Democrats Pass Gay Marriage Again, w/out Public Vote
New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage after the Senate and House passed key language on religious rights and Gov. John Lynch — a Democrat who (like Obama) claimed he opposes gay marriage — signed the legislation Wednesday afternoon.
Cheers from the gallery greeted the key vote in the House, which went mostly along party lines, with Democrats supporting it by 198-176. Surrounded by gay marriage activists, Lynch signed the bill about an hour later.
"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law," Lynch said.
Lynch, a Democrat, had promised a veto if the law didn't clearly spell out that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay marriages or provide other services. Legislators made the changes. However, those protections can (and probably will) be resended at a later time when they have the votes to do so.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa already allow gay marriage, -- none of them via democratic vote. Opponents hope to overturn Maine's law with a public vote.
California briefly allowed gay marriage before a public vote banned it; a court ruling grandfathered in couples who were already married. See Chick's THE GAY BLADE.
Cheers from the gallery greeted the key vote in the House, which went mostly along party lines, with Democrats supporting it by 198-176. Surrounded by gay marriage activists, Lynch signed the bill about an hour later.
"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law," Lynch said.
Lynch, a Democrat, had promised a veto if the law didn't clearly spell out that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay marriages or provide other services. Legislators made the changes. However, those protections can (and probably will) be resended at a later time when they have the votes to do so.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa already allow gay marriage, -- none of them via democratic vote. Opponents hope to overturn Maine's law with a public vote.
California briefly allowed gay marriage before a public vote banned it; a court ruling grandfathered in couples who were already married. See Chick's THE GAY BLADE.
posted by chickcomics | 6:13 PM
2 Comments:
If we're going to decide civil rights based on public opinion, then we should as well go back and put slavery and segregation into the polls.
You mean, like when the Supreme Courts said a slave was three fifths of a man (Dred Scott) or the atheist Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes approved of forced sterilization? (Buck v Well)
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