Loading...
Loading...
On-Air Promo Creative 115x175
|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

Gay Marriage and Transgender Rights Take Spotlight in New Hampshire



Bills to legalize gay marriage and to expand nondiscrimination laws to include transgender individuals are expected to be the emotional focus of the New Hampshire legislature this week.

The house judiciary committee deadlocked, 10-10, in voting on both bills last week. The split votes mean that each bill will reach the full chamber floor without a recommendation.

Both bills are anticipated to reach the house floor Thursday and face arduous fights.

Although neither party has taken a formal position on either bill, Minority Leader Sherm Packard told the Concord Monitor that he expects most of his fellow Republicans to vote against the bills. Majority Floor Leader Dan Eaton said Democrats would encourage members to view the issues as a matter of personal "conscience."

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. Page 1 of 1
Reader Comments
  • Name: rgm
    Date posted: 3/23/2009 5:05:00 PM
    Hometown: wdc

    Comment:

    Just to clarify, NH already grants and recognizes civil unions and just like Vermont's legislature NH is considering a bill which if enacted to law will grant full marriage equality to it gay ad lesbian citizens. Massachusetts and Connecticut are the only state in the US that currently makes no distinction between heterosexual and gay marriages. Rhode Island and Maine do NOT have civil unions, though Rhode Island's Attorney General has said the state will recognize gay marriages from other jurisdictions - Maine has a domestic partnership registry.

  • Name: Kevin
    Date posted: 3/23/2009 4:54:00 PM
    Hometown: Philly

    Comment:

    I sure hope the "Live Free or Die" State votes for the freedom of marriage equality and protects the rights and dignity of transgendered folks. Maybe I'm crazy and don't realize that motto only applies to straight people.

  • Name: Ben
    Date posted: 3/23/2009 12:24:00 PM
    Hometown: NY

    Comment:

    I'm glad that the Democrats of New Hampshire believe that my civil rights should be subject to the dictates of their personal consciences. It's very reassuring.

  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 3/23/2009 11:28:00 AM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    C'mon, New Hampshire.... With same-sex marriage now the law in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Maine and Vermont taking up the same issue; do you want to be left behind?? I sincerely pray both bills will pass the legislature and be signed into law. One more positive step for LGBT full equality.



More Online Only
  • News Celebration of Courage Not So Courageous

    Advocate contributor Michael Lucas says the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission needs to be doing more to stop violence against gays and lesbians in countries "oppressed by Islam."

  • Commentary The Truth Behind Her Name Was Steven

    Advocate contributor Eden Lane says CNN's Her Name Was Steven will help raise the visibility of trans people on TV, but the most compelling part of Susan Stanton's journey was left to a title card at the end of the film.

  • Television Laverne, Surely

    I Want to Work for Diddy alum Laverne Cox leads a trio of transgender ladies in VH1’s Transform Me, a new makeover show that flatters her hooker-heavy résumé.

  • Music Cherie’s Jubilee

    With The Runaways, the new film about her life with Joan Jett, pioneering rock star Cherie Currie is enjoying a renaissance ... with a little help from Dakota Fanning.

  • Activism Sex-Ed Student Turns Teen Activist

    When sex education classes at Danny Sparks's high school failed to address the issues important to him, he took matters into his own hands ... and became an activist in the process.

  • Photography Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Ryan Colford

    From his "candy shoppe" line — sweet treats made oh-so sexy — to his black and white studies of the male form, photographer Ryan Colford exposes the beauty of the male body.

  • Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

    COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

  • Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

    Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

  • News Video Content Flag Kids Say the Darndest Things

    Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see. 

  • Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

    With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

  • Marriage Equality We Now Pronounce You ...

    When Jonathan Howard and Gregory Jones found out Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest was open to couples holding commitment ceremonies, they entered. Now, they have a good shot at winning.

  • Music Matt Morris: An Ideal Husband

    Singer-songwriter and Out 100 honoree Matt Morris talks RuPaul’s Drag Race, coming out to pal Justin Timberlake, and the big secret to being a successful gay artist.

  • News View From Washington: Showdown

    The effort to end "don't ask, don't tell" heated up this week with the introduction of Senate legislation. But lawmakers are now facing off with the military over when to pass repeal.

  • DVDs Hot Sheet: Greek, Groove, and Alice

    This week Greek wants you to think back to your frat days, Johnny Depp is looking to explore the Mad Hatter's Gay Days, and Little Boots goes after Gaga's gays.

  • Politics Perez Talks Prop. 8, HIV, and the Economy

    John Pérez (left) became California's first openly gay assembly speaker on Monday. By Tuesday he was laying out his agenda for issues including HIV funding, jobs, and reinstating marriage equality in the Golden State.

  • Music Keeping Up With Ke$ha

    The hard-partying “Tik Tok” singer lives up to her wild reputation with stories of a fantasy all-girl sleepover with Shakira and Sarah Palin, bashing critics of her bisexuality, and sharing her love of trans women.

  • Television Casting Dancing With the Gay Stars

    NOM's Maggie Gallagher facing off with antigay Rep. Sally Kern? Neil Patrick Harris upstaging André Leon Talley? The Advocate makes its picks for the ultimate gay Dancing With the Stars lineup.

1037 COVER X135 | ADVOCATE.COM