New Hampshire Panel: Kill Gay Marriage and Trans Rights Bills

By Julie Bolcer

The New Hampshire state senate judiciary committee recommended on Thursday that the full senate reject bills that would legalize same-sex civil marriage and expand antidiscrimination protections for transgender individuals.

While the votes do not bind the full senate, they make it unlikely that either bill will be revived on the floor next week, reports the Union Leader .

The committee voted 3-2 to reject the marriage-equality bill, with chair Deborah Reynolds, a Democrat, joining two Republicans in opposing the measure. Reynolds said that she did not believe New Hampshire was ready for same-sex marriage, according to the Associated Press. Last month the bill passed the house by a vote of 186-179.

The committee voted 5-0 to recommend that the full senate kill the transgender rights bill. The bill would add the term "gender identity or expression" to state antidiscrimination and hate-crimes laws. Opponents argued that the bill would open public restrooms to use by either sex. The bill passed the house last month by a vote of 188-187.

On Tuesday, former governor and current state Republican Party chairman John Sununu referred to both bills as "garbage."

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Reader Comments

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Name: M
Date posted: 4/27/2009 2:19:00 AM
Hometown: Greenburg, NY

Comment:
The restroom arguement is so lame. Consider the congressman, Larry Craig, who sought sex in a mens bathroom!!! HELLO, wake up & face reality. If someone wants to seek sex in a bathroom (Yes, I feel sorry for them) you cannot stop that from happening. The majority of people (aside from Craig) just really want to use the facilities!
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Name: William
Date posted: 4/26/2009 8:12:00 PM
Hometown: Clearwater, FL

Comment:
Oh, so NH is not 'ready' for gay equality! What exactly does this politician think should be done to help make the state ready?
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Name: Roberto
Date posted: 4/26/2009 9:52:00 AM
Hometown: Atlanta

Comment:
Contact Mrs. Reynolds and let her know how you feel. Office: (603) 271-3042 Email: deb.reynolds@leg.state.nh.us
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Name: Mike
Date posted: 4/25/2009 7:24:00 PM
Hometown: Chicago

Comment:
"Garbage?" Our rights are "garbage?" The republican party is garbage and a waste of oxygen. Revive Stonewall now.
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Name: Mario
Date posted: 4/25/2009 3:03:00 PM
Hometown: Portland, OR

Comment:
Id like to hear the lame arguments that these politicians have for openly discriminating against LGBTQ people so blatantly. Im sick of politicians pretending they care about people and then deliberately making life a living hell for anyone that isnt exactly like them.
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Name: anto
Date posted: 4/25/2009 12:13:00 PM
Hometown: dublin

Comment:
when is the time for human rights Reynolds, as bob dylan said 'if not now, then when?' please please please people in this state put pressure on this dem to change her mind or loose her seat, cant believe it what a stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid bitch
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Name: 1st class tax payer 2nd class citizen
Date posted: 4/25/2009 11:37:00 AM
Hometown: Land of Religous Bigots and Torture

Comment:
New Hampshire not ready for Equality? Isn't that what Alabama said about another group of citizens in the 60s? Homophobes come in all political parties including Dems just look at our President.
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Name: leftypower
Date posted: 4/25/2009 11:25:00 AM
Hometown: Brooklyn

Comment:
Deborah Reynoldsshould receive a phone call from everyone who disagrees with her position. It worked for the Vermont legislature, it can work here.
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Name: David Strand
Date posted: 4/25/2009 1:50:00 AM
Hometown: Minneapolis

Comment:
I'm always amazed that anyone buys into the crazy crap conservatives through out there in opposition to basic civil rights protections. I live in Minneapolis and we have had a local ordinance banning gender identity/gender expression based discrimination for 35 years and had a state law for 16 years and none of these fears have any basis in reality when one looks where such nondiscrimination protections already exist. It really looks absurd from where I live. I think too that I have had opportunity to know more openly transgender people over the years due to living and working in a community where discrimination on the basis of gender identity is illegal. A recent vice mayor of St. Paul was a trangender woman and I've known numerous transwomen and transmen through work, neighborhood, and in my faith community, etc. It's a sad day for New Hampshire!
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Name: Carol
Date posted: 4/24/2009 9:02:00 PM
Hometown: MO

Comment:
They are getting desperate now that equality will have to be shared. Like a bee hive being bumped.

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