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04/29/2009
Holy crap! Granite State Senate totally rocks!
By a vote of 13-11, the New Hampshire senate just joined their friends in the House and voted in favor of marriage equality!!
The bill now goes back to the House for approval of amended language, then to Gov. Lynch's desk. If he signs, NH becomes the fifth marriage equality state (and the second to enact it via legislature)!!!
So let's see: That's Vermont, Iowa, and now, possibly, New Hampshire? Plus promising signs in both Maine and New York?
Ya know, 6/09 might be the official date for pride month. But when it comes to cleaning up anti-equality messes, we're really liking...
*UPDATE: HRC's Joe Solmonese says:
“Just one month ago, there were only two states where same-sex couples could marry. Now, with this vote in New Hampshire, we are on the verge of having five states that recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples. It’s been quite a month, and we look forward to more states joining this group”
Taskforce's Rea Carey:
"This vote in the New Hampshire Senate is another sign of the progress being made toward equality. For far too long, many New Hampshire families have been placed in harm's way because they lack the full, fundamental protections they deserve. We urge Gov. John Lynch to rectify this inequality — and help safeguard more of New Hampshire's families — by stepping up and signing this bill when it finally reaches his desk."
Your thoughts
If this passes, that would just leave Rhode Island and Maine for the 6 by 12 campaign!! Any word on the likelihood/time frame of him signing?
Posted by: Ben | Apr 29, 2009 2:55:46 PM
5 states equals 10 per cent of all states, which means we're now in double digits.
Posted by: K in VA | Apr 29, 2009 2:59:29 PM
From what I can gather, this bill will head back to the NH House because it was amended to delineate 2 different types of marriage licenses: civil and religious. I don't know exactly how that works, and I'm very curious as to whether or not a gay couple could get a religious license if they find a church that will marry them.
The House only barely voted pro marriage by about 7 votes so it's not a totally done deal they'd vote for the amended bill, but I have to think that's probably not a worry.
Governor Lynch is still an obstacle, no one knows if he'll sign, but I feel a Democratic governor would be stupid to veto this at this juncture. He may also just let it become law, but I'd like to know the timeframe on all this as well.
Posted by: Bruno | Apr 29, 2009 3:17:15 PM
Brilliant Jeremy. You got me smilin'.
Posted by: John Ozed | Apr 29, 2009 3:53:58 PM
Okay, the 409 made me shoot coffee out my nose. Good stuff, Jeremy. ;)
Posted by: Jamie | Apr 30, 2009 9:20:10 AM
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