New Hampshire
TAKE ACTION
Gay and lesbian couples are under attack in New Hampshire. In 2011, bills were introduced that seek to take away the freedom to marry from loving, committed couples. Since 2010, when same-sex couples started marrying in New Hampshire, over 1,300 couples have married, providing them a critical safety net in tough economic times. Conversely, no one has been hurt by the law and support for marriage has grown. A October 2011 survey revealed that a large majority (62% percent) of New Hampshire residents oppose repealing marriage for same-sex couples.
In October 2011, a bill to repeal the freedom to marry passed in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill now moves to the full House floor.
Contact your state lawmakers now and ask them to oppose any and all legislation that would deny the freedom to marry to same-sex couples.
HISTORY
In 2007, New Hampshire's legislature introduced both a marriage equality bill and a civil unions bill. The civil unions bill was passed and the governor signed it into law. The new law took effect in January 2008.
On June 3, 2009, New Hampshire embraced the freedom to marry becoming the third state to move past civil unions to marriage. The state house and senate approved a bill to end the exclusion of gay couples from marriage, and the governor signed it into law. Gay couples can now marry in New Hampshire.
Status: Marriage
Groups Actively Working on Marriage
Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.
Standing Up for New Hampshire Families: a bipartisan group of citizens, business owners, people of faith, and civic leaders who oppose repealing the popular 2009 law allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders: New England's leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression
Human Rights Campaign: America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.
Blog Posts Related to New Hampshire
Governor Lynch pledges to veto marriage repeal bill in NH
During his state-of-the-state address today in Concord, New Hampshire's Governor John Lynch reiterated that he will veto legislation that seeks to repeal marriage for same-sex couples.
Tell Romney: stop dissing gay veterans
Yesterday, presidential candidate Mitt Romney told a 63 year old gay married Vietnam Veteran "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman." Help us Mitt he's wrong about marriage
Protecting the freedom to marry in New Hampshire
Marriage for gay and lesbian couples is under attack in New Hampshire. That's why Freedom to Marry is proud to be a leading member of Standing Up for New Hampshire Families, the campaign to protect marriage in the Granite State.
Resources Related to New Hampshire
Media Primer: 2011 Flashpoints for LGBT Equality
A media primer on the LGBT issues landscape for the coming year released by the Human Rights Campaign.
Poll: Majority of New Hampshire Residents Oppose Repeal of Marriage Law
WMUR Granite State Poll found that 62 percent of New Hampshire voters want to keep the state's law allowing marriages for same-sex couples.
Party Principles: Support for the Freedom to Marry by State and National Political Parties
A listing of both state and national political parties that have made strong statements in support of the freedom to marry.