Same-sex marriage became legal in the U.S. state of New Hampshire on January 1, 2010,[1] replacing civil unions. On January 1, 2011, all civil unions in the state became marriages unless otherwise dissolved, annulled or previously converted to marriage.[1]
On January 1, 2008, civil unions became legal in the state.[2] Legislation for same-sex marriage was signed into law by the governor on June 3, 2009,[3][4] making New Hampshire the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage.[5] New Hampshire was one of a series of states in 2009 to legalize same-sex marriage in New England.
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After the 2006 general election, when Democrats became the majority party of the New Hampshire state legislature, several bills were considered which would grant same-sex couples greater civil rights in the state. Proposals were made by both Democratic and Republican politicians. The various proposals ranged from allowing couples to enter into a "contractual cohabitation," a "civil union," a "spousal union," or a same-sex marriage. Governor John Lynch opposed same-sex marriage, but did, through various spokespersons, indicate that he was receptive to discussing civil unions as a means of granting certain rights to same-sex couples.[6]
On April 4, 2007, the New Hampshire House passed a civil unions bill, HB437, with a vote of 243 to 129, to give partners in same-sex civil unions the same "rights, responsibilities and obligations" as heterosexual couples in marriages.[7] Lynch stated on April 19, 2007 that he would sign legislation granting civil unions to same-sex couples because he believes "...it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination."[8] On April 26, 2007, the New Hampshire Senate approved the civil unions bill 14-10 along political party lines.[9] On May 31, 2007, Governor John Lynch signed the civil unions bill into law,[10] making New Hampshire "...the first state to embrace same-sex unions without a court order or the threat of one."[9] The law took effect January 1, 2008.[10][11]
Licenses were made available on December 10, 2007[12][13] such that civil unions could be sealed starting at 12:01 am on January 1, 2008. Deputy secretary of state David Scanlan said, "As far as we're concerned, everything is on schedule."[12]
Civil unions took place throughout New Hampshire just after midnight on January 1, 2008. The largest gathering occurred in Concord, on the steps of the State House. Twenty-three couples were expected to participate in the event, however, an estimated 40 actually took part, and some 200-300 friends, family and onlookers observed. The event drew one protestor who "...quietly handed out a statement calling all sex outside of heterosexual marriage a sin..."[2][14]
Under the New Hampshire civil unions law, same-sex civil unions or marriages conducted in other states will be recognized as civil unions in New Hampshire. House Bill 1415 was introduced by Representative Maureen Mooney to repeal this portion of the current civil unions bill and was ultimately deemed inexpedient to legislate.[15][16][17]
At the end of 2008, after one year of legal recognition of same-sex civil unions in New Hampshire, approximately 600 civil unions licenses have been issued by the state, while approximately 8,700 marriage licenses were issued by the state during the same time period.[18][19]
Despite the civil union law intending to provide "all the rights and subject [a couple] to all the obligations and responsibilities provided for in state law that apply to parties who are joined together,"[20] only some benefits, and some limitations, shall exist.[21][22][23]
On March 18, 2009, the New Hampshire House of Representatives Judiciary Committee voted in a deadlocked vote 10-10 to send a same-sex marriage bill, HB 436, to the floor of the House of Representatives.[24] The tied committee vote resulted in the Committee not being permitted to issue a recommendation on the bill. On March 26, 2009, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 182-183, but after a motion to reconsider the first vote, the vote was 186-179.[25][26] On Thursday, April 23, 2009, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 3-2 recommended that the full Senate defeat the bill, but the following Wednesday, the Senate approved an amended version of the bill 13-11.[27] The amended bill then went on to pass the House, and thus the legislature, on Wednesday, May 6, 2009; however, it was not clear whether Gov. John Lynch would sign it, veto it, or let it become law without his signature,[28][29] and once the bill officially reached his desk, he would have five days to veto the bill before it became law.[30] The bill recognized out-of-state civil unions as marriages. Couples who had New Hampshire Civil Unions would be able to apply for a marriage license, however if they didn't apply for a marriage certificate their civil unions would automatically be converted to marriages on January 1, 2011.[1]
On May 14, Lynch, though being personally opposed to gay marriages, said he would sign the bill so long as it contained increased protections for churches against lawsuits if they refuse to marry gay couples.[31][32] Legislative leaders indicated on the same day that they would allow the changes.[33] On May 20, 2009, the Senate passed the changes 14-10, along party lines, but the House unexpectedly failed to agree later in the day by a vote of 188-186.[34] Opponents tried to kill the bill, but failed 173 to 202.[35] The House then voted 207-168 to ask the Senate to negotiate a compromise.[35] On May 29, a compromise with some minor changes was reached, which the governor approved of, which was sent back for a vote.[36] The new version was approved 14–10 by the Senate and 198–176 by the House, on June 3, and was signed by the Governor shortly thereafter.[5][37][38] Lynch is the second governor in the US, the first being John Baldacci of Maine, to sign a bill allowing same-sex marriage.
