New Hampshire -- Check

[bryant]

The New Hampshire legislature has approved a gay marriage bill. This is the version which Governor John Lynch said he'd sign. This leaves Rhode Island as the sole holdout in New England, at least until this fall depending on what happens with the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative up in Maine.

Update: He signed it.

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

ZOMG NEW ENGLAND == HOMOTOPIA

[that-cad.livejournal.com]

And the terrible, terrible impact is already being felt. Look, bryant and michele_blue are fleeing New England for a formerly Catholic colony!

[bryant]

You and your direct democratic ways do not INTIMIDATE me, Californian.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Only a 50%+1 vote can reshape the Constitution into the true vision of the people! BAN HORSE MEAT

[dcltdw]

Is the stipulation set by the Governor at all relevant? My vague understanding was "uh, why is he wanting this? This is totally not germane", which set off paranoia flags about being the proverbial crack in the dam for future appeals.

[bryant]

He is a moderate Democrat who appears to be a fairly good fit for the state of New Hampshire. He personally opposes gay marriage but is in favor of civil unions. The logic behind the stipulation is that religious figures of faiths that oppose gay marriage should not be forced to perform ceremonies (or make their sanctified ground available for ceremonies) against their will.

I tend to think that this is a poor stipulation for obvious reasons -- it's parallel to the argument that pharmacists shouldn't have to prescribe birth control, for example. But I also think as a practical matter that since you don't /need/ a minister/rabbi/whatever to become married in the eyes of the state, it's a provision that's unlikely to prevent anyone from becoming married. So for what my straight opinion is worth, it's a compromise that gets something meaningful accomplished.

But no, it's not really germane.