New Hampshire Senate to vote on marriage bill

Less than a week after same-sex couples began to marry in Iowa, lawmakers in New Hampshire are expected to vote on a bill that would allow nuptials for gays and lesbians in the Granite State.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee recommended in a 3-2 vote last Thursday the full Senate defeat the bill. State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro [D-Manchester] is among the Democrats who remain opposed to House Bill 436, and all 12 Republican Senators are expected to vote against the bill.

A University of New Hampshire poll released earlier this week indicates 55 percent of registered voters surveyed support marriage for gays and lesbians. The poll further indicated 63 percent of Independent and 34 percent of Republican voters back nuptials for same-sex couples.

“New Hampshire has a live and let live attitude," Mo Baxley, executive director of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition said. "These strong numbers in support of marriage equality are not surprising.

Indeed; a legislative source told Boy in Bushwick last night he expects an extremely close vote today in Concord. Openly gay state Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley is among those who continue to lobby lawmakers to back HB 436. And another source told Boy in Bushwick she expects Gov. John Lynch, who has previously indicated he feels marriage should remain between a man and a woman, to allow the bill to become law without his signature if it comes to his desk.

Stay tuned...