FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2011

Kevin Nix, Director of Communications | Kevin@nhftm.org | 603.717.6572

New Hampshire Voters Oppose Marriage Repeal, Crossing Party and Demographic Lines

Concord - According to a new statewide poll released today by New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, opposition to repealing the year-old law that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry is broad and deep, with 63 percent of voters opposing attempts to overturn the law. And majorities of voters in every part of the state—including more conservative and Republican-leaning voters in Manchester, Salem, Nashua and surrounding towns—oppose overturning the law.

In addition, while 88 percent of Democrats oppose any repeal attempts, so do 66 percent of Independents and 35 percent of Republicans.  Fully 92 percent of all voters believe that the state's political leadership should focus on economic issues over social issues. Republicans feel even more strongly: 96 percent said the government's priority should be the economy.

"There can no longer be any doubt that voters have no appetite for overturning the law that allows loving, gay and lesbian couples to marry," said Mo Baxley.  "With majority support in every single region of the state and across generations and party lines, it's clear that voters are proud of this law and want the Legislature to leave it alone and pay attention to bread-and-butter issues."

The poll was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research from January 30-February 3, and surveyed 622 New Hampshire Voters with a margin of error of +/-3.9 points.

Additional data from the poll include:

-- Overall, 59 percent of voters support allowing same-sex couples to marry and an even higher number, 63 percent, oppose any attempts to eliminate marriage for gay couples.

-- There is a stark difference in intensity between those who oppose overturning the law and those who support that action. 49 percent of voters strongly oppose repeal while just 23 percent support that action.

-- While voters are favorably inclined toward Governor Lynch, the poll also revealed that voters strongly support -- by 59 percent -- his veto of any legislation which overturns the law.

-- While it's not surprising that younger Granite Staters support the law and reject any repeal attempts, nearly half of senior voters also oppose repeal. (49 vs. 44 percent)

-- Two-thirds of moms and 53 percent of dads oppose changing the law.

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New Hampshire Freedom to Marry is the state's LGBT education and advocacy organization. Since its founding in 2001, the organization has been a leader in advocating equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Granite State.