And New Hampshire makes SIX! Governor to sign Gay Marriage legislation!

[rpmdfw]

The governor of New Hampshire just announced that he'll be signing the marriage equality legislation that was recently passed by the state house and senate!



Go New Hampshire!

 

[DVCajun]

This recent trend is astonishing! I mean, am I the only one who didn't see this coming?? Whatever -- happy dance!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

This recent trend is astonishing! I mean, am I the only one who didn't see this coming?? Whatever -- happy dance!

No, you are not the only one... I mean, I was hopeful... but this is just amazing! I hope it just keeps going and going and going....

Go New Hampshire!

 

[Tony-NJ]

 

[NHdisneylover]

HURRAY
Many thanks to NH Freedom to Marry Coalition for fighting hard on this one too

ETA: Here is a link about his announcement:
http://www.wmur.com/news/19462540/detail.html

I am a little worried about the changes he wants. I know this went back and forth a bit being worded just so to really have the correct wording--hopefully the changes will not keep it from passing the house and senate again (if that needs to happen). I honestly do not understand the need to have wording to "protect" churches. To the best of my knowledge churches are not legally required to marry anyone--even those who can be legally married now everywhere (by the state) could be denied a church wedding by any church for pretty much any reason, right? Either way, if it can be reworded to everyone's satisfaction and becomes law that is a very good thing.

 

[soulmates]

It's all the buzz here in NC...I hear it on the news and I'm so hopeful that one day SOON, we will be legal here in my state! Sooooo very happy for all those who ARE able to marry legally! One day, we will ALL know what it feels like!

Chris

 

[zulemara]

I'm completely in favor of bending on both sides to get this to work. It might not be "necessary" from a practical standpoint, but it is necessary to find the middle ground between the religious institutions and the LGBT community. If they are wanting specific language to make sure they can choose to deny same sex couples a ceremony in their church, that is perfectly fine with me.

I think the reason they are concerned is because of the policies regarding birth control and such. I think they are trying to prevent a future battle. For me, that's absolutely fine. In fact I think if there were more discussions like this, there would be even more progress made for our rights.

The fact that this guy is a Republican and is bending on this is a very very good sign. Watch his press conference and you see the kind of government we should have working for us. One that looks beyond personal beliefs and looks at the greater good.

I'm not trying to get overly political, just sharing my joy in the progress. Lets keep the momentum going. I'm seriously considering donating to the HRC to make sure these laws stay as they are(or will be)


edit: I actually didn't realize what they're doing. They are doing what I have said ALL ALONG! Marriage=religious ceremony with the legal recognition by the state. CIVIL marriage= any other kind of marriage not sanctioned by a religious institution. FINALLY someone agrees with me and is putting it into law!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I'm completely in favor of bending on both sides to get this to work. It might not be "necessary" from a practical standpoint, but it is necessary to find the middle ground between the religious institutions and the LGBT community. If they are wanting specific language to make sure they can choose to deny same sex couples a ceremony in their church, that is perfectly fine with me.

I think the reason they are concerned is because of the policies regarding birth control and such. I think they are trying to prevent a future battle. For me, that's absolutely fine. In fact I think if there were more discussions like this, there would be even more progress made for our rights.

The fact that this guy is a Republican and is bending on this is a very very good sign. Watch his press conference and you see the kind of government we should have working for us. One that looks beyond personal beliefs and looks at the greater good.

I'm not trying to get overly political, just sharing my joy in the progress. Lets keep the momentum going. I'm seriously considering donating to the HRC to make sure these laws stay as they are(or will be)


edit: I actually didn't realize what they're doing. They are doing what I have said ALL ALONG! Marriage=religious ceremony with the legal recognition by the state. CIVIL marriage= any other kind of marriage not sanctioned by a religious institution. FINALLY someone agrees with me and is putting it into law!

I see what you are saying and essentially I agree--if they need it spelled out more clearly fine. Also I have always said marraige (for everyone) should be distinct between a civil thing and a religious thing (actually I think we should ALL have legal civil unions and then no one would get workled up about the marraig word in law anyway). I just think it is silly. But I have to clarify that John Lynch is a democrat.

 

[zulemara]

woops! I thought he was GOP!

Either way, he was against gay marriage before and has softened his stance and agreed to listen to both sides!

I agree that we could take the word out entirely, but not many would go for that. It's the fact that when you're married in Vegas in front of a judge, people call it marriage, but if marriage is a religious institution, then you are not married, you have a civil marriage. That is the basis this is setting up.

 

[NHdisneylover]

woops! I thought he was GOP!

