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."