The New Hampshire marriage bill awaits the Governor’s signature
The New Hampshire legislature has passed a bill extending the freedom to marry to same-sex couples. Democratic Governor John Lynch has not indicated whether he will veto the bill. He has previously indicated his opposition to same-sex marriage. He said the word marriage should be reserved for a traditional marriage.
The bill passed after an amendment was added that prohibits polygamy and marriage of family members. Other late changes to the legislation will allow clergy to decline to marry homosexual couples and give couples the freedom to either keep the words “bride” and “groom” or simply use the word “spouse” on their marriage license. The Senate passed the legislation on April 29 by a vote of 13 to 11; the state House of Representatives previously passed the bill by a vote of 186 to 179.
“This historic vote in the New Hampshire legislature is another sign of the incredible progress being made toward equality,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund.