Either way, he was against gay marriage before and has softened his stance and agreed to listen to both sides!

I agree that we could take the word out entirely, but not many would go for that. It's the fact that when you're married in Vegas in front of a judge, people call it marriage, but if marriage is a religious institution, then you are not married, you have a civil marriage. That is the basis this is setting up.

An easy mistake to make when the media keeps talking about the GOP adds pointing out he has said he is against gay marraige. Honestly I think he has been playing that politicans word game. There was no question he would sign the civil unions law about 2 years ago. He has a decent history on gay rights. I think (obviously I can't know what is in anyone's head but my own and often times I am not so sure of that) he answered direct questions about gay marraige with the standard "personally I think marraige is abotua man and a woman. . ." to be electable. None the less he took a risk now and I applaud that

I have to say recent months (postelection nightmare) have made me very hopeful. If someone had asked me when my kids were born if I thought the GLBT community would have equal rights in this area by the time they were gron I would have not believed it is possible. My oldest is 12 and I am starting think that a majority of states may have marraige equality by the time she is of marrying age. Wouldn't be cool to grow up just assuming that all your friends will eventually marry who ever they fall in love with I am not really expressing this well (its late and I am brain dead)--I just feel like things are moving now and much faster than I would have ever dreamt possible a few years ago (kind of like the feeling I had when the Berlin Wall came down). Of course, it is still far too late, BUT. . .theses states passing laws one after another makes me smile

 

[NHdisneylover]

And the NH House and Senate passed the revised version so it should be a done deal now:

Marriage Equality and Religious Freedom Secured in Decisive Legislative Vote


Legislators send HB73, along with marriage equality bills, to Governor


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 3, 2009

CONTACT: Adam Bass, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, (603) 223-0309, adam@nhftm.org

CONCORD -- In a decisive vote, the New Hampshire House of Representatives followed the Senate's lead in approving a bill aimed at securing religious liberties. Grouped with two previous pieces of legislation advancing the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples, the bill's passage was the last major procedural before the Governor is expected to sign all three bills into law.

"Today's vote is in line with the majority of Granite Staters who support the freedom to marry," said Mo Baxley, the executive director of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition. "The legislature has upheld the New Hampshire values of individual liberty, freedom and fairness. We applaud the legislature for continuing to strongly safeguard religious freedom while making sure that all loving, committed couples have the freedom to marry."

When Governor Lynch signs the marriage-related bills, New Hampshire will become the sixth state to recognize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Governor Lynch has indicated that he will sign the legislation when it reaches his desk.



###


The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition was founded in January 2001 and is New Hampshire's Statewide LGBT education and advocacy organization. http://nhftm.org/

 

[bubie2.5]

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Looks like my neighbor, Rhode Island, is the only NE (Thats New England, Rob ) state to hold out. It has a major Catholic majority and a GOP governor though, so it may be a wait on that one!

 

[rpmdfw]

Looks like my neighbor, Rhode Island, is the only NE (Thats New England, Rob ) state to hold out. It has a major Catholic majority and a GOP governor though, so it may be a wait on that one!

Have you checked with the post office and federal government?

Cuz they say NE means Nebraska.

Don't go making up new abbreviations and then making fun of me for not knowing them.

TISNC!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Have you checked with the post office and federal government?

oh yeah... cause we can believe everything THEY say!

 

[wallyb]

Looks like my neighbor, Rhode Island, is the only NE (Thats New England, Rob ) state to hold out. It has a major Catholic majority and a GOP governor though, so it may be a wait on that one!

Can you beleve it.
Bitsy little Rhode Island

I hope they beat their goal for New England?
Was it 2012?

Did you also know that New England is
the most secular part of the country?

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Did you also know that New England is
the most secular part of the country?

I believe it (although the south coast of MA ~ Fall River, New Bedford, etc.) is very much like Rhode Island. High concentrations of catholics. At one point there were 50+ catholic churches in Fall River alone.

After all, MA is the landing grounds of the Pilgrims who were escaping religious persecution. In fact, the church I belong to, The Congregational church... was the religion brought over on the Mayflower. Many of the Congregational Churches in the Plymouth area were built by the people on the Mayflower.

http://www.fccfallriver.org/OurHistory.html

http://www.bartleby.com/65/co/Congrega.html

 

[soulmates]

I'm SO proud to be a New Englander!!

 

[wallyb]

I'm SO proud to be a New Englander!!

Me Too!

The others are lucky we let them
share this country with us.

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

Me Too!

The others are lucky we let them
share this country with us.

Can we chisel the rest of the country off and just float away to be our own little liberal, secular country?