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N.H. House vetoes proposed ban on gay marriage

By Erika Cohen
THE EAGLE-TRIBUNE (NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.)

CONCORD, N.H. — House lawmakers killed a constitutional amendment Tuesday aimed at banning gay marriage.

The bill, which defined marriage as being between one man and one woman, was voted down 207-125.

Rep. David Welch, R-Kingston, who voted against the measure, read aloud from a section of the state constitution that says all men have certain “natural, essential and inherent rights” and that those rights will not be denied based on “race, creed, color, sex, or natural origin.”

“I think having read that, it makes no sense to use this document to discriminate against a minority of our citizens,” Welch said.

Supporters of the measure fell into two camps: those who ardently believe marriage should be between one man and one woman, and those who believe it is up to the people to vote and voice their decision.

Rep. Mary E. Griffin, R-Windham, fell into both camps.

“I just don’t want them to change marriage,” she said, adding that she had no problems with civil unions. “I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. I’m very old-fashioned.”

Griffin said she had hoped the vote would go to the people. She said she received about seven calls from constituents on the bill, a number she said was unusual for one bill.

Rep. Jack Dowd, R-Derry, voted against the bill, saying that on such an important issue the people should vote.

But when asked his personal opinion on the issue, he had “no comment” and said he makes his opinion known at the ballot box.

“I have a lot of people I know that are gay and there is nothing wrong with them,” Dowd said.

The amendment was proposed by Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond, who wanted to force people to take a stand on the issue. Barnes, who strongly believes marriage should remain between a man and a woman, said last week he did not expect to get the support of 50 percent of the Legislature.

He was right — only 125 representatives out of 400 voted against the effort to kill the bill, a move that would have opened the door for an amendment.

Those siding with Barnes on who should be allowed to marry included Rep. Daniel C. Itse, R-Fremont.

Itse said all indications in places that allow same-sex marriage and civil unions show they “will diminish marriage and children will pay the price.”

The recommendation to propose the amendment came from a state commission looking at the issue of same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Mo Baxley of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition said she was pleased but not entirely surprised by the vote. Baxley said people came out in every city where the commission held hearings to speak against such an amendment.

She said the coalition will not pursue a law allowing civil unions right now, but instead will focus on traveling the state and educating people on the issue and how it impacts the lives of gays and lesbians.

The House vote follows votes in Raymond and Danville last week rejecting nonbinding Town Meeting resolutions related to supporting laws favoring same-sex marriage and civil unions. Raymond and Danville rejected the resolutions.