One more GREAT thing about New Hampshire!!!!!! (no sales tax, no income tax and now)

mickeyfan1

<font color=purple>Come and let me show you my tat
Joined
Jul 23, 2002
Messages
11,773
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire lawmakers voted Thursday to authorize civil unions and sent the measure to Gov. John Lynch, who announced last week that he would sign it.

The Senate passed the bill 14-10 along party lines, Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.

"This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination," said governor's spokesman Colin Manning. "It is in keeping with New Hampshire's proud tradition of preventing discrimination."

Three other states already offer civil unions for gay couples: New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont. Neighboring Massachusetts in 2004 became the only state to allow gay marriage.

Unlike other states, there was no active court challenge to push New Hampshire to act on the issue.

In fact, the success of civil unions was an about-face from two years earlier, when a study panel recommended New Hampshire giving no meaningful consideration to extending legal recognition to gay couples.

That panel had concluded that homosexuality was a choice, and it endorsed a constitutional amendment to limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman. State lawmakers have defeated proposed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage two years in a row.

Sponsors of the civil unions bill called it a door to marriage in all aspects but name. Opponents argued it would lead to the collapse of traditional values.

"Let's just call it what it really is, no sugarcoating," said Republican Sen. Robert Letourneau. "This creates same-sex marriage. There is no right to marriage in either the New Hampshire Constitution or the federal Constitution."

"We don't let blind people drive or felons vote, all for good and obvious reasons," he said.

State Rep. Jim Splaine, who is openly gay, said time would change those attitudes.

"As we continue to evolve this discussion, we'll see people not worried so much about the marriage word," he said. "This is an important difference. This is not marriage. This is civil union. This does nothing to impact anyone's marriage."

The measure would take effect Jan. 1, and some couples were already planning Thursday.

"My partner and I have already spoken to our minister and we will be having a civil union the instant it is possible to do so," said Democratic Rep. Gail Morrison.

Washington, Maine, California, New York City and Washington D.C., recognize domestic partnerships. New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer this week pledged to introduce gay marriage legislation in the next few weeks.
 
Wow, it's a friggin' epidemic!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:
 
One thing that the house passed, and I don't know if it is in the final bill, but it is extremely different in another way, it says NH will recognize those unions performed in other state, we would be the first to do so. This is a GIANT step towards getting common sense in this country.

It was funny hearing the testimony, all the people who are so afraid that gay unions will cause the downfall of marraige got an earful from someone in Mass, she said that there was no evidence of heteros suddenly divorcing or marriages falling apart out of the blue. Because we all have been told that our marriages are being threatend by the civil unions.

I just hope that I will see equal rights for all before I take my last breath.
 

Wow! Congratulations, New Hampshire! Live free or die, indeed.

"...let blind...drive or felons vote..." What on EARTH does that have to do with this matter? :confused3

I never, ever will understand how anyone can think that allowing the same human rights to one group will negatively impact those same rights of the group already enjoying them. Never.
 
Hi everyone,

Im new here and I am so excited to see this post. My partner and I live in NH with our 5 y.o. DD. We were thrilled when we read this last week in the local paper. I wasn't holding out a lot of hope for NH. We figured we would have to move back to Massachusetts someday. I hope that this will become the norm and even more states will start to impliment civil unions.
 
You know, sometimes I really love living in NH. The weather can suck. And there are a lot of hicks in some places. But when it comes to getting the job done...
 










Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE








New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top