Gov. Lynch Wants it Both Ways: Civil Unions and Gay Marriage

NH Also to Recognize Gay Marriages from Other States

Concord — Republican leadership is disappointed in Governor Lynch’s decision to sign the proposed civil union bill currently in the Senate.  The legislation discriminates against heterosexual couples and recognizes gay marriage simply by calling it a civil union and applying current New Hampshire marriage laws.   This directly contradicts the governor’s belief that marriage is between one man and one woman. 

“It was our expectation that the governor would work with the Senate to improve this bill,” said House Republican Leader Mike Whalley.  ”At the very least, civil unions should be available to all committed couples whether or not they are of the same gender. We should never prevent any two people from caring for one other.”

HB 437, which passed the House with 97 percent support of voting Democrats, provides that a civil union or a marriage between a man and another man or a woman and another woman legally contracted outside of New Hampshire shall be recognized as a civil union in this state.

This legislation discriminates against heterosexuals.  “If the governor really does believe that this is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination, then he should support letting anyone enter into a civil union, not just a same-sex couple,” added Whalley.  The bill also recognizes out-of-state gay marriages as civil unions. “Once again the governor is contradicting his earlier statements that marriage is only between one man and one woman.”

According to a recent poll conducted for the Concord Monitor by Research 2000, only 35 percent of New Hampshire residents support gay marriage.  “If most people agree that a marriage is between a man and a woman, why would the governor support a bill that is really marriage between same gender couples simply by calling it a civil union?” Whalley asked.  “When people understand this bill for what it really is, gay marriage, they will oppose it as well.  You cannot recognize same sex marriage from another state as a civil union.  And we cannot recognize in-state same sex marriage simply by calling it a civil union.  It is clear that the civil union bill that he will be signing, as written, is equivalent to a same sex marriage bill.  He can’t have it both ways.”

 “I think the numbers are clear, New Hampshire citizens do not want civil unions, they are not comfortable being at the front of the pack creating such controversial public policy,” said Republican Policy Leader Gene Chandler.  “We have a group of people who have complained of being discriminated against for years, now supporting a bill that is very discriminatory against a large segment of our population,” added Chandler .

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