YOUR COMMENTS

Gov. Lynch is a should not abuse the veto power. Between this and the marijuana issue, we will see if the Governor is really a social conservative.
- Tom, Seabrook

Between the hateful liberals who are hell-bent on destroying traditional marriage and society, and their useful idiot libertarian allies in the GOP who are hell-bent on overthrowing Western society altogether, and want to destroy ALL civil marriage as a "first step," this state is doomed to a Leftist social nightmare. I hope voters wake up next year. I really do.
- James, Manchester

I have always been proud of NH - and continue to be so! This is wonderful news that soon all adult NH citizens will have marital justice an equity.
- Deb, Hancock

Rep. Steve V and Rep. Ray B are on the same side of this issue, shocking!!!!!
- brady, MANCHESTER

This bill must become law as all citizens of NH deserve equal rights - HB 436 is called 'The Equality Bill' and that is all it is. How can anyone have an objection to equality??

NH will join the ranks of recognizing equality as we deserve it, so get used to it.
- Casper, Concord

Sex is between is between and man and a woman just like Lynch has said. Hopefully he will stick to his principles.
- Susan Bruce, Jackson

Gov Lynch lacks courage. He will allow the bill to become law without his signature. Relativism and the Far Left are thriving in the Granite State.
- Joe, Salem

"This bill didn't go far enough. Why can't a father and son "marry"? There will be no children from that "marriage". Why is it excluded from the bill?

Why can't a brother and sister marry if one has been sterilized? Why was that excluded?

Are these examples any more abhorrent that two guys are two girls "marrying"?
- Mike, Manchester"

They are to anyone with a brain. Equating homsexuality with incest and pedophilia is a tired old chant from you hate-mongers. Peddle your wares elsewhere.
- Charles, Manchester

Rep Vaillancourt:

Your voting record shows you to be a very very very liberal democrat hiding under a cape that says "i'm a gay republican, so it's OK"

Gov lynch Please veto this

Thank you
- NH voter, NH

What is so wrong with this bill. These people have the right to be happy and if marriage makes them happy more power to them. Those who disagree have no right to. I'm not gay and I don't have a problem with gay people. Even if I did have a problem it isn't going to make them less gay. Those who don't want to accept gay people are ignorant.
- JW, Manchester

I have always felt the best region of this country was New England and the best state of them all is NH. Do not under estimate the positive impact on the economy this region will benefit from when ALL 6 states find themselves on the right side of social justice, equality and respect for all it's people.

Greg Barrett
- Greg Barrett, Manchester

Welcome to the new NH. Thanks to all the folks who moved here from MA to ruin a once great State. If you wanted MA why didn't you stay there.
- Chris, Hooksett

Let's hope Teflon John has the guts to sign it.
- Mike, Allenstown

This is an utter disgrace. 'Gay' marriage is an affront to decency and a vicious attack on the traditional family. Opposition to it has nothing to do with religion, but 5,000 years of recorded history in which a man-woman pairing has suited society best, and deserved sole approval from the State. The arguments for and against this have, predictably, been bordering on hysteria and emotion rather than cold facts.
- O.J.C., Manchester

What a sorry state we are in. What's next?

Let me detail for you:

* Loss of your rights to own firearms
* Loss of worker protections and union rights
* Increased taxes and inflation
* A nation declining and divided.
* Greedy investors and CEO's sending our jobs overseas (nothing new here!)

You voted for change....THERE YOU GO!
- Thomas, Manchester

My home state (or should I now call it my HOMO state) Has gone to hell just as fast as the leftys from MA migrated here to screw it up. When I am able I will leave this state for good and may you rot in hell Lefty Lynch
- Anthony, Claremont

We are proud to be First In The Nation. Let us continue that tradition and JOIN the majority of New England in PASSING this bill! New England lead the Nation over 200 years ago. Let us do so again! I vote and I vote for marriage equality. Gov. Lynch, PLEASE PASS THIS BILL!
- Rose, Dover

This registered Republican says do the right thing and vote for it, Gov. Lynch.
- Cynthia, Goffstown

I'm a 38 year old native New Hampshirite. I grew up in an evangelical Christian family, which I didn't know was a rarity in New Hampshire until I entered high school. I'm also from a staunchly Republican family and was a Republican myself until after college, when I gradually realized the Democrats' positions on most issues were more in line with New Hampshire's libertarian values - and, more recently, its fiscal values - than the Republicans'. I'm also straight and will celebrate my twelfth anniversary this August.

Today, I wrote Governor Lynch to encourage him to sign the bill making marriage equality law. I encourage like-minded Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians, and Independents to do the same. To promote this position, I can do little better than refer you to the eloquent comments Governor Baldacci made after signing Maine's law.

