposed to gay marriage, but I do
think also that the rights of families need to be protected," Lynch said
yesterday. "I don't think it's right to discriminate."
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