New Hampshire Rejects Gay Marriage Repeal

CONCORD, New Hampshire – New Hampshire lawmakers decided not to make history today. The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted against a bill which would have repealed the state’s gay marriage law.

The state House voted 211-116 to kill the measure, although both sides have pledged to keep fighting this issue into the fall elections.

The Republican-backed bill would replace the current gay marriage laws and turn all gay nuptials conducted after March, 2013 into Civil Unions. Before legalizing Gay Marriage New Hampshire had a law permitting Civil Unions. The public would be able to let their feelings be known on the issue by introducing a non binding referendum on the issue.

If the House passed the repeal measure, it would have gone to the Senate; both houses are controlled by Republicans. Democratic Gov. John Lynch had promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.

The National Organization for Marriage has pledged to spend $250,000 to help lawmakers running for re-election who support repealing the law. On the other side, the New Hampshire Republicans of Freedom and Equality PAC is raising money to back Republicans who vote to retain it.

Same-sex marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Washington and the District of Columbia. New Jersey was set to become the next state to legalize but the Governor vetoed the bill. The New Jersey Senate has vowed to override but the vote could be held over until 2014.

Since 1998, 31 states have had ballot measures related to same-sex marriage, where gay marriage opponents have defeated proponents in every match up.

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