I can only add that I have known too many close family friends, products of "traditional" families, that have first been brave enough to come out of the closet to their family, friends, and strangers; fall in love and declare their love; but been unable to enjoy the important legal benefits that come only through marriage, to not know this is the right thing to do. State action is course that will ultimately lead to Federal recognition, which they need and deserve.

Contact Governor Lynch and voice your support.
- Rob Campbell, Manchester, NH

This is one more baby step towards equality and sending a positive message to our children. For those opposed, rent Milk or go to a PFLAG Meeting. The allienation gay and lesbian youth go through can lead to suicide. Our children need love and support... not "fixing". --- It's time for change in NH and across the land. Our differences make the USA what it is.
- Mike R, Goffstown

You deserve the government you elect.
- Greg Salts, Manchesester

Governor:

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't, so do as your consicence dictates.
- Serena, Manchester

Its time has come. NH is ready for gay marriage. The world will not end when the law is enacted. Let's end the charade of civil union being equal to marriage.
- ed, londonderry

We are in such a rush to be "politically correct" in the state it maks me sick. I hope the Govenor shows a bit of sanity and VETO's this abomination.
- Rob, Portsmouth

My home state's motto is Lve Free or Die. It's time to let all the citizen's of our state to have the right to live free. Bravo
- Kathy Upham, Brunswick GA

Oh great more affirmation that the government is the one who determines marriage. How about we get the government out of marriage. But hey leftists love government intervention in everything else why should marriage be different.
- Brian, Wakefield

Thats right gov. you have a responsibility for the majority of what NH thinks. Don't shove it in our face because of a few ignorant people. Marriage is for man and woman. let them have the unions.
- russ, amherst, nh

Mr. Lynch, Please use common sense and VETO this.
- Tim A., Lebanon

Why does Lynch think allowing same sex couples to marry will have an effect on amyone except the people who are marrying...."I have a responsibility as governor to do what I think is best for the people of New Hampshire."
Gay people are PEOPLE... simple and true. I wonder what strange things all the "straight" people do in their bedrooms///// dont throw stone GOv!
- angela, manchester

Granny D said it best. When asked her views on gay marriage, she said, "I believe in love." The love that dare not speak its name for centuries is about ready to utter it in NH--when two people, gay or straight, fall in love, their lives are more complete; they are more than the sum of their individual parts. They are more human. Gays have been denied the right to be human too long. For Governor Lynch not to see that is simply unimaginable.
Steve V (one of seven Republican Reps on the right side of history)
- steve vaillancourt, manchester, nh

Granny D said it best. When asked her views on gay marriage, she said, "I believe in love." The love that dare not speak its name for centuries is about ready to utter it in NH--when two people, gay or straight, fall in love, their lives are more complete; they are more than the sum of their individual parts. They are more human. Gays have been denied the right to be human too long. For Governor Lynch not to see that is simply unimaginable.
Steve V (one of seven Republican Reps on the right side of history)
- steve vaillancourt, manchester, nh

When did we have a state-wide referendum on this issue?
You "progressives" i.e. Liberal Democrats keep talking about the majority, and the will of the people, yet I don't see anybody running to trash the Sanctity of Marriage except the "progressive" liberal Democrats, who all campaigned on nothing but Bash George Bush. They never talked about their true intent, which was to trash the Constitution of the United States in favor of constant and abiding self-gratification.
- sandy, thornton

Time to stop the 'hate' and do it. I hope Gov. Lnych does the right thing, signs the bill, and we progress into the 21st century, instead of moving back to the 19th...
- Peter, Jaffrey

hey if gays want to be married and be miserable, let them why not! The only people who are gonna win is the Gay Marriage Divorce Lawyers !
- mike johnson, manchester nh

I am a heterosexual Republican female who happens to agree that there was a discrimination problem here. How can the government say that these two people can get married but those two cannot?

Government would not be in the business of marriage at all. Leave marriage to religious entities. The whole marriage license thing started when we were trying to insure that white folk didn't marry black folk. I guess that wasn't discrimination either.
- Sue, Manchester

New Hampshire,

Thank you for righting California's wrong. Distance always provides perspective. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- Dan, Sacramento, CA

Perhaps now CPR will stop calling me with their push-poll.
- tom, candia

Progress is a wonderful thing. I hope our governor makes the right decision for all citizens and he signs the bill into law. God Bless America.
- John D., Manchester

Gov. Lynch, i have 1 word for you........VETO!
- george, hillsborough

This is not the time to divide the party Gov. Lynch, do the right thing. This bill on your desk is a result of all the hard work the Democrats have done in this state the last 6 years making it blue.
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

