Civil Unions: Time for Action

by: Nicholas Gunn

Mon Apr 09, 2007 at 01:26:16 AM EDT

The Senate will hold its public hearing on HB 437 this Tuesday.  This means that potentially, the full Senate could hold a vote on the bill the following Thursday.  We have less than two weeks.

We need to let our Senators know where we stand on this issue.  We need to contact them and urge them to support equality for all of New Hampshire's families.  This will make it much more likely that they will pass the bill.

I'll help you do it below the fold.

Then, you need to contact them and tell them what you think.  What should you say? 

Please support HB 437 as passed by the House.

Gays and lesbians and their families deserve equality and the same respect and protections as other families.

Civil Unions are the first step toward full equality for gays and lesbians in NH.

A stable family structure in which children are reared, educated and socialized. Lesbian and gay couples take on the same responsibilities as other couples, but they are denied marriage protections.

Gay and lesbian families need the same legal protections, the same legal framework and the same responsibilities as other families. The denial of marriage protections to lesbian and gay couples hurts New Hampshire families and children and advantages no one. 

There are over 399 New Hampshire laws governing protections and responsibilities that are available only to married couples, even though these same protections and responsibilities are good for all families.

Here are some of the ways Gay and Lesbian couples are currently treated under NH Law:

Medical/Health/Illness -- Without Marriage:
-Lesbian and gay couples are not automatically entitled to medical decision-making powers and hospital visitation rights when his/her partner falls ill;
-Gay and lesbian partners residing in the same New Hampshire nursing home do not have the right to share a room even though married residents have that right;
-Protections for families of crime victims, including the right to notice and information, to testify at sentencing and parole hearings, and to receive mental health services are not available to a gay or lesbian partner; and
-Lesbian and gay couples lack access to family health and auto insurance policies.
Death -- Without Marriage:
-The surviving gay or lesbian partner is not entitled to protections such as taking a forced share of the estate; staying in the family home through transition protections; receiving allowances from the estate to meet current expenses; and being allowed to retain personal effects, personal property of sentimental value and the right to drive the family car;
-Surviving lesbian and gay partners are denied automatic inheritance rights, along with spousal preference for administering the estate and taking care of a loved one¢s remains;
-A surviving gay or lesbian partner has no way to ensure that his or her partner¢s desire to make an anatomical gift is fulfilled if opposed by the partner¢s next of kin;
-Partners of police officers and firefighters who are killed on the job do not have access to line of duty benefits;
-Gay and lesbian partners cannot automatically receive wages due a partner at the time of his or her death;
-Gay men and lesbians do not have standing to bring claims of wrongful death or loss of consortium when a loved one¢s death results from wrongdoing.
Divorce -- Without Marriage:
-Lesbian and gay couples are not entitled to legal protections upon the dissolution of their relationship, such as equitable division of property based on both parties¢ contributions to the relationship, access to counseling services or training programs, or the possibility of partner support.
-If the couple has children, there is no automatic system for deciding on adequate child support as well as custody and visitation based on their best interest.
Family and Economic Stability -- Without Marriage:
-The partner of a worker injured or killed is not entitled to dependency benefits from the worker¢s compensation system or accidental death benefits from the retirement system;
-Gays and lesbians retiring under the New Hampshire Retirement System cannot provide their pension to their surviving partner, though married retirees can;
-Gay ane lesbian couples cannot obtain tax and homestead exemptions available under New Hampshire law to the same extent as married couples;
-A lesbian partner is not automatically deemed to be the parent of the child born to her partner and cannot currently participate in a second parent adoption with her partner.
-Gays and other unmarried prospective parents are prohibited from entering into surrogacy arrangements.

Tell your State Senator how you feel about this.  Tell them your own personal reason for supporting the Civil Unions bill.  Tell them whatever is important to you, but be sure and ask them to pass HB 437 as passed by the NH House.

And, we'd all like to here where your State Senator stands on this issue, so be sure and come back here and tell us about it.