May 31, 2007
Civil Unions OK'd In New Hampshire
Gov. John Lynch (D) signed legislation today legalizing civil unions in New Hampshire, making his state the first in the country to offer marriage rights to gay couples without a court order or the threat of one.
"I've listened and I've heard all the arguments. I do not believe that this bill threatens marriage. I believe that this is a matter of conscience and fairness," Lynch said.
The Granite State will become the fourth to perform legitimate civil unions, after Connecticut, Vermont and New Jersey. In April, its newly elected Democratic state legislatuure -- the state's first in more than 100 years -- quickly passed civil union legislation, which Lynch had vowed to sign. A constitutional ban on the practice had been introduced just two years ago but was defeated.
New Hampshire's new law won't go as far as Massachusetts' ruling, however, which allows full marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Posted at 4:49 PM
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Gay Rights
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