N.H. Becomes 6th State in Union to Legalize Gay Marriage

CONCORD, New Hamp.– UPDATE — As expected, New Hampshire  became the sixth state in the U.S. to legalize “gay marriage” Wednesday when Gov. John Lynch (D) signed into law a bill redefining marriage to include homosexuals.

New Hampshire’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives endorsed gay marriage in a 198-176 vote, hours after the state Senate approved the legislation 14-10 along party lines, making the state it the fourth this year to support legalized gay marriage in the United States.

Governor John Lynch, a Democrat, signed the bill, which goes into effect on January 1.

“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 in a statement — who less than two months ago said he opposed such unions.

“The New Hampshire governor is right to recognize the threat to religious liberty posed by same-sex marriage, but he underestimates the threat by a long shot,” Austin R. Nimocks, an attorney with the legal organization Alliance Defense Fund, told Baptist Press. “The protections he proposes do not cover business owners and individuals with religious objections to same-sex marriage, and these are exactly the kind of cases that the Alliance Defense Fund is having to defend.”

Related posts:

1. New Hampshire Gov. Backs Gay Marriage And Is Ready to Sign.
2. N.H. Retries Gay Marriage Vote Today, This Time With Added Protections
3. Maine Becomes the 5th State To Allow Homosexual Marriage
4. Gay Marriage One Step Closer in New York
5. Illinois Legislators Move To Legalize Gay Marriage

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