NH Gov Signs Civil Unions Bill

June 1, 2007

CONCORD—New Hampshire became the fourth state to legalize civil unions yesterday, as Gov. John Lynch signed legislation into law saying it was in keeping with the state's anti-discrimination tradition.

As more than 100 supporters gathered in the Executive Council chambers of the State House for the ceremony, Lynch portrayed the new law as a natural progression of the state's traditional values.

He called civil unions the New Hampshire way and the law a way to further the strengthening of New Hampshire families.

Dating back to the abolitionist movement, Lynch said, we in New Hampshire have had a long and a proud history in taking the lead in opposing discrimination. Today, that tradition continues.

The governor's office notified reporters of the bill-signing ceremony a little more than an hour before it took place, yet the room was jammed with supporters.

A conservative group later questioned if the governor's office provided such short notice to avoid possible protests.

Lynch signed the bill, declaring, This bill is now law, and handed his pen to state Rep. James Splaine, D-Portsmouth, the bill's chief sponsor, as the crowd cheered loudly.

I've listened and I heard all the arguments, said Lynch. I do not believe that this bill threatens marriage. I believe that this is a matter of conscience and of fairness. It is never too soon to act to prevent discrimination.
The Senate passed the bill 14-10 in April, strictly along party lines, with the Democratic majority forcing passage.

The House had passed the bill three weeks earlier by a two-to-one margin, 243-129.

When the bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2008, New Hampshire will join Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey with civil unions. Massachusetts has legalized same-sex marriage and five other states allow for various levels of domestic partnerships.

The bill states that its purpose is to delineate the rights, obligations and responsibilities of parties entering a civil union.

It points to marriage and divorce laws for the legal details and allows, but does not require, clergy to perform civil unions.

The law also says any civil union or marriage legal in another state will be recognized as a civil union here.

ConserveNH, a new self-described conservative grassroots organization, criticized the governor and the new law.

Group chairman Paul Nagy said the group is disappointed that Governor Lynch has agreed to rewrite New Hampshire's marriage laws with this unpublicized signing of the civil unions bill. The governor and New Hampshire General Court should be on alert that while they have attempted to slide through this drastic change in New Hampshire's marriage laws with little public input and attention, every New Hampshire voter will be made aware of this unpopular payoff to liberal special interests. Nagy said the group will now push for repeal.

An emotional Splaine said after the signing, It's good that this was done the New Hampshire way. It was done through the legislative process.

He noted New Hampshire is the only state that has adopted equality in this way without a court requirement or court action.

State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen said, New Hampshire voters did not have civil unions in mind when they gave Governor Lynch a Democratic majority last fall. The Democrats have gone too far, too fast with social policy.

But Splaine said the new law is so important in breaking down one more barrier of discrimination, and that is what New Hampshire, throughout our history, has been all about.

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