Some good news to balance the bad

Here is another item from The Pew Forum.

NH Senate joins House in backing gay marriage

by Tom Fahey
New Hampshire Union Leader

CONCORD – A bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New Hampshire passed the Senate yesterday on a historic 13-11 vote.

The bill, amended on the Senate floor, differs from a House-passed version by drawing a distinction between civil and religious marriage, and stating that any two individuals have a right to a civil marriage.

The bill, House Bill 436, would leave to each religion whether to recognize and officiate over same-sex marriages. It would also automatically convert all civil unions to civil marriage on Jan. 1, 2011. Civil unions have been legal since Jan. 1, 2008.

If it becomes law, the bill would make New Hampshire the fifth state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Gov. John Lynch, who said two weeks ago he thinks the word marriage should be reserved for traditional marriage between men and women, left it unclear whether he's considering a veto.

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