New Hampshire law also recognizes foreign and out-of-state same-sex marriages.[39]
As of January 1, 2010, no new civil unions were established in the state.[40] Those who entered into a valid civil union before January 1, 2010, were able to have their marriages solemnized, provided they met the legal requirements of the state marriage laws and were the same two people in the civil union. Additionally, such persons in civil unions before January 1, 2010, were able to record their civil unions with the town or city clerk who recorded the civil union and receive a marriage license, with no additional fee or solemnization required. A civil union entered into before January 1, 2010, that had not been dissolved, annulled, or merged into a marriage, was converted to a marriage on January 1, 2011.[1]
The University of New Hampshire Survey Center released a statewide poll taken from April 13–22, 2009 which concluded that 55% of New Hampshire residents supported same-sex marriage, while 39% percent opposed it.[41][42] The Center also released a poll taken January 27-February 6, 2011 which found that 62% of New Hampshire residents opposed the new Republican-dominated legislature's efforts to repeal the 2009 law legalizing same-sex marriage, with only 29% in favor of repeal. In addition, 51% voiced strong opposition to repeal.[43][44] Another poll conducted between January 30 and February 3, 2011 by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research shows that 59% of New Hampshire residents support allowing same-sex couples to marry and 34% are against. The poll also found that 63% of residents oppose the bill repealing same-sex marriage, while 29% support it.[45]
A July 2011 Public Policy Polling survey found that 51% of New Hampshire voters thought that same-sex marriage should be legal, while 38% thought it should be illegal and 11% were not sure. A separate question on the same survey found that 80% of respondents supported legal recognition of same-sex couples, with 45% supporting same-sex marriage and 35% supporting civil unions, while only 19% thought that there should be no legal recognition and 1% were not sure.[46] Significantly, a majority supported marriage among demographics that are typically adverse to it. More than 65% of those who responded considered themselves to be moderate to very conservative with only 1/3 identifying as having an affiliation with the Democratic party. Over 75% of respondents were age 45 or older with nearly half being aged 45 to 65, an age group statistically less likely to support marriage. Among respondents, only 10% were under the age of 29, the statistically largest group to support marriage.
There were two proposals, one a bill which would repeal same-sex marriage and the state 2007 civil union law while the other a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state.[47] Both bills were defeated in the New Hampshire house on February 17, 2010.[48]
A UCLA study from March 2009 estimates the impact of allowing same-sex couples to marry on New Hampshire’s state budget. The study concludes that allowing same-sex couples to marry, as opposed to the old civil union scheme, would result in a net gain of approximately $500,000 each year for the State.[49] This net impact will be the result of savings in expenditures on state means-tested public benefits programs and an increase in meals and room tax revenues from increased wedding-related tourism.
The New York Times reported in July 2011 that "pressure is mounting for the Legislature to take another historic step by reversing course" and repealing the law legalizing same-sex unions.[50] On October 25, 2011, the House Judiciary Committee voted 11-6 to repeal the gay marriage law and establish civil unions.[51] The bill will go to the full House in January or February 2012. Supporters of repeal say the bill will not nullify existing gay marriages, but opponents say there are legal issues with what they say are conflicting provisions in the repeal bill.[52]
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