Nov 5 2009

Flag The Foster Daily Democrat in New Hampshire is reporting that the anti-marriage equality forces have picked New Hampshire as their next target. New Hampshire has full marriage equality now and the paper reports that two options are being considered:

" Now that gay marriage has been defeated in Maine, attention again shifts to New Hampshire, where lawmakers say momentum from Tuesday's vote may fuel legislation to repeal the state's law and give voters a say.

Two proposals are being drafted in the N.H. House: One would repeal the law Gov. John Lynch signed in June and re-establish civil unions; the other is a constitutional amendment that would charge voters with deciding if "the state shall only recognize the union of one man and one woman as marriage."

The report continues:

"Others see the Maine results propelling similar action across state lines.

Kevin Smith, executive director of the Cornerstone Policy Research in Manchester, said the Maine election can't be chalked up to conservatives coming out of the woodwork because a proposal that would have lowered taxes was defeated and expanding the use of medical marijuana passed in the same election.

"This has crossover appeal," said Smith, whose organization lobbied against gay marriage in the Granite State. "And if anything else it points out just how out of touch the Legislature and Gov. Lynch are."

Only the proposed repeal would go to the governor's desk in order for it to become law. Constitutional amendments head straight to the voters for two-thirds support upon being passed by the same margin in the Legislature.

Lynch wouldn't support repealing the gay-marriage law if it reached his desk, spokesman Colin Manning said. "It was carefully crafted legislation, now law, that protects the rights of all of our citizens and the governor would not support changing it," he said.

Behind the repeal push in the House are Rep. Jordan Ulery, R-Hudson, and four other bill sponsors.

"The issue was brought forth against the will of the majority of people, by a minority of people who confuse the issue by saying it was an equal-rights issue," he said. "