Most people know that the 2006 elections brought sweeping change though the country, handing control of the US House and Senate to Democrats for the first time in 12 years. Less discussed, but equally significant, is the sweeping change the elections brought to State Legislatures.
In NH, we probably had the biggest legislative upheaval in the country. Democrats gained 84 seats in our 400 member State House, and 6 seats in our 24 member State Senate. These gains granted the NH Democrats control of both chambers for the first time in 130 years.
This victory has ramifications for all kinds of progressive issues, and Civil Unions are at the top of everyone’s mind. A great deal has been happening with this issue since our victory, follow me over the jump for an update.
New Hampshire political observers were shocked in early December when the state’s second largest newspaper, the Concord Monitor, formally endorsed Civil Unions legislation for New Hampshire:
Fiscal reality should and will temper the aspirations of New Hampshire's newly Democratic Legislature. But it will cost nothing to right a truly major wrong, the discrimination against homosexuals inherent in state law. The next session of the Legislature should legalize civil unions and grant inheritance, visitation, custody and other rights currently enjoyed by heterosexual married couples to same-sex partners in committed relationships. Fiscal reality should and will temper the aspirations of New Hampshire's newly Democratic Legislature. But it will cost nothing to right a truly major wrong, the discrimination against homosexuals inherent in state law. The next session of the Legislature should legalize civil unions and grant inheritance, visitation, custody and other rights currently enjoyed by heterosexual married couples to same-sex partners in committed relationships.
This editorial was reprinted in newspapers around the state, including the Keene Sentinal, and the Nashua Telegraph. Remarkable in and of itself, it was not an isolated incident. Ever since, the Concord Monitor has been raising the issue with Granite Staters. They even commissioned a poll on the issue, giving them an excuse to write yet another story:
New Hampshire residents oppose gay marriage but look more favorably on civil unions.
Fifty-five percent of the 600 people interviewed opposed allowing gays to marry, compared with 35 percent in favor. Ten percent weren't sure.
Asked their opinion of civil unions, 44 percent favored allowing it. Forty percent opposed civil unions and 16 percent weren't sure.
The poll was done by Research 2000, which has a reputation for polling NH poorly. These numbers should be taken with a grain of salt when seen in context with an earlier UNH poll (a far more credible source for NH):
55% of New Hampshire residents are in favor of "a law that will allow the state to issue civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples". Only 41% are opposed.
The actual numbers, however, are far less significant than the effect it is having within the state. Our Top Democrats are being asked to take a position on this issue, and one by one they are coming in.
Our Govorner, John Lynch:
Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, opposes gay marriage "but thinks we need to make sure the rights of all of our citizens are protected," spokesman Colin Manning said. [...]
This session, Lynch favors more study of civil unions, Manning said. He said Lynch believes an earlier study committee did a poor job.
This lead to yet another editorial from the Concord Monitor:
No more study, please
The governor could take the lead on this issue and make his position clear, or he could wait to see whether a bill lands on his desk. The former course would be preferable, the latter understandable. But as for another study commission, to paraphrase the late, great singer James Brown, "Please, please, please don't . . ."
Our new Democratic Speaker of the House, Terie Norelli:
Norelli said she believes the state should end discrimination in all instances, but she would defer to the gay and lesbian community before deciding whether civil unions or marriage would be the better solution. "As someone who enjoys all the rights of heterosexuals, I'm not sure that I'm the one that should be making that decision about what's the right way to go," she said, adding that she was "speaking as Terie Norelli" and not as the voice of the Democratic majority.
Speaker Norelli has planted herself firmly to the left of our Governor on this issue, along with many of her House Colleagues. Several bills have been proposed this year that will address the question of Marriage Equality in NH, with solutions ranging from a ban to full Marriage Equality. The most popular solution appears to be Civil Unions, favored by bills sponsored by NH Democrats and Republicans.
Here are some of the bills on the docket:
2007-H-0027-R: establishing civil unions in New Hampshire.
Sponsors: (Prime) Steve Vaillancourt (R)
2007-H-0333-L: permitting same sex couples to register a domestic union and have the same rights as married couples.
Sponsors: (Prime) James R Splaine (D)
2007-H-0892-R: relative to marriage licenses and relative to marriage prohibitions.
Sponsors: (Prime) Maureen Baxley (D)
2007-H-0893-R: relative to the recognition of out-of-state marriages.
Sponsors: (Prime) Marlene M DeChane (D)
Thanks to the folks over at Blue Hampshire for contributing to the excellent discussion on this issue. If you’d like to read all of it, check out the collection we’re gathering under the GLBT tag.
Needless to say I am very excited to see all the progress being made on this important issue in NH over the last month. It is only a matter of time before a majority of the states in New England will recognize equal rights for Same Sex couples, and I’d wager a bet that New Hampshire will be the state to do it.