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The first speaker on this motion was Rep John Cerbrowski (R-Bedford). He compared marriage equality to the fantasy play of his grandchildren. He claimed marriage is only for procreation. He said that civil unions is the special legal protection for gay and lesbian couples. Separate but equal, in other words. Then he talks about respecting people's rights, unaware he is disrespecting them. Oh well.
Then Rep Thompson(D-Manchester) spoke, somewhat personally. He also said conservatives should support marriage equality, because marriage is the basic building block of society, leading to stability for the community. He asked how his marriage has impacted anybody else's.
Next up: Jordan Uhlery (R-Hudson) who babbled somewhat incoherently about John Locke and "natural law". All I know is what he said did not jive with my foggy memory of classes, both in high school and college on Locke, Hobbes, Berkely and Hume, but that is a function of misinterpretation rather than lying, at least. Then he said we're all supposed to be breeding as many children as possible. I guess he doesn't believe in birth control or that people who are heterosexual, but choose not to have children should be married, either. Medically infertile couples are also out of luck, as are elderly folks who may want to remarry after being widowed or divorced. He also stated civil unions would be "good enough".
Ed Butler (D-Hart's Location) gave an eloquent speech, also from personal experience. He will be married on April 14 to his long time partner and civil union partner. Much love and happiness to you both Ed!
Then...it's Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry) who said in the first 30 seconds that a person can change his or her sexual orientation. It kind of goes on from there. He also expounded on "natural law". Did they all have a Locke study group or something? Speaker Norelli had to bring him back from a tangent about last year's vote. And, just as with CACR 28--We'll be back....
Lucy McVitty Weber (D-Walpole) made three points: civil unions were repealed when marriage equality took effect, and there isn't a provision in HB1590 to bring them back. Some churches actually support same sex marriage, so it is an infringement on religious freedom to do away with it. And lastly, she spoke of an elderly lesbian couple who have been partners for years and after marriage equality passed told her: Now we feel like human beings. She asked, "how can you take that away?
A roll call was requested and the PI's were done b y Al Baldasaro against the committee report and Gary Richardson for the committee report,
The committee report to kill the bill was upheld 210-109.
Now, how can we not organize to keep our Democratic majorities in this state? The anti-equality forces will be back and will keep coming back as long as they see this as an opportunity for their own political purposes.
People are counting on us!
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