New Hampshire supporters of same-sex marriage are scrambling to regroup after the House, in a stunning vote Wednesday, rejected a bill that would have made the Granite State the sixth in the country to allow such unions.
-- From "N.H. backers regroup on same-sex marriage" by Brian MacQuarrie, Boston Globe Staff 5/22/09
The bill, which would have accommodated Governor John Lynch's demands for expanded protections for religious organizations and employees who do not approve of gay marriage, was defeated by two votes. Instead, the House asked the Senate to negotiate a compromise. Another House vote is expected in early June.
Lynch, a Democrat who personally opposes same-sex marriage, said last week he would support a bill with religious protections. Two previous bills that deal with same-sex marriage have already passed the Legislature this session. Those measures have yet to be sent to the governor and cannot be amended.
Lynch will be huddling with lawmakers to ensure that his proposals are included in the legislative compromise, said Colin Manning, the governor's spokesman.
That confidence was echoed by the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition, an advocacy group. "I think both houses will approve the work of the conference and the governor will sign the bill."
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