11/05/2009
Anti-gays Eye Repeal of Marriage Equality in New Hampshire
The recent victory of bigots in Maine has cause some anti-gay lawmakers in New Hampshire to consider a repeal of that state's marriage equality law, which was signed by Governor John Lynch in June.
Foster's Daily Democrat reports:
"Two proposals are being drafted in the N.H. House: One would repeal the law Gov. John Lynch signed in June and re-establish civil unions; the other is a constitutional amendment that would charge voters with deciding if 'the state shall only recognize the union of one man and one woman as marriage.' Supporters of same-sex marriage are strategizing and gearing up for a fight, said Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, who sponsored the gay marriage law. He said momentum doesn't rest with gay-marriage foes.' The momentum is on our side and those of us who support equality and love over hate,' he said Wednesday. Even so, 'we have a fight cut out for us in January' when the Legislature reconvenes, he said. 'But I think virtually everyone in the House and Senate who voted for marriage equality will stick with us and I'm hoping we'll pick up some others.'"
According to the paper, "Only the proposed repeal would go to the governor's desk in order for it to become law. Constitutional amendments head straight to the voters for two-thirds support upon being passed by the same margin in the Legislature."
Posted 2:54 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, New Hampshire, News | Permalink
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Interesting to think that the anti-gay forces would translate a barely 5 point spread in Maine to a 2/3 popularity in NH. It seems unlikely that this is anything more than fear-mongering, and yet more reason for progressives and democrats to support the candidates that brought them marriage equality in NH. I would think a whole lot of turn over in the legislature would be needed to get 2/3 on board with repealing a bill they just passed.
Posted by: JR | Nov 5, 2009 3:13:26 PM
This is a complete joke. But hey, if marriage opponents want to keep this issue alive, it only helps us.
More people will be educated. More will see our families for what they are.
Posted by: Matthew N | Nov 5, 2009 3:25:20 PM
The haters think this is about momentum.
But we know what it's really all about.
"The arc of the moral universe is long,
But it bends toward justice."
—abolitionist Theodore Parker
Posted by: 24play | Nov 5, 2009 3:25:42 PM
WARNING: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE HATERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO SPREAD LIES, FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
WARNING: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE HATERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO SPREAD LIES, FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
WARNING: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE HATERS AND THEIR ABILITY TO SPREAD LIES, FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.
Posted by: Observer1000 | Nov 5, 2009 3:27:54 PM
I agree with JR. It is somewhat reassuring to know that NH has set the far more reasonable standard of a 2/3 majority for constitutional amendments. As has been said many times before, simple majorities should never be enough margin to abridge the rights of others, especially minorities.
Posted by: James C | Nov 5, 2009 3:28:05 PM
Quick! Organize an Equality circuit party in Washington, D.C.!
Posted by: Not Surprised | Nov 5, 2009 4:23:39 PM
This is stupid. Lynch will veto the statutory repeal, and the legislature will not approve a constitutional amendment by the required two-thirds margin when it passed the initial legislation just a few months ago.
This is a stunt of some kind, but I'm not sure I see the angle. Maybe the bigots are trying to emphasize the MAINEMENTUM they now have in the hopes that it will scare the NJ legislature into inaction until Christie is confirmed?
Posted by: Pender | Nov 5, 2009 6:39:54 PM
We'd win this stuff if we'd just sink to their level...why are we afraid to do that? We know that the right was airing outragous commercials in California and Maine before we lost and we know we were running feel good commercials with old lesbians and their daughters.
What we should be running are commercials with the "god hates fag" people and right wing politicians and preachers spewing their filth. We need to show the average voter, who doesn't visit Towleroad and Rachael Maddow very often, just how people are really behaving towards us. That's the only way to get their attention.
Posted by: stolidog | Nov 5, 2009 6:41:30 PM
dear maine...
1) ALL of you YES'rs who Voted away the RIGHTS of LGBT Mainers...I HOPE you Posed Gleefully in the Many pictures that WERE taken during this eventFUL....those VERY PICTURES WILL BE USED years from Now (they ARE part of the PUBLIC record) to show the REAL Ignorance of Voting on People's Rights.....Just like the pictures of George Wallace & Others from 40-50yrs ago denying Equality to THE BLACK POPULATION (we've all see'm in History Books) and Some of You People will be Lucky enough to be the Headliners in Future History Books, and YOU WILL BE pictured THERE IN ALL YOUR GLORY on the WRONG SIDE of History for ALL the WORLD to SEE....Forever Splayed out in beautiful color / and some in black & white...I hope you were Smiling, ...so act SMUG now cause' .....what a day that will be, as you bring Shame down on your Future Generations & Families!
2) MAINE, YOU HAD a REAL Chance to SHOW the REST of the United States of America what REAL Equality for ALL it's Citzens looks like & is about...a REAL Chance to STAND OUT AND UP & be the 1st state EVER IN AMERICA to VOTE Equality into Law..and You BLEW IT! Now you are JUST ANOTHER STATE, like the Many others who have sided with Bigotry and Discrimination...you're NOTHING SPECIAL..you're JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! YOU BLEW IT!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Nov 5, 2009 6:45:42 PM
Ps, we also need to run a series of ads highlighting the hate speach of politicians then contrasting it to the glaring headlines of the "sinful" misdeads of these very same politicians. Hypocracy can be a powerful weapon, if we have the guts to show the voters how it really is.
Posted by: stolidog | Nov 5, 2009 6:49:47 PM
I find it interesting that the haters think Maine's experience would influence New Hampshire more than the experience of its other neighbor Vermont, where same-sex couples are now marrying every week and the world isn't remotely falling apart.
Posted by: Gianpiero | Nov 5, 2009 7:30:52 PM
WHEN WILL THESE BIGOTS STOP?!?!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: KFLO | Nov 5, 2009 7:38:39 PM
WHEN WILL THESE BIGOTS STOP?
They won't stop, but they will die off. Every time the vote is redone, it will move by a few points in favor of equality. It will not move the other way. It took Maine some 3 tries to get non-discrimination. It may take them as many to get marriage equality.
Maine still had 47% with a large-ish turnout in favor of full marriage rights. There's not much more they could have done. The anti-gay folks voted for "ick" and they're not changing their minds. But they will die. Too bad stupid doesn't make you die faster.
This anti-gay movement hasn't a chance in NH.
Posted by: KevinVT | Nov 5, 2009 9:02:15 PM
@STOLIDOG; DISGUSTED AMERICAN; KFLO
2010 California Marriage Protection Act
rescuemarriage.org
When the battle doesn't suit you, you change the battlefield. The haters do it with success. It's time for us to do it as well.
Posted by: Tommy | Nov 6, 2009 1:12:39 PM
In 1998 (or '97) the ME legislature passed a law banning discrimination based upon sexual orientation, that then was repealed in a referendum the following November. In 2000, the state legislature passed a second such law, which was also repealed the following November via popular referendum.
In 2005 the Maine legislature passed a third such anti-discrimination law.
That one survived a challenge via "the people's veto" and is still the law of the land in Maine today.
It is only a matter of time before the bigots are swept away.
:)
Posted by: RedCedar | Nov 7, 2009 12:09:05 AM
More Caucasians keeping Gays from achieving equality!!!
WOW......
And I thought that it was African Americans keeping gays back.
Posted by: Chrissy P | Nov 7, 2009 3:09:21 PM