New Hampshire
lawmakers reject antigay marriage ban

A legislative committee has voted by a two-to-one ratio to recommend that a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in New Hampshire be dropped. The vote Wednesday in the house judiciary committee in Concord was 14-7 against the amendment. The full house could vote on the measure as early as next week. State law already bans same-sex marriage, but opponents of marriage equality want to have the state constitution declare that "a marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in the state." They say that would keep the issue out of the courts, avoiding situations like those in Vermont and Massachusetts where the courts ruled marriage can't be limited to heterosexuals. Gay rights activists say no such lawsuits are planned. During a recent hearing most people present opposed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. (AP)