Governor Lynch,
I respectfully request that you please sign this bill into law and focus on allowing equal rights for all citizens. I am a married heterosexual female and do not feel that my marriage is threatened by allowing others to marry. I recognize that supporting equal rights for others translates to equal rights for me and my descendants as well.
Our laws are founded with the assumption of separation of church and state. We are a state of many religions. Which religion or flavor thereof should be allowed to hijack the laws and rights of the citizens of our state? I respectfully submit that neither your personal religious beliefs nor mine nor any religious persuasion should factor into this decision. This is a question of equal rights. What you do with this bill will affect generations to come.
- EB, Rindge

I do not care one way or the other about this bill. It was more about wasting time and pandering to the left by our democrat controlled congress. However, since both sides feel so strongly about this bill (equal rights or slippery slope determined by your opinion), I urge Gov. Lynch to grow a backbone, take a stand and either SIGN IT or VETO IT. Please man up Gov. Lynch and risk "offending" one side or the other, but DO NOT let it pass without a signature. If it does, that "non-act" should offend both sides. Then, once it is passed or vetoed, please show the same leadership while trying to fix our school funding problem.(a real issue instead of this "feel good" stuff)
- Brian, Manchester NH

This bill didn't go far enough. Why can't a father and son "marry"? There will be no children from that "marriage". Why is it excluded from the bill?

Why can't a brother and sister marry if one has been sterilized? Why was that excluded?

Are these examples any more abhorrent that two guys are two girls "marrying"?
- Mike, Manchester

Hey CG, before spouting off, why not see what NH's opinions really are ... I feel that a marriage should be between two people who love each other. If I can MARRY the love of my life, everyone, regardless of SEXUAL PREFRENCE should have the EQUAL RIGHT to do the same.
- Catrina, Manchester

Since when is this the "people" speaking? This is the Democratic (as in party) legislature, none of whom including the gays among them (though in influential places) have campaigned on this platform. But now, it's what the "people" have voted for. Uh Uh. It's the people who got voted in because some folks were sick of the Bush administration and voted for "the other party". Well that's what you get.
Let's do what California did - it's time to put it up to a democratic (not party)referendum....and let the chips fall with the majority. That's why we are a Democracy.............
- sandy, thornton

Hooray! To all you UL readers, this is a victory for traditional and conservative Republican, that's right I said Republican values, which go back to long before the Republican party was co-opted by right wing religious fundamentalists and fanatics. If two people want to get married, let them. The government has more important things to do than police the marriage aisle, and it should stay out of our private lives.
- Dom, Weare

Separate is NOT equal. The only way to truly achieve equality is for same-sex couples to be allowed to marry just like heterosexual couples can. This is pretty much the same type of reaction that people had when interracial marriage was legalized. Some people threw a fit and whined and said it would lead to horrible things, but none of that is true. Love is what makes a family. Hate is NOT a family value!
- John, Keene

M. Tyler...you say "Equal Rights for All. Bottom Line, equal rights." Does that include people like Raymond Guay Jr. who murdered a child, served his time and is now a free man? Will you still stand by your statement in this case?
- Bob, Manchester, NH

Whoa! Conservative, here let me help you up. You took a pretty good spill there. Are you sure you're okay? Here, let me help you brush yourself off. That gay marriage bill hit you pretty hard; you still look a little dizzy. Why don't you sit down and take a few minutes to regroup...
- Steve, Manchester

What's next on the agenda democrats?
- Bob, Manchester, NH

Equal Rights for All. Bottom Line, equal rights.
- M. Tyler, Manchester

Gov. Lynch, please follow through with your sentiments on not needing a gay marriage bill (since gays have the same state protections with civil unions) and VETO this bill. The majority of NH citizens want marriage to be defined as between a man and a woman, as you have expressed yourself.
- CG, newfields

Whose surprised by this and how come? Some think it an oxymoron to call it "gay marriage" when "civil union" ascribes certain rights, however, unless there are equal protections it's no wonder full-throated "marriage" is what's sought. Moreover, when "marriage" is loosely defined and can be instituted and ended capriciously ala vegas-style anyway- it's hardly a strictly Religious issue now, is it? The irony? Not hell, brimstone nor damnation because of what's lawful, sheer HELL many heretofore free FROM an institution that serves the State tremendously re coffers and etc will now suffer because of. Fair's fair.
- Steve G., Amherst

And now expect to see every right-wing extremist in the state running on 'end marriage equality now!' in 2010. And since a majority of New Hampshire residents are already in favor of marriage equality, and other states have shown that after marriage equality is made a fact acceptance of it skyrockets, that should lead to a salutary decrease in the number of out-of-touch Republican extremists sneaking into office.
- Peter, Canterbury

Yes! Hopefully now the governor will listen to the majority of his constituents and sign this bill into law like Gov. Baldacci.
- Charles, Manchester