New Hampshire Legislature Approves Same-Sex Marriage

NEW YORK, June 3 -- New Hampshire this afternoon became the sixth state to allow gay marriage, after Gov. John Lynch (D) signed a revised bill approved by both houses of the legislature.

The state senate passed the bill by a vote of 14 to 10, and the house followed later with a vote of 198 to 176. Lynch immediately signed the bill, which included revisions he had insisted upon. The changes give protections from lawsuits for organizations that refuse to participate in same-sex ceremonies on religious grounds.

The passage of the bill now leaves Rhode Island as the only New England state that does not allow same sex marriage. Iowa is the only other state with legal gay marriage, and moves toward same sex unions are advancing in New York and New Jersey.

The New Hampshire law becomes effective Jan 1.

The vote in New Hampshire gives a boost to gay marriage advocates following their disappointing defeat before the California Supreme Court last week. The court upheld a voter-approved ban on same sex marriage in California, but left intact about 18,000 gay marriages performed before the referendum, known as Proposition 8, passed last November.

With the New Hampshire law now complete, national gay marriage advocates are now turning their full attention to New York, where the house has passed a bill to legalize same sex unions but the senate appears closely divided. Gov. David Paterson (D), a longtime supporter of gay rights, has made passage of the bill a top priority before the legislature adjourns later this month.

Opponents of gay marriage assailed the vote, and the governor for signing the bill, and vowed to take revenge at the ballot box against those elected officials who supported it.

Brian S. Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, said, "This is far from over." He said, "I think this is going to have real repercussions in 2010."

In a telephone interview, Brown said, "We are going to support a town-by-town referendum in every town in New Hampshire." Those referenda would be non-binding.

"It's a sad day for New Hampshire," he said.