From the Monitor:
The New Hampshire Senate voted, 13-11, today to allow adult same-sex couples to marry, approving an amended version of a House-passed bill after a vote to kill the legislation altogether failed by the same margin.
The bill passed by the Senate recognizes a distinction between civil and religious marriages and allows religious denominations to decide whether they will conduct religious marriages for gay or lesbian couples. Civil marriages would be available to both heterosexual and same-sex couples under the law. "This bill recognizes the sanctity of religious marriage and the diversity of religious beliefs about marriage while still providing equal access to civil marriage to all New Hampshire citizens," said Sen. Maggie Hassan, an Exeter Democrat.
The legislation cannot advance to the governor for his signature or veto unless both houses approve the same version.
Thank you to all the Senators who supported this. This is a truly historic day for New Hampshire.
I am sure that the House will vote to concur with this amendment next week. We will need to refocus our energies toward Governor Lynch.
That said, I think the nature of this session indicates a stronger chance that I might have thought that Lynch will sign. The last minute compromise here indicates that the Senators certainly see this in the realm of possibility.
So let's let Lynch know how proud we are of our Senators right now, and invite him follow their historic lead. |
