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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."

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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.



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