Equality Press

In a 14 to 10 vote along party lines the NH senate approved a bill for Civil Unions for same sex couples.  The bill will go to Governor Lynch next week to sign the bill into law. The Governor said last week that he will sign the bill.

“This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination,” said Lynch spokesman Colin Manning. “It is in keeping with New Hampshire’s proud tradition of preventing discrimination.”

New Hampshire is the first state in the country to pass such a law that has not been preceded by a legal battle.  Vermont, Massachusetts and New Jersey all have similar laws, but those states were followed by a court decision. –>

The Associated Press has reported that today John Lynch the governor of New Hampshire has said that he will sign a Civil Union bill that passed the house a few weeks ago. You can read the full story here. The Senate who originally postponed the vote on this bill plan to vote on it next week.  Contact your senators!!!  –>

Reposted by permission from  http://whitecranespreadsitswings.blogspot.com/

“Next?”

“I just got married, and I’m changing my name.”

“Do you have your marriage certificate?” I handed the freshly minted marriage certificate across the counter, and she started to turn back towards her computer, then froze, looking at the form. “I’ll have to talk to my supervisor. . .” she said slowly, without looking back at me. I sighed. This was either going to be easy, or it wasn’t, and it was beginning to look as if it wasn’t. She made her way to a cubicle in the back (the cubicle of an obviously important personage, as it had a door), and disappeared for a few moments. She reappeared with her supervisor, a very concerned looking woman a few years older than she, and they went together to confer with a uniformed state policeman who stood nearby. He looked very seriously at the document, and shook his head decisively, a definite no, of course without looking in my direction (all of ten feet away). The supervisor came over. “This state doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages.” (more…)